Some years ago when the recent Irish Troubles got started in British Occupied Ireland aka Ulster aka Northern Ireland, the Irish Communist Organisation came out with the 'Two Nations - Two Peoples' theory. To all extent and purpose this stated that as most 'Ulster Prots' were Scottish Settlers they were in effect only returning to, from whence they came, and thus both they and the Gaels could both have claim to this northern territory of the six Counties of nine, that once was the Irish Province of Ireland
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.You will see from above letters to Western Mail recently, the Cymry/Welsh have been at it again arguing whom may be regarded as 'proper' Cymry/Welsh. Personally, I fancy I am more of Iberian roots rather than Celtic, but am I Welsh or Cymry? Well I do not entirely agree that one must be a native Speaker to be of the Cymry/Welsh, I consider the French Revolutionary Citizen model is the correct way to decide a nationality if one sees Cymru/Wales as a Democratic Nation State.
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It would be neat if we could say there were two peoples and two nations that make up our present Cymru/Wales, maybe pobl Pura Wallia aka Cymry of the Cunedda tribes from North Britain who settled the land behind the Cambrian Mountains aka 'Tiroedd Cunedda' and then Pobl Marcher Wallia of what's left. These peoples perhaps not so homogeneous as Pobl Puru Wallia, over the centuries having become of mixed stock as indeed most people of the Southern Valleys are. Although of all regions of Cymru/Wales, they now hold the record for, of their population the most being native born, 90%. even more so than native speaking Gwynedd and other regions of Pura Wallia.
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Myself, I think it works like this, we may all be citizens, and there will always be 'Brits', but at least we have moved away from the 'West Briton' identity. However, whatever? maybe other than this, what if 'Y Cymry' are those who are native born speakers, or have learnt the language and buy into all things 'Cymric'. Whilst the rest of us are 'Welsh' aka ''Roman Like'' and thus a tad ''Internationalised'', and do not buy into all things 'Cymric' as myself, I despite being a Welsh Patriot would more regard myself of the 'Welsh' rather than 'Y Cymry'. Even in the ''Sixties'' the music background of my ''revolution'' was Motown and not Canu Cymraeg!
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G.
