Gwynfor’s words win chair again

FOR the second consecutive year, Gwynfor Dafydd from Tonyrefail is the winner of the Urdd National Eisteddfod chair.

The chair is presented to a winning bard for a composition in strict meter or for free verse poetry, not over 100 lines.

This year entrees had to write on the theme of “Hero or Heroine”.

Gwynfor is a first-year student at Jesus College, Cambridge, studying for a degree in English and German.

The competition judges were Aneirin Karadog and Rhys Iorwerth.

Aneirin said: “From the first reading, Gwynfor’s work grabs your attention through his ability to skilfully portray and describe in the free meter.

“Quite unexpectedly, what we have is an ekphrastic poem, based on the film I, Daniel Blake.

“At first, this caused us some concern; the poem relies heavily on the events and the characters in the film, and borrows its theme by discussing the suffering of lower-class communities. However, through his ability to astound us with powerful lines and maintain such a high standard throughout, we believe that this poem is strong enough to stand on its own two feet.

“Considering the maturity of this work, Gwynfor was by far the most accomplished poet in the competition.”

Gwynfor is very familiar with the Urdd stage, having competed from a young age both individually and as part of a group with Adran Bro Taf – in clog dancing, folk dancing, recitation and playing the harp.

He also wrote the Cywydd Croeso (Welcome Poem) for the Eisteddfod this year.

He said “The inspiration for the poem came from an old tree on the Pencoed campus and it’s a thrilling experience to be able to return to almost the same spot to win the chair today.”

The Master of the Ceremony was Mererid Hopwood; the person who introduced Gwynfor to the Welsh “cynghanedd”.

He said: “I started taking my writing seriously after being inspired in a session in school with Mererid Hopwood and I am also grateful to Cyril Jones and Huw Dylan for guiding me in the early days, and for the team of poets called ‘Tir Iarllt’ for the experience competing with them.

“But the main person that I would like to thank is Catrin Rowlands, my Welsh teacher at Ysgol Llanhari, for her continued support and advice,” he said.

Carwyn Eckley from Dyffryn Nantlle came second, with Matthew Tucker from Llanelli third.