Help us keep the Welsh in Wales!
In one of the most Welsh speaking areas of Wales, the kitchen staff of a hotel has been banned from speaking Welsh in the kitchen, and of all places this is happening in LlanfairPG on the isle of Anglesey. Yes! in that most famous of Welsh place names – the world’s longest name for a town: llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
Here is the story as told by the Daily Post
BBC Wales Newyddion
Join us and others in voicing your opinion about this situation! You can visit the website of the Gwesty Carreg Mon Hotel, from their website you can go to the contacts page and leave them a message voicing your displeasure. If you want to call the hotel and make a kind request for them to change their policy, and offer come for a meal if they do change it it might be helpful. The phone number at the Hotel is 01248 714224, and the owner manager’s name is Ruth Hogan.
Celticonnect Blog 
It would seem from this response from the manager of Carreg Mon Hotel, Anglesey, that they have been misquoted as they have NOT banned Welsh in their hotel and such media reports have caused a lot of ill feeling it would seem.
I look forward to your reply and here is what the manager said to a facebook member –
I am writing to you in response to your letter which I have received today. I would like to kindly inform you that the Welsh Language has not been BANNED in my establishment it was a mere request for the staff not to address Head Chef in Welsh as he does not understand or speak the language. How can a kitchen run if staff cannot understand one another?
The Welsh Language in strongly encouraged to be spoken within our establishment and has been for the past 5 years. Out of 25 members of staff only 3 are non Welsh speaking, but I do not discriminate these people from employment due to lack of knowledge of the Welsh Language as they are fully capable of doing an excellent job, all we can do is encourage them and help them to learn Welsh but as I am sure you can appreciate this can take time.
Yours sincerely,
—————————-
Ruth Hogan
General Manager
on Friday
evaviv,
Thanks for your response. I appreciate the update. I have seen the letter posted on Facebook, as well as the follow up responses (mostly in Welsh) which are from people who have worked for the hotel in the past, as well as those who are more intimate with the situation. It still seems to be generating press as those close to the situation are not satisfied that the description is accurate.
This is a common problem with a language which has had to fight for its existence for centuries – one must be very careful always to make place for it and celebrate it rather than treat it as a novelty, and that seems to be a primary concern for those of us who want to see Welsh do more than survive.
Diolch yn fawr iawn,
Phil
Diolch for replying. I wasn’t sure which description you were referring to – that of the hotel or that of the press or staff. Maybe you could explain os gwelch ‘in dda?
Diolch yn fawr riawn. With apologies for any errors in my poor Welsh or spelling!
Eva Stevens
Shwmae Eva,
It seems that the hotel staff and other people close to the situation are not satisfied with the hotel’s description of the event, and see if differently than the owner/manager described it in the letter.
So for that reason I’ve joined the facebook group to keep up with the story, and hopefully have some effect in the strengthening of yr iaith nefoedd yn Ynys Mon. 😉
Phil