Owain Williams is the leader of Llais Gwynedd, a regionalist political party in Gwynedd, north Wales, and councillor who previously represented the Clynnog Fawr ward for Gwynedd Council.

He is a fervent nationalist committed to an independent Wales. In the 1960s, he was imprisoned twice for bombing the site of the future Llyn Celyn reservoir but later turned to the democratic route,[1][2][3] becoming the chairman of the Independent Wales Party as well as a member of, at different times, both the Welsh Labour Party and Plaid Cymru. In May 2008 he was elected chairman of Llais Gwynedd after their emergence following the 2008 Welsh local elections.[4][5] In the summer of 2009, he was reported to the authorities for leaving the bodies of several dead sheep to rot in his fields.[6]

Williams' story inspired the 2021 film The Welshman. The film was nominated for a BAFTA Cymru award.[7] He also wrote an autobiography, entitled Tryweryn: A Nation Awakes.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Devine, Darren (27 July 2009). "Radical 'paved way for devolution'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "I'm no traitor, says ex-bomber who now owns a caravan park; Nationalist accused after opening holiday centre in Llyn. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Dam bomber: I wanted to rock the nation; In his new autobiography, Gwynedd politician Owain Williams reveals his reasons for trying to sabotage work to supply Liverpool with Welsh water. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "WALES: Rebel with a cause; SPECIAL REPORT LLAIS GWYNEDD STUNNED THE LOCAL POLITICAL SCENE BY TAKING 12 SEATS AT LAST WEEK'S ELECTION. HERE LEADER OWAIN WILLIAMS INSISTS THEY ARE NO SINGLE-ISSUE PARTY. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Devine, Darren (4 April 2016). "Tryweryn bomber recounts role in attempt to blow up dam". WalesOnline. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Daily Post, "Rebel with a cause" (Ian Parri), May 9 2008.
  7. ↑ Crump, Eryl (9 September 2021). "New film on life of Tryweryn bomber Owain Williams up for BAFTA awards". North Wales Live. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "'I hoped dam bomb would awaken ordinary people' In 1963 Owain Williams took a 'drastic step to awaken ordinary people'- he took part in the bombing of the Tryweryn dam. Here, he recounts his role in a milestone in Welsh history. Darren Devine reports. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.


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