Rhys and Meinir
Welsh folklore's tragic lovers of Nant Gwrtheyrn.
Rhys Maredudd and Meinir are figures from a Welsh folklore tale set in the village of Nant Gwrtheyrn on the Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd. The story recounts their tragic love, which ended when Rhys discovered Meinir's skeleton inside a hollow oak tree after she disappeared on their wedding day. Their legend has become a notable part of Welsh folklore, inspiring artistic works and local traditions.
- Died
- Not specified in source
Lore & Background
Rhys Maredudd, of Tŷ Uchaf farm, and Meinir, in some sources his cousin, were childhood sweethearts who grew up together in the Nant Gwrtheyrn valley. They often played together on the slopes of Yr Eifl, particularly under a certain hollow oak tree. When they grew up, they became engaged to be married. In Nant Gwrtheyrn at that time, there was a tradition known as the ‘Wedding Quest’, where the bride would hide and the groom would seek her out before their wedding ceremony began. On the morning of their wedding in the church at Clynnog Fawr, in accordance with this tradition, Meinir disappeared to hide. However, Rhys was unable to find her, and even when the rest of their family and friends joined the search, they had no luck. Rhys continued his search for Meinir over the following years, but to no avail.
Reader's Guide
The legend of Rhys and Meinir holds significance as a tragic love story within Welsh folklore, set in the specific location of Nant Gwrtheyrn. Its legacy includes the Caffi Meinir cafe at the Nant Gwrtheyrn Welsh Language and Heritage Centre, which takes its name from Meinir, and an oak tree trunk sculpture by Sebastien Boyesen that displays the legend. The story has inspired artistic works such as the 1987 Welsh-language musical 'Rhys a Meinir' by Robin Lwyd ab Owain and the 2017 album 'Rhys a Meinir' by Welsh musician Cian Ciaran. It also appears in compilations like Russ Williams's 'Where the Folk; a Welsh Folklore Road Trip' and Peter Stevenson's 'Illustrated Welsh Folk Tales for Young and Old'. The tale continues to attract visitors who report seeing the ghosts of Rhys and Meinir walking hand-in-hand on the beach at night, and it is said that no bird will land on the lightning-struck oak except owls and cormorants.
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