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Record delegation honoured at Interceltic Festival

Emily JohnsSouth West
Screen Cornwall A large stage with red beaming lights on the left and right side of the image. There is a large black and white Cornish flag in the background, and in front of it is a big white puppet, and a crowd of performers on the stage in old-fashioned clothing. Screen Cornwall
Organisers said the main stadium show had been watched by about 2.5 million television viewers

Nearly 200 people represented Cornwall at this year's Interceltic Festival after the county was named the honoured nation for the event.

More musicians, singers, dancers and wrestlers from Cornwall took part in the 55th festival in France then ever before.

Lowenna Hosken, producer for the Cornish delegation at the Lorient Interceltic Festival, said being chosen as the honoured nation showed "just how far we have come, we are no longer a small nation, we are standing up and really taking a presence on a world stage".

Organisers said the festival had attracted about 950,000 visitors and the main stadium show had been watched by about 2.5 million television viewers.

Screen Cornwall A stage full of dancers who are skipping in a circle with old-fashioned clothing on. Two people can be seen playing the guitar at the back of the stage, and the image is taken from the back of the stage, looking out towards the dancers and the crowd.Screen Cornwall
The show featured a new composition called The Mermaid of Zennor

Cornwall's food, drink, film and art were showcased throughout the event, which ran from July 31 to August 9.

The delegation opened the festival with a performance called Kernocopia and later appeared in the main stadium show.

The show featured a new composition called The Mermaid of Zennor which was composed by Cornish conductor Gareth Churcher and performed by the ensemble Senyans Kernow, the Celtic Male Ensemble and dancing group Kekezza.

A new light sculpture called the Bal Maiden was also premiered during the performance.

One of the show's participants, Amanda Harris, said: "Everyone at home should feel so proud."

Councillor Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said the festival was "firmly putting Cornwall at the centre of a massive audience".

Screen Cornwall Leigh Frost is wearing a black button-up shirt, and has black hair and olive toned skin. He is holding a black and white Cornish flag in his hands, and has a brown leather strap on his wrist. A bus stop can be seen in the background of the image, as well as an American flag and many people walking along the pavement.Screen Cornwall
Councillor Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said the festival put Cornwall "at the centre of a massive audience"

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