The Eden Valley is thought to have been the heartland of the kingdom of Rheged

Rheged (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈr̥ɛɡɛd]) is described in poetic sources as one of the kingdoms of the Hen Ogledd ("Old North"), the Brythonic-speaking region of what is now northern England and southern Scotland, during the Early Middle Ages. Its borders are not described in the poems, but some modern scholars have suggested that it included what is now Cumbria in North West England and possibly extended into Lancashire and Scotland.^[1] In the historical sources Rheged is intimately associated with the king Urien Rheged and his family.^[2] Its inhabitants spoke Cumbric, a Brythonic dialect closely related to Old Welsh.^[3]

Location[link]

The name Rheged appears regularly as an epithet of a certain Urien in a number of early Welsh poems and royal genealogies. His victories over the Anglian chieftains of Bernicia in the second half of the sixth century are recorded by Nennius and celebrated by the bard Taliesin, who calls him "Ruler of Rheged". He is thus placed squarely in the North of Britain and more specifically in Westmorland when referred to as "Ruler of Llwyfenydd" (the Lyvennet Valley).^[4] Later legend associates Urien with the city of Carlisle, only twenty-five miles away; Higham suggests that Rheged was "broadly conterminous with the earlier Civitas Carvetiorum, the Roman administrative unit based on Carlisle". Although it is possible that Rheged was merely a stronghold, it was not uncommon for sub-Roman monarchs to use their kingdom's name as an epithet. It is generally accepted, therefore, that Rheged was a kingdom covering a large part of modern Cumbria.

Place-name evidence from Dunragit (possibly "Fort of Rheged") suggests that, at least during one period of its history, Rheged extended into Dumfries and Galloway. More problematic interpretations suggest that it could also have reached as far south as Rochdale in Greater Manchester, recorded in the Domesday Book as Recedham. The River Roch on which Rochdale stands was recorded in the 13th century as "Rachedor Rachet."^[5] These place-names may (apparently) incorporate the element 'Rheged' precisely because they lay on or near its borders. Certainly Urien's kingdom stretched eastward at one time, as he was also "Ruler of Catraeth" (Catterick in North Yorkshire).

Kings of Rheged[link]

The traditional royal genealogy of Urien and his successors traces their ancestry back to Coel Hen (alias King Cole), who may have ruled much of the North in the early 5th century. It is generally assumed that all of those listed ruled in Rheged, but only three of their number can be verified from external sources:

• Meirchion Gul, also known as Cynfarch fab Meirchion; father of Cynfarch Gul
• Cynfarch Oer, who gave his name to the family tribe^{[citation needed]}; father of Urien
• Urien Rheged, (c. 550 – 590), about whom survive eight songs of Taliesin
• Owain, also celebrated for having fought the Bernicians; son of Urien

Southern Rheged[link]

A second royal genealogy exists for a line, perhaps of kings, descended from Cynfarch Oer's brother: Elidir Lydanwyn. According to Bonedd Gwŷr y Gogledd Elidir's son, Llywarch Hen, was a ruler in North Britain in the 6th century.^[6] He was driven from his territory by princely in-fighting after Urien's death and was perhaps in old age associated with Powys. However, it is possible, because of internal inconsistencies, that the poetry connected to Powys was associated with Llywarch's name at a later, probably ninth century, date.^[7] Llywarch is referred to in some poems as king of South Rheged, and in others as king of Argoed, suggesting that the two regions were the same. Searching for Llywarch's kingdom has led some historians to propose that, as was common in later Brythonic kingdoms, Rheged may well have been divided between sons, resulting in northern and southern successor states. The connections of the family of Llywarch and Urien with Powys has suggested to some, on grounds of proximity, that the area of modern Lancashire may have been their original home.^[8]

The Gaels and other Celtic speaking peoples in Rheged[link]

There is considerable evidence for an Hiberno-Scottish presence in Rheged. It is known that missionaries were active in sub-Roman Cumbria (although the region was at least nominally Christian), as indicated by several early church dedications to St. Columba and St Kentigern, also known as Cyndeyrn Garthwys. There were probably traders, slavers, pirates and settlers unconnected with the church as well.

