Councillor pitches for hometown Eisteddfod

A PORTHMADOG councillor has made a pitch for her hometown to host the National Eisteddfod for the first time in 34 years.

Gwynedd Council confirmed it has been assisting organisers with identifying suitable sites to host the 2021 arts and cultural festival, with Caernarfon in the running as a possible venue.

Councillor Nia Jeffreys, who represents Porthmadog East, asked council leader Dyfrig Siencyn to consider her hometown.

Addressing a full council meeting, she said: “I welcome the Eisteddfod to Gwynedd of course but I am a Porthmadog councillor and we have invited the event to the town. It hasn’t been there since 1987 and I would love to see it come to Llŷn and Eifionydd personally.”

In response, Cllr Siencyn said: “Thank you to both Porthmadog and Caernarfon for their interest so far, it shows how enthusiastic we are in Gwynedd in supporting the Eisteddfod. But I’m afraid the financial constraints, it seems, following the Cardiff Eisteddfod may have hampered Caernarfon’s chances. And I’m sure that Porthmadog is also in the mix unless there are any flooding concerns, but we will see.”

National Eisteddfod chief executive Betsan Moses, speaking at the recent Eisteddfod Council meeting in Cardigan, said a shortlist of possible sites had been drawn up following 26 submissions.

She added the technical committee would be consulting with North Wales Police and Natural Resources Wales before a decision is announced.