Should 2021 National Eisteddfod be held in Caernarfon?
CHIEF: ‘IT’S NEARLY 40 YEARS SINCE WE HELD IT... THAT’S TOO LONG’
WALES’ largest cultural festival, the National Eisteddfod, could be held in the centre of a historic castle town in three years time.
The 2021 event is due to be held in Gwynedd but no decision has been taken as to where the festival will be staged.
But officials in Caernarfon have already decided to gauge public opinion about staging the week-long festival in the town.
A public meeting will be held later this month to discuss the matter.
Caernarfon Town Council clerk Katherine Owen said: “In three years’ time it will be the turn of Gwynedd, and the northern part of the county in particular, to host the National Eisteddfod.’’
She added: “We are keen to see the Eisteddfod being held in Caernarfon and the meeting will help us gauge public opinion as to the strength of support for it.
“The meeting will also help set up a group to prepare a bid so that when the Eisteddfod board start looking at possible sites we will not only be ready but will be putting forward proposals that will stand up prominently.”
The National Eisteddfod has been held in Caernarfon on 10 previous occasions. The last time was in 1979 when the main pavilion and the surrounding Maes was set up on Ffordd Bethel on the outskirts of town.
Mrs Owen added: “Caernarfon has a proud history of staging the Eisteddfod over the years but it has not been held here for nearly 40 years and that is too long.
“Following the success of this year’s Eisteddfod in Cardiff, when the festival was staged in existing buildings, we are excited at the prospect of doing the same in Caernarfon. There are plenty of buildings in town which can stage the festival.
“The main pavilion could be built somewhere like Slate Quay or Victoria Dock and the caravans and camping area at Coed Helen.
“We’ll need to find a suitable area for Maes B but these are matters that can be discussed and agreed,” she said.
Earlier this year, National Eistedod officials were invited to the Food Festival staged in Castle Square.
“That was a huge success and our data shows there were 35,000 people in town just that day.
“It shows we can attract an audience to an event in Caernarfon,” added Mrs Owen.
A National Eisteddfod spokeswoman confirmed that Gwynedd is the likely area to stage the 2021 festival but added no discussions with representatives from any area in the county had yet taken place.
The public meeting will be held in the Caernarfon Town Council building on Wednesday, October 24 at 7pm.