End of Rheged[link]

After Bernicia united with Deira to become the kingdom of Northumbria, Rheged was annexed by Northumbria, some time before AD 730. There was a royal marriage between Prince (later King) Oswiu of Northumbria and the Rhegedian princess Riemmelth, granddaughter of Rum (Rhun), probably in 638, so it is probable that it was a peaceful takeover, both kingdoms being inherited by the same man.

After Rheged was incorporated into Northumbria, the old Cumbric language was gradually replaced by Old English, Cumbric surviving only in remote upland communities. In the 10th century, after the power of Northumbria was destroyed by Viking incursions and settlement, large areas west of the Pennines fell without warfare under the control of the British kingdom of Strathclyde, with Leeds recorded as being on the border between the Britons and the Norse Kingdom of York. This may have represented the political assertion of lingering British culture in the region.^[9] The area of Cumbria remained under the control of Strathclyde until the early 11th century when Strathclyde itself was absorbed into the Scottish Kingdom. The name of the Cymry (Welsh people) has, however, survived in the name of Cumberland and now Cumbria.

Rheged remembered[link]

Entrance to the Rheged Discovery Centre

The name Rheged has today been adopted by the Rheged Discovery Centre [1] close to Penrith in Cumbria. The centre has a number of retail outlets and cafés with a Cumbrian theme, as well as the largest turf roof in Europe and a giant cinema screen among whose films is one about the history of Rheged.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Bartrum, PC (1966) Early Welsh Genealogical Tracts
• Chadwick, H.M. (1959) Cambridge Studies in Early British History, Cambridge University Press
• Chadwick, H.M. and Chadwick, N.K. (1940) The Growth of Literature, Volume 1, Cambridge University Press
• Chadwick, N.K (1973) Studies in the Early British Church, Archon Books.
• Ellis, Peter Beresford (1993) Celt and Saxon
• Higham, Nick (1986) The Northern Counties to AD 1000
• Jackson, Kenneth (1953) Language & History in Early Britain, Edinburgh University Press
• Kapelle, W.E. (1979) The Norman Conquest of the North: the Region and its Transformation, 1000-1135. University of North Carolina Press.
• Marsden, John (1992) Northanhymbre Saga
• Morris, John (1973) The Age of Arthur
• Morris-Jones, John (1918) Y Commrodor 28
• Williams, Ifor (1935) Canu Llywarch Hen
• Williams, Ifor (1960) Canu Taliesin
• Williams, Ifor Ed. (1972) The Beginnings of Welsh Poetry," University of Wales Press.

Jerry Donahue
Jerry Donahue playing his Peavey Omniac JD in 2008
Background information
Born	(1946-09-24) September 24, 1946 (age 65) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Genres	Folk rock, electric folk, blues rock, rock, country
Occupations	Musician, producer
Instruments	Guitar
Associated acts	Fotheringay, Fairport Convention, Hellecasters, Gathering - Legends of Folk Rock, The Electric Revelators
Website	Official Website
Notable instruments
Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster signature models, Peavey Omniac JD signature model

Jerry Donahue (born September 24, 1946, Manhattan, New York City) is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters.

Biography[link]

Donahue was born in New York, the son of big band saxophonist Sam Donahue and actress Patricia Donahue and grew up in Los Angeles. Encouraged by his parents, Donahue took classical guitar lessons as a child, but it was Gerry McGee (who later joined The Ventures) who made the biggest impression on him, when the 14-year-old Donahue winessed him playing a behind-the-nut bend at a performance at the Sea Witch, emulating Earl Scruggs' banjo technique. Donahue then took lessons from McGee. Regarding regular bends on the fretboard, Donahue cites Amos Garrett as a major influence. Other influences in his formative years were Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy, The Shadows and The Ventures; later influences were Clarence White, Danny Gatton, Albert Lee, Tommy Emmanuel and Robben Ford.^[1][2][3]

