Iron Ring put on ice - sculpture plans 'paused' by government

CADW is just the pits

Helo i dont know if you are aware but Botanical garden Wales has had a multi million£ grant to recreate a regency landscape as well as creating lakes. There will be much focus on the east India company in this phase as thats what made the family rich - plundering the little fuzzy wyzzies. Interesting how our "historical heritage" focus on anglo centric elements- another example is the Bosworth day event in August in Carmarthen- apparently on show will be the Black Book of said town, what that has to do with the upstart psycho Tudors i dont know! iConflating tourism with british imperial/regal history seems to be de rigeur in Gwalia Derelicta

The sculpture had nothing to do in promoting Wales as a nation, it had everything in promoting Wales as a conquered nation.

Time to ask serious questions now about the competence and willingness/leanings of those in the positions that make these sorts of decisions - Ken Skates et.al.. Our museums, Narional Library, Celtic Studies departments are all under threat and the credibility of our politicians that are making key decisions may perhaps now come under more scrutiny, while historic bodies like CADW have been briefly exposed for what they are. Hopefully the attention can be kept on this area for a little while yet. We don't want more ring of Iron fiascos - although it wouldn't surprise me if that one comes back to life when they think that the dust may have settled

Anyone got a link for the petition?

We do not want to be reminded of being bullied.

The whole thing raises questions of Cadw. Their statement of the 24th seemed to suggest they would rather it proceed, come what may.

Do not believe for one second this has really been put on ice. They are scheming behind the scenes as only the British and their Llackies know how. If anything the pressure must intensify to the end. As for CADW be like many of us do not support them, if you have membership consider returning it and of course you could always picket your local monument! We have to be the change ourselves to see it in our country!

This isnt CADW's fault. Self flagelation is the reason it was set up, and hard to see how it could be any different. Historically, from the Tudors onwards, increasing sections of our country have strongly believed that England's history and England's identity is our own. The vast majority of our country now accepts that as common sense fact. Therefore, a body designed to conserve our history, has to preserve that way of thinking, that identity. Because it is our history. The real source of this grand scale self harm of a "work of art" is the Labour in Wales party. Ken Skates is the next First Minister of Wales. Not once in the journey of the Ring's development did Ken say "hold on bois! Is this not going to play out badly?". Instead, he saw nothing but a chance to add to his album of photo ops. This is the mentality of his party. None of his civil servants, intelligent, highly paid men and women, were able to comprehend the ingrained insult of an English company designing and making a celebration of Welsh subjugation, in Wales, with Welsh money. Because it is the perfect metaphor for our history. This is nothing more than a continuation of the centuries old habit of the Welsh elite knowing where their bread is buttered. Labour in Wales know that in order to continue in power, nothing can change, everything must stay the same. And this is why we have the rarest of breeds running Wales, politicians who dont want more power. This is why a beaming Ken Skates is our history. And unfortunately our future. But its definitely nothing to do with CADW.

My email to CADW yesterday. ********************************************************************** Dear Sir/Madam, Hopefully, bearing in mind the torrent of criticism that this incredibly stupid idea has generated, you will follow up on this part of your 24th of July statement shown below and scrap the Iron Ring idea completely. ‘We will continue to listen to a range of views on this important project as it evolves, and ensure that decisions over issues such as the words inscribed on the sculpture reflect local opinions and the complex and often difficult history of Wales’. And, while you’re about it give the contract to a Welsh person who would have had the common sense, and simple pride, never to have come up with an idea that virtually celebrates Welsh subjugation. *************************************************************************** Tell them what you think.

Greetings from Alba. What happened to the great Owain Glyndwr, or Llywelyn the Great Welsh spirit, Wales would be a great little independent country, pity there's little appetite for it, for now anyway. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Welsh_Heroes

What I don't understand is how unionists can fail to see how damaging this attitude is. 2014 was the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, and a major weekend festival was planned with reenactments, entertainment and educational events. A Scottish (Scottish!) MP stood up in Westminster and decried it as "celebrating the murder of thousands of Englishmen", which is a strange way of talking about repulsing a hostile invading army. Stirling Council then applied for British Armed Forces Day, and when they were granted it, they declared that Stirling's infrastructure was insufficient for both events and slashed the visitor numbers on the Bannockburn event's license. But at the end of the day, if Wales and Scotland are part of Britain, then Welsh and British perspectives on history are part of British history, and if they can't accept that, they only harm the whole concept of an inclusive Britain and drive more people to support independence.

Perhaps nearby Caergwrle Castle 1283, needs a little practical love instead of €500,000 on scrap - commemorating the dismantling of Brymbo and Shotton steelworks.

The Iron Ring is unfortunately part of our Welsh Heritage. Like it or not. Don't forget that if it wasn't for these superb castles,Owain Glyn Dwr could never have completed his reign -albeit it brief- of Wales. Treat them as structures and empty shells with some architectural interest: nothing more. You're all too touchy I'm afraid and should realise that every nation has its history. Have we smashed up all the Roman ruins and forts that pre-date Edward's conquest? No. We preserve them as history is just that.

Art - architectural or not - is meant to be a shimmering, ambivalent creation, implying and suggesting, not declaring and preaching. Not insensitive and crass. If the project does go ahead, then how much more appropriate would be a reading of the work that implies that war is futile, military means ultimately fail, and that Edwards' 'ring of steel' is rusted, broken and forgotten, overrun by those who it was meant to subjugate - because we are still here, are we not? As lively and creative as ever, and looking forward to bigger and better things, like a peaceful and equitable society, where all are respected and Empire but a distant fading memory.

I'm disgusted to hear this. Welsh Government should not be polluting our ice with iron rings! Who do they think they are?