Speaking as a Bard
When I was chaired as the Chief Bard of Ynys Witrin on the 19th May 2007, it was without doubt the most powerful initiation I've experienced so far. I did ask for it, because if you read 'The Power of Nine', the poem that lead to my chairing, you can see that it's an invocation. I invited the Nine Maidens to speak through me and that I might know the nature of Awen. I suspect that I will spend the rest of my life finding out what that means.
A Bard's responsibility is to 'elevate the word'. My goal this year is to fulfil that responsibility as best I can. Unlike the first Bard of Glastonbury, Tim Hall and the current Bard, Ash, I had little background in performing when I found myself chaired as the Bard, being more of a scribbler in corners than a performance poet. I enjoy how audiences respond to 'Gwyn ap Nudd and St. Collen' but I think my most important offering as a Bard is 'The Heart of Ireland' although to tell the truth, I find it difficult to cope with my grief around how far the destruction of the sacred sites around Tara has gone.
The Heart of Ireland by Dearbhaile Bradley
(Read the text of 'The Heart of Ireland'.)
With the enthusiasm of local audiences, and the support of my Strange Sisters, I have gained in confidence as a performer and thanks to Sheila Martin's invitation to perform at the Glastonbury Symposium last year, I now have a set that's about half an hour long and only want more opportunities to showcase what I can do. I've discovered the fun it is to 'write to order' so given sufficient notice. I like to perform something specifically for the occasion. So if you're hosting a event where you think a Bardic showcase might work, get in touch.
Performance is one aspect of what a Bard does, the other is to encourage creativity in others. I've far more experience of running sessions in creative development than I have of performing, as I trained in 'Community Arts Facilitation' with The Playhouse in Derry and ran sessions in the various community centres in the city. Where I grew up in rural Northern Ireland, individual creativity was celebrated; everyone had their 'piece'. I see the revival of this aural tradition and the valuing of our innate creativity is an important element in these Turning Times and as central to my role as Bard. Opening to the Awen is a wonderful, energising, exciting experience so if you'd like to have a go, let me know.
When I moved to Glastonbury from Derry, I left behind my 'professional' identity and in the process discovered that I was so over-invested in 'being a counsellor' that take the role away and I'd no idea who I was. When they told me I was the Bard, I was born into myself. It's a powerful experience. So I reckon no-one could feel more deeply than I did the honour of being the Bard of Glastonbury for a year.
I have gone from being the counsellor who listens to being the Bard who speaks out. Kevan Manwaring says that the Bard is 'more priest than poet' so perhaps there is some kinship between my time as counsellor and my new identity as Bard. So I would like to share one of the poems I wrote back when I was still a counsellor, one of the very first times I ever broke out into words. Whatever it's like as a poem, it was the my first step out on this new path that has opened up into such a wonderful world. I dedicate this poem to all the people I met in counselling rooms. I carry you in my heart now and always. Speaking Stones