After moving to England, Donahue soon became a respected member of the developing British folk rock scene. As a band member, he played with Poet And The One Man Band, Fotheringay and Fairport Convention. Later he recorded and/or toured with artists such as Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Robert Plant, Elton John, The Proclaimers, Johnny Hallyday, George Harrison, Cliff Richard, Chris Rea, Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, Hank Marvin, Roy Orbison, Nanci Griffith, The Beach Boys and The Yardbirds. In 1990 he founded the guitar trio The Hellecasters with Will Ray and John Jorgenson.^[3] They recorded several instrumental albums and frequently toured in the 1990s and early 2000s. Donahue has released instructional videotapes and more recently has produced solo projects including Sandy Denny's Gold Dust (1998) and The Animals' Instinct (2004)^[4] as well as finishing the second album by his short-lived Folk rock band Fotheringay in 2008.^[5]

Recently, Donahue formed the band Gathering - Legends of Folk Rock with Clive Bunker, Rick Kemp, Ray Jackson, Doug Morter and daughter Kristina Donahue.^[6]

Jerry joined The Electric Revelators duo Gordon Wride & Simon Gregory in February 2011 for a UK tour of The Songs Of Robert Johnson in celebration of the king of delta blues birth in 1911.

During this period The Electric Revelators featuring Jerry Donahue, Gordon Wride and Simon Gregory headlined the Acoustic Stage Colne Blues Festival August 2011, once again performing the songs of Robert Johnson - this was a one off festival appearance!

Style and techniques[link]

Feeling at home in the US as well as in the UK, Donahue musically draws from influences of both countries like Celtic music, rock, blues and country.^[2] Technically, Donahue mostly plays in fingerpicking or hybrid picking style with his right hand. However, his left hand technique made him famous among guitar players: Since his first encounter with guitarists Gerry McGee and Amos Garrett as a teenager, Donahue was fascinated by and eventually mastered the technique of string "bending". Telecaster player Danny Gatton praised him as "the string-bending king of the planet".

Equipment[link]

Around 1997, Fender made a Jerry Donahue signature Stratocaster^[7] in Japan, but Donahue's style and technique are closely associated with his signature Fender Telecaster (from Japan)^[8][9] and the Telecaster in general. His signature Stratocaster was even modified with a metal plate under the bridge pickup to more closely emulate the Telecaster sound. The JD Telecaster is noticeable for replacing the chrome Tele neck pickup with a Strat pickup and the addition of a 5-way switch with custom wiring. More recently (2005) Peavey released the Omniac JD signature guitar.^[10][11]

The current guitar bearing the Jerry Donahue name is the Fret King Black Label Jerry Donahue model, designed by Jerry and the world renowned guitar designer, Trev Wilkinson. Guitarist magazine in the UK have given this guitar the coveted Guitarist's Choice award with 4.5 stars out of 5.

Discography[link]

Partial discography only, for a fuller list, refer to the Hellecasters^[12] site and Jerry Donahue at Allmusic.^[13]

• Fotheringay: Fotheringay (Island 1970)***.
• Johnny Hallyday: Live at the Palais des Sports (Paris, 1971)
• Fairport Convention: Nine (Island, October 1973)
• Fairport Convention: Rosie (Island, March 1973)
• Fairport Convention: A Moveable Feast (Island, October 1974)
• Fairport Convention: Rising for the Moon (Island, July 1975)
• Jerry Donahue: Telecasting (Spindrift, 1986)
• Jerry Donahue: Meetings (Fun, 1988)
• Jerry Donahue: Neck of the Wood (Cross Three, Road Goes on... 1992)
• Jerry Donahue: Country Tech (CPP, Warner Bros., 1992)
• Jerry Donahue: Telecasting Recast (Pharaoh, 1999)
• Fotheringay: 2 (Fledg'ling, 2008)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website

Shaun Brady was general secretary of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), the train drivers' trade union in Great Britain.

He was the surprise winner of the election for general secretary in 2003. He had a short and troubled period in office, and was sacked by the union in 2004. In 2008 he won a libel action against his successor Keith Norman, following defamatory articles published in the union's journal and online.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• article

This biographical article about a United Kingdom activist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e