Living Language

Llangennech was home to Eileen and Trefor Beasley (1921-2012; 1918-1994), who conducted a campaign of civil disobedience during the 1950s in protest against the absence of the Welsh language in civic administration. The couple refused to pay their council tax until they were able to do so in Welsh, and had most of their possessions confiscated during the fight. Their stance was praised by Saunders Lewis in his seminal radio lecture Tynged yr Iaith (‘The Fate of the Language’). The village has been in the news again recently concerning Welsh language education - the dispute is thoughtfully discussed by BBC journalist Huw Edwards, whose father, eminent historian Hywel Teifi Edwards (1934-2010), came from Llangennech. Academi Hywel Teifi was established in 2010 to foster excellence in Welsh language and literature studies. After Llangennech, head to Sosban Restaurant in Llanelli, which serves high quality local produce.

Photograph - copyright Stephen Lyons