Owain Owain

Owain Owain (11 December 1929 – 19 December 1993)[1] was a Welsh novelist, short-story writer and poet. He also founded Tafod y Ddraig (The Dragon's Tongue), which became the Welsh Language Society's main voice from its birth in the 1960s to the present day.[2]

For the album by Gwenno, see Y Dydd Olaf (album).

Owain in 1966
Original "Dragon's tongue created by Owain Owain

Having worked as a nuclear scientist in Windscale for a few years, he returned home to Wales in 1956 with his wife Eira, and settled down in Bangor to raise a family of four children, one of whom is Robin Llwyd ab Owain. He was a member of Mensa International, and created new protests for the Welsh Language Society as the secretary of the first branch, located at Bangor.[3] Owain also sketched the society's logo (a red dragon's tongue) which continues to be their badge and logo. This early sketch can be seen at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth and on his official website (see below). Leading politician Dafydd Iwan says on his website, "He inspired my generation and laid down strong foundations on which the Welsh Language Society was built."

His science fiction book entitled Y Dydd Olaf ("The Last Day") was described by the Welsh literary critic Pennar Davies in the book's preface: "Nothing like this book has been seen before either in our language or in any other language. We should rejoice that such brilliance exists in Welsh writing."[4]

References
  1. Births and Deaths Register, Owen Owen, born December 1929, Mother's maiden name before marriage: Williams; Area of Registration: Caernarfon, Volume Number: 11b, Page: 542; area Caernarfon - December 1993 area Caernarfon England and Wales Register of Deaths, Owain Owain, December 1993, Born: 11 December 1929, Registration Area: Caernarfon, Number on Register: 40, Reference number: 46.
  2. 'Trwy Ddulliau Chwyldro...?, Dylan Phyllips, Gwasg Gomer Press, 1998.
  3. Wyt Ti'n Cofio? by Gwilym Tudur (Gwasg y Lolfa Press, 1989). "The only branch at the time was set up by Owain Owain in Bangor; and to all intent and purpose, he was the society at that time (early 1960s)!"
  4. Y Dydd Olaf by Owain Owain published by Christopher Davies Publishers, Swansea, 1976. OCLC 40166195



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