The legendary Welsh Prince Madoc has the possibility to encourage Colwyn Bay tourism

Friday, March 16, 2018

Of late, a campaign related to the legendary Welsh prince has been introduced in Conwy County in a bid to draw more tourists.

 
As per the folklore, Prince Madoc explored America almost 300 years before Christopher Columbus, after setting sail from Rhos-on-Sea in 1170.

 
Colwyn Business Improvement District expects to endorse the story to prospective American and Canadian visitors.

 
To quote Project manager Anna Openshaw, “It’s a unique selling point for the area.”

 
– Wales’ monsters and mythical beasts
– Medieval damsel in distress a myth’
– Search for life on ‘lost land’ under the sea

 
Prince Madoc was an illicit child of King Owain of Gwynedd, who is said to have visited Alabama to run away from the war of succession in his homeland after his father’s death.
Historian Graham Roberts said BBC Radio Wales’ Good Morning Wales programme there are “kernels of truth” in the story.

 
Even though there are no historical records of Prince Madoc’s feat, Mr Roberts explained that an old harbour wall has been found out close to the Rhos-on-Sea and a Welsh-speaking tribe is said to have been discovered in the New World.

 
Colwyn Business Improvement District is keen on creating “a significant and prominent tribute” to him – with earlier ideas recommended comprising information boards, souvenirs, flower displays and a replica of Prince Madoc’s boat.

 
To quote Conwy county, councillor Roger Parry, “With the connection to Alabama, we’ve spoken to people over there in the past and they seem quite interested in the link.
“It would definitely be something to expand.”

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