The drowning of the Tryweryn Valley in 1965 remains one of the most emotionally charged events in modern Welsh history. The valley, located near Bala in North Wales, was home to the small Welsh-speaking village of Capel Celyn. Despite fierce opposition from local residents, Welsh MPs, and nationalists, Liverpool City Council pushed through a bill in Parliament allowing the construction of the Llyn Celyn reservoir to supply water to Liverpool and the Wirral. Crucially, this decision was made without the consent of any Welsh authority, igniting a sense of betrayal and powerlessness among many in Wales.
Capel Celyn was one of the few remaining Welsh-only speaking communities, and its loss represented more than just the destruction of buildings—it was a blow to Welsh culture, language, and identity. Houses, farmland, a school, and a chapel were all submerged. The protest, though unsuccessful, marked a turning point, fuelling a resurgence in Welsh nationalism and sparking wider movements to protect Welsh language and culture. The phrase "Cofiwch Dryweryn" ("Remember Tryweryn") became a symbol of this struggle, still seen today on walls and signs across Wales. The drowning of Tryweryn remains a poignant reminder of the tensions between local communities and centralised power.
