8th March 2009 - St Pirans Play, Perranporth
SW 7685 5638 - I make no excuses for going back to Gear Sands near Perranporth for the annual St Pirans play and pilgrimage.
The people of Perranzabuloe celebrate St Piran each year on the Sunday closest to St Pirans day.
Beneath a concrete cross the play begins. Legend starts in Ireland where the Irish King rules.
St Piran visits the villagers.
Piran addresses the crowd.
The king becomes more worried about the activities of Piran.
So he instructs his soldiers to arrest Piran.
The soldiers drag Piran onto the cliff top.
A millstone is tied around Piran's neck.
Piran is thrown off the cliff into the Irish Sea.
The distraught villagers protest.
Their protests are ignored.
Legend has it that Piran floated accross the Irish Sea on the millstone and came ashore on Penhale Sands where he built his Oratory.
The Cornish find Piran on the sands.
Piran introduces the Cornish to christianity. He heals the sick. Tin is discovered and there are calls for Cornish unity.
