GRIFFITH, OWEN (Ywain Meirion, Owen Gospiol, 1803 - 1868), ballad-writer and strolling ballad-singer

If we could be quite certain that he was the man who under the pseudonym Owen Meirion wrote the article on the history of Bala, in Y Brython, 1860, 264-5, we could say that he was born at Bala. He sang in fairs all over Wales - he is heard of, e.g. at Machynlleth, Holywell, Llanfyllin, Llanrwst, and the Caernarvonshire fairs, and he was very well known in South Wales. He always wore a top-hat. Some have it that he gave up ballad-singing and became a rag-collector; in any case, it is certain that his last years, despite the kindness of Nicholas Bennett, were years of adversity. He died a pauper at Llanbryn-mair, 24 June 1868, at the age of sixty-five, and was buried there by the parish - on his tomb is an englyn by Mynyddog. We have fifty-nine of his ballads.

Author

• Emeritus Professor Robert Thomas Jenkins, (1881 - 1969)

Sources

• Y Geninen, October 1901
• reminiscences of him in Cymru (O.M.E.), e.g. ii, 48, xiv, 64, xxii, 10, xxvii, 166-7
• David Samuel, Cerddi Cymru casgliad o ganeuon Cymreig, hen a diweddar, i, 20-2
• B. B. Thomas, Baledi Morgannwg (1951), contains two of his ballads, xviii and xxv
• Journal of the Welsh Bibliographical Society, vii, 60-4, 85, viii, 104 (a list of his known ballads)

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734063

Published date: 1959

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