Crowds revel in culture as Eisteddfod returns
THOUSANDS of people came to the National Eisteddfod Maes in Tregaron at the weekend as the festival returned for the first time since 2019.
Europe’s largest cultural festival was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic – it was last held traditionally with pavilions and face-to-face activities in Llanrwst. A digital festival was held in 2020 and a hybrid festival in Aberystwyth last year.
But the Eisteddfod has returned in all its glory in Ceredigion, with a full schedule of competitions, events and activities every day until Saturday, August 8.
Welcoming Eisteddfodwyr to the Maes, Elin Jones, Ceredigion MS and chairman of the local executive committee, said: “Finally we are able to welcome the Eisteddfod to Ceredigion. I have chaired the longest executive committee in the history of the Eisteddfod. We met more often on Zoom than at Neuadd Goffa Tregaron but we are looking forward to a week to remember.”
The opening concert, Lloergan, was excellent, she said, with the audience leaving the large pavilion with “big smiles on their faces”.
“I was at the opening ceremony of Babell Len (the Literary Pavilion) and it was packed at 10 o’clock in the morning,” she said.
“The feedback on the Maes has been very positive so far, and everyone is glad to be back here.”
Officials of the National Eisteddfod worked closely with Ceredigion County Council in preparing the festival.
Chief executive of the National Eisteddfod Betsan Moses said: “After three long years, we can’t wait for the gates to open to welcome everyone to the Ceredigion National Eisteddfod. The Maes looks amazing and we have a packed programme of events and activities throughout the week highlighting our language and culture.”
She added that changes are being introduced this year to the Eisteddfod, with a larger Ty Gwerin (folk music pavilion) than before and a village for the learners and the science and technology sections.
Some of the stages have drawn up late programmes and special areas have been created for visitors to relax away from the bustle of the Maes. These areas include a special garden.
“Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted but the Maes was designed so that they still exist. That gives the visitors more space to enjoy the Eisteddfod,” she said.
More than 15,000 tickets have been given free to children under 12, families from disadvantaged backgrounds, refugees and asylum-seekers in the county.
The number of choirs competing this year is encouraging, according to Elen Elis, artistic director of the Eisteddfod.
She said some choirs that had originally registered for 2020 had withdrawn but other choirs had formed and registered to compete during the week.
Leader of Ceredigion County Council, Cllr Bryan Davies, is looking forward to welcoming the people of Wales and beyond to the county. He noted that the county has a long tradition of holding Eisteddfods, starting in Cardigan in 1176 and the last in Aberystwyth in 1992.
“We call it the Tregaron Eisteddfod, but it’s Ceredigion’s Eisteddfod. I hope you can travel around Ceredigion to see what else we have to offer,” he said. He also thanked all the villages in the county that have decorated for the Eisteddfod.
Eisteddfod officials dealt with some minor problems on the Maes after the rain on Saturday night and the traffic management plan was said to be working satisfactorily.