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"HE WHO WOULD BE A LEADER LET HIM BE A BRIDGE."
Ysgol y Faenol's motto is an old, old story 'He who would be a leader let him be a bridge:' It comes from the second branch of the Mabinogi: this is the Tale of Branwen and Bendigeidfran.
Bendigeidfran was King of Britain and Branwen was his sister. Both lived in the court at Har-lech, Ardudwy. One day, they were sitting on the rock at Harlech that stood above the sea when they saw thirteen ships approaching the shore. These ships belonged to Matholwch, the King of Ireland. He had come to seek Branwen's hand in marriage. Bendigeidfran decided that Branwen should be Matholwch's wife and both were married at Aberffraw on Anglesey. On the evening of the marriage, in the middle of the feasting, Efnisien, Bendigeidfran's half brother, came to the place where Matholwch's horses were kept.
He heard about the marriage, and as he had not given permission for the marriage to take place, he lost his temper, tearing off the horses' ears, tails and lips. Matholwch heard about the damage done to his horses and decided to return to Ireland. Bendigeidfran sent men after him, entreating him to stay. He received gifts of gold and horses. A huge feast was arranged and Matholwch received a magic cauldron as a gift from Bendigeidfran.
Matholwch and Branwen sailed for Ireland, where both were happy for a whole year. A son was born to them, named Gwern. A short time afterwards, Ireland received news of the wrong done to Matholwch on the Island of the Mighty. The people decided that Branwen should be punished. She was forced to live as a maid and work in the kitchen, where she received a box on the ears each day from the butcher.
A starling was her only friend. Branwen spoke to the little bird, telling him about her brother, Bendigeidfran. The bird came to understand her language totally. Branwen wrote a letter to her brother, informing him of her punishment. She tied the letter to the starling's wing and told him to fly to where her brother was. The starling flew to Wales, and sent the message to Bendigeidfran. He flew into a rage and sailed with his soldiers for Ireland.
When Matholwch understood that Bendigeidfran had landed in Ireland, and was going to avenge the wrong done to Branwen, he escaped with his soldiers over the Shanon River and destroyed the bridge to prevent Bendigeidfran from catching him. When Bendigeidfran reached the river, and saw that there was no bridge there, he said, "He who would be a leader let him be a bridge [I will be a bridge]. He lay over the river and his soldiers walked over him from one bank of the river to the other.
That is where the saying "He who would be a leader let him be a bridge" comes from. The bridge on the logo is the Britannia Bridge that crosses from Anglesey to the mainland and which is situated very close to the school. We hope that Ysgol y Faenol will serve as a bridge for all the children who attend the school so as to enable them to step forward on a happy and successful educational journey.
Address: Y Faenol Church in Wales School,
Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2NN
Phone: 01248 352 162 | E-mail: pennaeth@faenol.ysgoliongwynedd.cymru
