WELSH, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic and Irish language speakers have come together for a pioneering cultural exchange celebrating their shared linguistic heritage.

The Celtic Exchange programme, developed by the British-Irish Council, brought together young creative professionals to learn new media skills and co-create multilingual content, while exploring the cultural threads that bind the Celtic nations.

Participants travelled through the Western Isles, meeting filmmakers, content creators and musicians who use ancient languages as the foundation for modern creative expression. Along the way, they discovered surprising similarities between their languages and cultures, building lasting friendships and professional networks.

Ifan Prys of Rondo Media, who took part in the exchange, said: “The trip was a unique opportunity to meet other Celtic language content creators, to share ideas, and to strengthen networks between our linguistic communities.
The programme was full of varied and rich activities. We had the opportunity to network with MG ALBA, BBC Alba, and local producers, discussing opportunities, challenges and shared ambitions.
The chance to learn, share and be inspired alongside people from diverse linguistic backgrounds was invaluable. It reinforced the importance of working creatively in our own languages.”

Participants produced original multilingual content during the trip, which premiered at the 2025 Celtic Media Festival in Newquay, Cornwall.

Bethan Campbell from Boom Cymru also joined the programme. She said: “The trip to Scotland was a very special experience, full of valuable and diverse activities.
I really enjoyed every moment and made treasured memories. The highlight was spending time with the other young people and making new friends from every corner of Britain. Sharing our stories and hopes for the future was truly inspiring.
Collaborating with such passionate and creative people reminded us all of the importance of creating content in our own languages.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who made it happen – experiences like this are rare, and I feel incredibly lucky.”

Welsh Language Secretary Mark Drakeford said: “The Celtic Exchange programme celebrates our living languages and helps young people build creative careers using their indigenous tongues, wherever they choose to live and work.
We’re proud to work with partners across the nations to grow our languages, strengthen cultural connections and support opportunities in creative industries rooted in our shared heritage.”

Abertawe musician to perform across Wales with new act ‘Meic Agored’

LAST year, a Welsh language learner from Swansea surprised even himself by entering the Open Solo competition at the National Eisteddfod on a whim—and winning. The victory led him to perform live on the iconic Pavilion stage with a rendition of Cân Walter (Walter’s Song) by Welsh music legend Meic Stevens.

That singer was Ian ‘Tich’ Thomas, a familiar face on the South Wales music scene. A lifelong admirer of Stevens’ work, Tich felt inspired to create a series of tribute concerts celebrating the artist’s iconic songs and poetic lyrics. But before moving forward, he wanted to do things properly—by getting Meic’s blessing.

Together with friend and fellow fan Rhodri Davies—an acclaimed harpist and improviser—Tich travelled to meet Meic in person to discuss the idea.

“Meic was welcoming from the start,” Tich said. “He put us at ease immediately, sharing story after story from his decades in music. Later, he showed us some of his favourite guitars and their history. Rhodri and I played a few songs, and he was really appreciative and happy with the idea. It was a wonderful afternoon in the company of a great raconteur and host.”

Following that visit, Tich went on to form a new tribute band called Meic Agored, bringing together some of Swansea’s top musicians: Kate Ronconi on fiddle, Danny Kilbride on bass, Huw Rees on drums, and Tich on guitar and lead vocals. Rhodri Davies will join on harp when available.

Their debut performance will take place at the Uplands Tavern in Swansea on Wednesday 18 June at 8:00pm. They’ll also be performing at this year’s Sesiwn Fawr festival in Dolgellau, with two sets on Friday 19 July—at 2:00pm on The Square Stage and 3:30pm on The Stag Stage.

“It’s a huge honour to perform these songs by arguably the most influential Welsh-language artist of the past 60 years,” Tich said.

One of Wales’ leading tenors has shared his heartfelt gratitude to the NHS following three months of intensive treatment for bowel cancer.

Now, following an eight-hour operation and treatment at both the Wrexham Maelor and Gwynedd hospitals in north Wales, Rhys Meirion has confirmed that he is free of cancer.

“This really is fantastic news,” he said.  “The past three months have been very hard for me and my family since I received the cancer diagnosis on March 29.

“There were initially three very difficult weeks of not knowing how far the cancer had spread, but after MRI and CT scans, it was thought to be contained within the bowel.  But they still couldn’t be 100 per cent sure.

“But I’ve now received this piece of paper informing me that all the post-operation tests have come back zero, and there’s no cancer anywhere in my body, which means there’s no need for further treatment.”

Rhys Meirion, 59, is considered one of Wales’ leading opera stars after leaving his teaching career in 1997 to study opera at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Two years later he joined the English National Opera and became a company principal from 2001 to 2004. He has also sung leading roles at Opera Frankfurt, West Australian Opera and Opera Australia.

But perhaps he  is best known in Wales for his love of ‘Anfonaf Angel’ – translated as ‘I’ll send an angel’ – which he regularly sings in memory of his sister, Elen, who died suddenly in April 2012.  Just six weeks after her death, Rhys performed the song, which was written by Robat Arwyn and Hywel Gwyfryn, during the opening concert of the Urdd Eisteddfod in Snowdonia. 

Throughout his cancer treatment, Rhys Meirion has received countless messages of support from his fans, followers and music lovers from all around the world.

“These have been my angels without wings, and their messages have helped me so much,” he concluded.  “There are no words, but it’s all in my heart, that feeling of love and gratitude and this will be with me forever.”