Portal:Wales

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The Wales Portal

Wales (Welsh: Cymru [ˈkəmrɨ] ^ⓘ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic Sea to the south-west. As of 2021^[update], it had a population of 3.2 million. It has a total area of 21,218 square kilometres (8,192 sq mi) and over 2,700 kilometres (1,680 mi) of coastline. It is largely mountainous with its higher peaks in the north and central areas, including Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), its highest summit. The country lies within the north temperate zone and has a changeable, maritime climate. Its capital and largest city is Cardiff.

A distinct Welsh culture emerged among the Celtic Britons after the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century, and Wales was briefly united under Gruffydd ap Llywelyn in 1055. After over 200 years of war, the conquest of Wales by King Edward I of England was completed by 1283, though Owain Glyndŵr led the Welsh Revolt against English rule in the early 15th century, and briefly re-established an independent Welsh state with its own national parliament (Welsh: senedd). In the 16th century the whole of Wales was annexed by England and incorporated within the English legal system under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. Distinctive Welsh politics developed in the 19th century. Welsh Liberalism, exemplified in the early 20th century by David Lloyd George, was displaced by the growth of socialism and the Labour Party. Welsh national feeling grew over the century: a nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, was formed in 1925, and the Welsh Language Society in 1962. A governing system of Welsh devolution is employed in Wales, of which the most major step was the formation of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament, formerly the National Assembly for Wales) in 1998, responsible for a range of devolved policy matters. (Full article...)

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The Holy Bible is the third studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 29 August 1994 by Epic Records and was the last of the band's albums released before the disappearance of lyricist and guitarist Richey Edwards (credited as "Richey James" on the album sleeve), on 1 February 1995.

Edwards was facing problems with alcohol abuse, self-harm and anorexia nervosa at the time the album was written and recorded, and its contents are considered by some sources to reflect his mental state. The songs focus on themes relating to politics and human suffering.

The album won widespread critical acclaim and features in "Best Album of All Time" polls in the UK. It has been described by the NME as "a work of genuine genius". Although it reached number six on the UK albums charts, global sales were disappointing compared to previous albums, and the record did not chart in mainland Europe or North America. The album was promoted with tours and festival appearances in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, in part without Edwards.

An expanded 10th Anniversary Edition of the album was released in 2004.

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Credit: Jamieo

Tor Bay and Three Cliffs Bay, Gower, Glamorgan

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Did you know...?

... that the Druid's Head Inn, an old public house in Monmouth, Wales, now serves as the headquarters of the Monmouth RFC?
... that the Monmouth Methodist Church was set back behind the houses along St James Street by law?
... that the Monmouth Regimental Museum displays a variety of objects, including a mediaeval "crock pot" and a baby gas mask?
... that St John's in Monmouth, Wales, has been described as "one of Monmouth's best-kept secrets"?

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To say it is a dog's breakfast is an insult to the pet food industry.

— Rhodri Morgan, comment on architectural plans for the National Assembly for Wales building.

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Lloyd Owen (born 14 April 1966) is a British actor of Welsh descent. Trained at the National Youth Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, he is probably best known for his portrayal of Indiana Jones's father Professor Dr. Henry Jones, Sr. in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles between 1992 and 1993 and for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC Scotland television series Monarch of the Glen from 2002 to 2005. He played the role of solicitor William Heelis in the film Miss Potter (2006). However, his first love has always been the theatre. His first break on stage was the role of Nick in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1996. Other highlights of his stage career include playing Dan in Closer in 1998 and George in The York Realist in 2002. His most recent role was as Peter in Paul (2005). Growing up in a theatrical family, as a child Owen met many icons who were his father's friends, including John Conteh, Tommy Cooper, Ken Dodd, Ronnie Fraser, Richard Harris, Danny La Rue and Peter O'Toole.

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In the news

Wikinews Wales portal

General images

The following are images from various Wales-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1"Cymdeithas yr Iaith" (Society for the Language) bilingual road sign protest, 1972. (from History of Wales)
Image 2Owain Glyndŵr (from History of Wales)
Image 3Two of the furnaces of the Blaenavon Ironworks (from History of Wales)
Image 4Owain Glyndŵr painting by AC Michael (from Culture of Wales)
Image 5Bryn Celli Ddu, a late Neolithic chambered tomb on Anglesey
Image 6Gravestone of King Cadfan ap Iago of Gwynedd (died c. 625) in Llangadwaladr church (from History of Wales)
Image 7Big Pit, National Coal Museum. (from History of Wales)
Image 8Medieval kingdoms of Wales shown within the boundaries of the present day country of Wales and not inclusive of all (from History of Wales)
Image 9Map of the Roman invasion of Wales (from History of Wales)
Image 10Caradog by Thomas Prydderch. Caradog was leader of the north Walian Celtic tribe, the Ordovices, and led multiple Celtic tribes against the Romans. (from History of Wales)
Image 11Opening of the Sixth Senedd in Cardiff in 2021 (from History of Wales)
Image 12Portrait of William Morgan. (from History of Wales)
Image 13Statue of Owain Glyndŵr (c. 1354 or 1359 – c. 1416) at Cardiff City Hall
Image 14King Hywel Dda depicted enthroned in a 13th-century manuscript (from History of Wales)
Image 15The Flag of Saint David (from Culture of Wales)
Image 16Britain in AD 500: The areas shaded pink on the map were inhabited by the Britons, here labelled Welsh. The pale blue areas in the east were controlled by Germanic tribes, while the pale green areas to the north were inhabited by the Gaels and Picts. (from History of Wales)
Image 17Offa's Dyke (Clawdd Offa) Map. (from History of Wales)
Image 18A Plaid Cymru rally in Machynlleth in 1949, where the Parliament for Wales Campaign began (from History of Wales)
Image 19Facsimile of Part of Column 579 from the Red Book of Hergest (from Culture of Wales)
Image 20Cawl, a Welsh dish of meat and vegetables (from Culture of Wales)
Image 21Harlech Castle was one of a series built by Edward I to consolidate his conquest. (from History of Wales)
Image 22Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper (1910) (from Culture of Wales)
Image 23Crempog - Anglesey style (from Culture of Wales)
Image 24Standard of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, King of Powys 1063-1075. (from History of Wales)
Image 25Senedd-Welsh Parliament, Cardiff Bay. (from History of Wales)
Image 26Dowlais Ironworks (1840) by George Childs (1798–1875) (from History of Wales)
Image 27The Bard, 1774, by Thomas Jones (1742–1803) (from Culture of Wales)
Image 28Battle at Mametz Wood by Christopher Williams (1918), commissioned by Secretary of State for War at the time, David Lloyd George. (from History of Wales)
Image 29Tom Jones performing with Janis Joplin in 1969 (from Culture of Wales)
Image 30Medieval crwth instrument (from Culture of Wales)
Image 31Red Dragon of Wales (from Culture of Wales)
Image 32Medieval map of Welsh realms (from History of Wales)

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This is a list of recognized content, updated weekly by JL-Bot (talk · contribs) (typically on Saturdays). There is no need to edit the list yourself. If an article is missing from the list, make sure it is tagged (e.g. {{WikiProject Wales}}) or categorized correctly and wait for the next update. See WP:RECOG for configuration options.