Created a map of Cornwall in the Cornish language

A NEW Cornish map of Cornwall has been created – in what is likely to be the ‘last map’ ever created by the creator.

Towns, cities and features in the region are written in correct Cornish place names, as are the legend and other map details.

Paul Kavanagh, writer of the Wee Ginger Dug blog, created the map over a period of ten years, together with an academic authority covering the Cornish language.

Paul Kavanagh writes the Wee Ginger Dug blog and also creates maps

He told The National: “I hope this map can promote interest in the Cornish language and allow Cornish people to see a map that is aware of Cornwall as a country with its own language, and not just another English county.

“I hope it can become a source of pride for a Cornwall identity and provide a means of seeing Cornwall through the lens of the Cornish language.”

On his blog, he wrote: “(It is) a map of Cornwall as a country with its own distinct language and culture, meaning that for the first time Cornish people – and the rest of us – can see Cornwall through the lens. from Cornwall’s own tongue’.

It comes after the Gaelic maps of Scotland he produced, which he still sells.

Kavanagh included several elements to celebrate Cornish culture and national identity.

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The border is a Celtic knot in black and white as a nod to the colors of the Cornish flag.

The Celtic compass features a goshawk, the national bird of Cornwall, clutching an orb.

Kavanagh wrote on his blog that this is meant to symbolize that Cornish is a “language for the modern world”.

He told The National that creating the map was important to him: “It’s a bit emotional for me personally to publish this map.

“I drew and designed the body of the map years ago and in the interim I had a stroke which means I no longer have the use of my dominant hand.

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“Realistically, this is the last map I will ever publish. I can no longer make a new map from scratch.”

Kavanagh began working on the map during a difficult time in her life, as she was caring for her late husband during his battle with vascular dementia.

He wrote: “Celtic maps were something I could do on the computer in the corner of the living room where Andy could see me.

“If he lost sight of me, he panicked because he couldn’t remember where I was.”

He found the project “manageable”, telling The National that Cornwall’s small size was appealing, but around 300 place names remained untranslated, stalling the project.

Then life got in the way – Kavanagh’s husband died, she moved away to write for The National, remarried and suffered a stroke.

Still, the incomplete map continued to nag at him, and in the fall of 2023 he searched for Dozmary Pool, a place name that had always bothered him.

Kavanagh found that the Akademi Kernewek, the academic body that sets standards for the Cornish language, had translated many of the place names that had eluded him earlier.

Soon, and partnering with the group to ensure the translations were correct, he returned to work on the map and completed the project over the last few months.

The map will be launched at Kresen Kernow, Cornish Archive Centre, in Redruth on June 26 between 1pm and 4pm.

Kavanagh will travel from Scotland for the event and the map will be distributed for sale in Cornwall shortly after.

The map costs £22 for UK customers and payment can be made via PayPal to [email protected] with a postal address included.

International customers are encouraged to contact Kavanagh at [email protected] to discuss postage costs.