Cornish Language - Cornish Pirates In The Community

www.magakernow.org.uk

An Vorladron Gernewek The Cornish Pirates

Cornish is the ancient celtic language of Cornwall, and today it is a thriving, living language having enjoyed a successful revival over the past century. More people than ever are taking an interest in learning or using Cornish as a mark of cultural distinctiveness, and the Cornish Pirates are working with MAGA, the Cornish Language Partnership, to this end.

MAGA was set up in response to Cornish being recognised under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. The Partnership works to promote Cornish and develop its use further in the community, working with schools, businesses, local authorities, individuals and organisations such as the Cornish Pirates.

This season, MAGA has worked with the Cornish Pirates to set up a fun, junior supporters club, called Bagas Benbow (Benbow's Gang). Members of the club will receive a bilingual membership card, letter from the captain, a Cornish starter pack for kids and many other goodies.

There will also be a Bagas Benbow insert in the programme, featuring a bilingual player poster and useful Cornish phrases, and members will be able to use a special code word in Cornish to communicate with the players.

Additionally to this, Pirates' captain, Adryan Winnan, is learning Cornish this season, and will act as role model for Bagas Benbow shipmates. Adryan says,
"Whenever I meet people on my travels I always explain that I am Cornish, and that the Cornish people have their own special identity, including our own language. Invariably, they ask me to say a few words, and I've always been ashamed as I didn't know any. After the lessons arranged by the Cornish Language Partnership I'll be far from fluent but hopefully I will be able to do Cornwall proud."

If you would like to join Bagas Benbow, pick up an application form in a Pirates matchday programme or send an e-mail to rudi.grenfell@cornish-pirates.com, stating your name, date of birth, address and telephone number.

Membership is free to supporters of the Pirates who are 16 or under.

If you would like to find out more about Cornish visit www.magakernow.org.uk