I will no longer be posting or reposting from this account but you can find me on bluesky JonKirkup.bsky.social

Have you seen the Mari Lwyd out and about? The Mari Lwyd was once a lively tradition of welcoming the Welsh Hen Galan (or 'the old new year') and has been resurrected in some parts of Wales. The Mari Lwyd - a horse's skull - was carried on a pole and decorated with rosettes and coloured ribbons. During the ceremony, the Mari Lwyd party would go from door to door, singing traditional songs in an attempt to gain entry into the house. Learn more about the Mari Lwyd in this article on our website. 🔗 bit.ly/MariLwydTradition - 📷 The 'Mari Lwyd' in the Llangynwyd area 🔗 bit.ly/MariLwydAC Via @AmgueddfaCymru

.@RWynJones a @VaughanRoderick sy'n trafod straeon gwleidyddol mawr 2024, mewn pennod arbennig o Gwleidydda gyda Carwyn Jones, @TomGiffard, a @NerysEvans. 🔊Gwrandewch: bbc.in/Gwleidydda

The history of Irish Christmas traditions 🇮🇪 A look at some of the uniquely Irish traditions that are still observed around Christmas time 🎄 irishcentral.com/roots/histo… #Ireland #History

A sad day for #heritage in #Caerphilly as Llancaiach Fawr Manor, a well loved and visited Tudor Manor House is set to close its doors for the final time later today. With no plans in place for its future let’s hope it doesn’t become yet another lost piece of #Welsh heritage.

#OnThisDay 1990. Mardy colliery, the last pit in the Rhondda Valley, closes. The final 300 miners had their last shift on 21 December 1990 in a valley which had previously employed more than 4,000 men.

Hello, lovelies 👋🏻 If you enjoy my content and research, I'd be very grateful if you'd consider supporting my work this Christmas 🎄☕ • ko-fi.com/louvainrees • paypal.me/louvainrees #freelancer #wales #selfemployed

Blimey. Barn Cymru poll by YouGov for ITV Cymru Wales/ @WalesGovernance Puts Plaid Cymru ahead of Labour. Reform joint 2nd. Senedd voting intention: - Plaid Cymru - 24% ( 1) - Labour - 23% (-4) - Reform UK - 23% ( 5) - Con - 19% ( 1) - Lib Dem - 5% (-1) - Green - 6% ( 1)

On @BBCRadioWales 'Sunday Supplement' 8-9am with @VaughanRoderick Floods, farming, assisted dying, Welsh diaspora & more @huw4ogmore @as_penarth @ProfMarkTaubert & @LordCFalconer @WillHayCardiff @GlobalWelsh Sarah Louisa Birchley @rodneyberman @dwrhian bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tp7m…

The Fiji team have shown remarkable deference to President Michael D Higgins. Great ambassadors of their sport.

On @BBCRadioWales 'Sunday Supplement' 8-9am @VaughanRoderick Ukraine, cost of heat, farm tax, & another national park? @Tobias_Ellwood @BevanFoundation & @Sioned_W Patrick Minford @Campaign4Parks & @elwyn04 Norman Baker @timhhartley @CatherineFookes bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tp7m…

What a difference twelve months makes! ... Twelve months, plus enormous grant, loads of donations (thank you), and a ferocious amount of work. The scaffold came down at St Lawrence’s, Gumfreston, Pembrokeshire recently, and we could hardly believe our eyes. 1/4

Today in pulp I'm looking back at one of the greatest albums of all time. What are the chances...

Just as I got to 1000 followers everyone started to leave. This place has become a house party taken over by boring drunks and bigots. Still here but mostly there. JonKirkup.bsky.social

If you are leaving X but would still like to read my historical ramblings, you can also find me here ⏬️ bsky.app/profile/hellohistor… instagram.com/louvainrees facebook.com/share/17tgEyDmv… hellohistoria.substack.com #Wales #History

ON THE BLOG: The new Ministerial Code must be the first step in a wider programme to strengthen standards in public life Former Commissioner for Public Appointments @_peterriddell says that the new Ministerial Code is welcome, but just a first step. constitution-unit.com/2024/1…

One of the most precious things about Remembrance is that it sets no political tests. It asks only that we "remember",in the silence of our own thoughts. It doesn't dictate what we remember, how we remember or what lessons we draw. That's between ourselves & our consciences.🧵

To be pacific….