EISTEDDFOD ROCK PROM FOR ALL AGES
THE iconic pink pavilion may have gone but 130,000 people still flocked to Abergavenny this week for the 2016 National Eisteddfod. The festival had not been held in the town for more than 100 years and the week saw ceremonies, concerts and competitions within the newlook pavilion and around the Maes.
For the first time a rock prom was held on the main stage, which saw people of all ages gather to enjoy the spectacle.
Hosted by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, it featured popular Welsh bands including Yr Ods, Swnami and Candelas, who were accompanied by the Welsh Pops Orchestra under the baton of composer Owain Llwyd.
Aimed to mix the younger generation’s Maes B music style but incorporating a full orchestra, the evening successfully attracted an audience of all ages.
During the week the main ceremonies were praised for their excellent standard of entries, with a worthy winner named in all awards.
Among those winners, Elinor Gwynn, from Rhostryfan near Caer- narfon, was crowned for her collection of poems, which were inspired by a personal tragedy after she lost her father last year.
And the chair, given by poet Dic Jones’ family to mark 50 years since he won, was awarded to Aneirin Karadog, from Pontyberem, for his sequence of poems shaped by war, terrorism and the refugee crisis – weaved in with his experience of being a father.
Chief executive of the National Eisteddfod Elfed Roberts said he has been impressed by the young age of the main competition winners, highlighting they were all under 40.
He said: “When I started working with the Eisteddfod people feared young people wouldn’t be interested in writing poetry and novels.
“But the young age of all these winners proves this fear was wrong and this makes me feel very proud.”
One building which had disappeared this year was the iconic bright pink pavilion, which was replaced with a more square-shaped white building.
Elfed added: “The highlight for me was having the new pavilion and seeing how it has succeeded.
“We knew losing the pink pavilion would be hard because it was an iconic building.
“But it was causing problems in terms of sound, acoustics and in particular if it was windy.
“It wasn’t able to fulfil the experience competitors and audience should be having but this one has answered those problems.”
Eisteddfod court president Gary Nicholas, who will now be handing over the role to Eifion Lloyd Jones, said bringing the Eisteddfod to Abergavenny, which has a low percentage of Welsh speakers, has been “wonderful” and said the locals had been enthusiastic and showed great support.
He said the festival has been a cultural celebration for everyone and mentioned the oldest competitor to step onto the stage in the learners’ solo recital competition.
Soon to celebrate her 100th birth- day Helena Jones, from Brecon, welled up as the audience sang Happy Birthday to her when she went to collect her bronze medal.
Next year’s festival will be held in Bodedern on Anglesey and will mark 100 years of the Gadair Ddu [Black Chair] after chair winner, Hedd Wyn, was killed in the Great War just six weeks before the ceremony.
The poet, from Trawsfynydd, won with his poem Yr Arwr [ The Hero] at the Eisteddfod in Birkenhead in 1917.
But following his death the chair was awarded posthumously and was draped in black during the ceremony.
To remember the Black Chair and those who were killed during World War I the Eisteddfod is preparing a special musical project, which will be performed on the opening night on Anglesey.
Anglesey AM Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “I can see the excitement on Anglesey already and seeing this year has been such a wonderful Eisteddfod makes us excited about making sure 2017 will be just as successful.”
Tickets for the opening concert will be on sale from April 1.