FRANCIS, GRIFFITH (1876 - 1936) and OWEN (1879 - 1936), known as ' Y Brodyr Francis ' ('The Francis Brothers'), musicians

Born at Bryn-y-wern, Cwm Pennant, Caernarfonshire. Griffith in December 1876 and Owen on 15 June 1879, the sons of William and Mary Francis. Their father, who was a good musician, was an official in Moelfre quarry; their mother 'Mair Alaw,' singer, was a native of Nantlle. The brothers became quarrymen.

Griffith, who was a poet, published Telyn Eryri, containing poems dealing with the lives of quarrymen and smallholders; he collected material for another book but that was not published.

Owen was a musician who wrote some songs.

Much work by the brothers appeared in the columns of Y Genedl Gymreig and periodicals. In the early days of radio they took part in the first Welsh concert broadcast from Dublin; they took part in some hundreds of concerts. The two always sang together and both died in the same year - Owen on 6 April 1936 (he was buried in Salem chapel burial ground, Llanllyfni) and Griffith on 15 June 1936 (he was buried in Macpela chapel burial ground, Pen-y-groes).

Author

• Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)

Sources

• Y Cerddor, August 1936
• notices in issues of Y Genedl Gymreig and Baner ac Amserau Cymru, 1936

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733088

Published date: 1959

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