Cymraeg

Seven volunteers to be honoured at Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn

Published

2 months ago

April 28, 2026

SEVEN local volunteers will be honoured at this year’s Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn in recognition of their long-standing service to the Urdd movement.

The festival returns to Anglesey for the first time since 2004 and will be held at the Anglesey Showground from Saturday, May 23 to Friday, May 29.

For the first time in its history, Eisteddfod yr Urdd will run as a seven-day festival.

The Honorary Presidents for 2026 are Alwen Jones, of Amlwch; Ann Peters Jones, of Holyhead; Derek Evans, of Llannerch-y-medd; Edward Morus Jones, of Llangristiolus; Grês Pritchard, of Llannerch-y-medd; Helen Evans, of Talwrn; and Rhian Lloyd Jones, of Bodffordd.

Each year, the Urdd works with the local executive committee to select its Honorary Presidents, recognising people who have made a significant contribution to the organisation and to Welsh youth culture.

Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts at Urdd Gobaith Cymru, said: “The seven individuals honoured this year have dedicated years of support to the Urdd.

“Volunteers play a vital role in the work of the Urdd, and we look forward to recognising the commitment and contributions of all seven individuals at a special ceremony during the Eisteddfod on Sunday, May 24.”

Long service to the Urdd

Alwen Jones, originally from Amlwch, has been involved with the Urdd since her school days at Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones.

She competed successfully when the Urdd came to Menai Bridge in 1976, winning the public speaking competition, coming second in the Chair competition and third in the Literature Medal.

After studying education at Trinity College, Carmarthen, she returned to Anglesey and became involved with Aelwyd yr Ynys, coaching young people and writing lyrics for action songs.

She went on to serve as regional secretary for 25 years, helping organise county eisteddfodau, and was secretary of the executive committee when the Urdd National Eisteddfod was last held on Anglesey in 2004.

Ann Peters Jones, of Holyhead, is a musician, teacher and accompanist who has supported young performers for more than forty years.

Educated at Valley Primary School, Holyhead High School, Wrexham Cartrefle College and the Royal Scottish Academy, she began her teaching career at Llanfawr School in Holyhead before spending fifteen years as Head of Music at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni.

She now works as a freelance musician, with the Gwynedd and Anglesey Music Service and the dementia charity Forget Me Not. Four songs she co-wrote with Delyth Wyn Jones are included in this year’s Urdd festival competitions.

Derek Evans, of Llannerch-y-medd, began teaching at Ysgol Rhoscolyn in 1978 and joined the local Urdd committee in the same year.

He later became deputy headteacher at Ysgol Gwalchmai and headteacher of Ysgol Llanddeusant, where he encouraged children from rural Anglesey to compete in Urdd eisteddfodau and attend camps at Glan-llyn and Llangrannog.

In 2004, he chaired the executive committee for the Urdd National Eisteddfod on Anglesey. He remains chair of the Anglesey Regional Committee and is also vice-chair of this year’s executive committee.

Decades of dedication

Edward Morus Jones, of Llangristiolus, joined the Urdd nearly 75 years ago after growing up in Llanuwchllyn, the home village of Urdd founder Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards.

Over the years, he has served as President of the Day at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Swansea in 1971, vice-president of the organisation during the 1970s, and a member of the Urdd Council for more than 25 years.

He also led the humanitarian panel responsible for the Peace and Goodwill Message, coached and adjudicated locally and nationally, and helped bring the Urdd Eisteddfod to Anglesey in 2004.

Grês Pritchard, of Llannerch-y-medd, is widely known as an accompanist, teacher, coach and conductor.

She received the Green Robe of the Gorsedd in 1960 and the White Robe in 2006, and was awarded an MBE in 2010.

She was accompanist to Côr Meibion y Traeth for 46 years and has helped generations of children through school and Urdd competitions, including pupils at Amlwch, Penysarn, Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn and other primary schools.

Helen Evans, of Talwrn, joined the Urdd in the early 1960s and later became a teacher.

She was responsible for Urdd activities at Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni for more than thirty years and played a key role in Cylch Cefni Committee and the Anglesey Regional Committee.

For a period, she also served as secretary of the Anglesey Primary and Secondary Regional Eisteddfodau. During the 1980s, she helped re-establish the Aelwyd in Talwrn.

Rhian Lloyd Jones, of Bodffordd, originally from Meirionnydd, developed her love of singing and competition through the Urdd in Corwen, Ysgol y Berwyn and Ysgol y Gader.

After training at the Normal College in Bangor, she moved to Anglesey for her first teaching post at Ysgol Llanfachraeth, where she began coaching children to sing individually and in groups.

She continued that work at Ysgol Rhosneigr and Ysgol Llanddeusant, helped bring success to Bodffordd’s Urdd branch, and remains an accompanist at Urdd eisteddfodau across Anglesey as well as for Côr Meibion Goronwy.

Community

Pembrokeshire Eisteddfod 2026 funding backed by Cabinet

Published

2 weeks ago

June 2, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

FINANCIAL backing of this year’s Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire, to the tune of £73,000, with a potential budget of up to £200,000, has been approved by senior councillors.

The 2026 Eisteddfod, running from August 1-8 at Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire, holds particular historical significance as it marks the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod, held in 1176 at Castell Aberteifi.

With this year’s Maes located close to the original site, the event is expected to be a landmark occasion for the region and for Wales as a whole.

The National Eisteddfod is the largest cultural festival in Europe and one of the most prominent events in the Welsh cultural calendar, attracting approximately 175,000 visitors annually.

The festival celebrates Welsh language, literature, music, and the arts, with a diverse programme of competitions, performances, exhibitions, and community activities.

The Eisteddfod proclamation took place in Narberth last May, with hundreds attending.

At the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members were asked to approve Pembrokeshire County Council to lead and deliver Pentre’r Garreg Las at the National Eisteddfod 2026.

Cabinet was also asked to approve the current financial commitment of approximately £73,751 (+ VAT), noting that further costs will be finalised as the programme develops, and endorse collaborative arrangements with Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire County Councils.

A budget for up to £200,000 for the promotion of the event is also being pencilled in; members hearing it was hoped this figure would be a ceiling of potential costs, with hopes the council’s part could be lowered by external funding.

A report for members, presented by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Safeguarding and the Welsh Language Cllr Alistair Cameron, said: “The National Eisteddfod is Europe’s largest travelling cultural festival, attracting up to 170,000 visitors annually and providing a nationally significant platform for the celebration of Welsh language, culture and identity.

“As lead authority, Pembrokeshire is responsible for the overall coordination, planning and funding of the Pentre. This includes the development of the overarching concept, the curation of a coherent thematic programme, and the management of key relationships with partner authorities, stakeholders and delivery partners.”

It went on to say: “While initial site, infrastructure and concept costs have been identified at approximately £73,751 (+ VAT), it is recognised that the full delivery of Pentre’r Garreg Las, as a flagship offer led by Pembrokeshire, will necessitate a broader major events budget estimated in the region of £200,000. The funding for this is coming from the current major events budget with additional funding coming from the initiative fund reserve.”

The report said efforts will be made to maximise external funding opportunities in order to mitigate the net cost to the council.

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Pembrokeshire to showcase the best of this county,” adding: “The last time it was here was 2004, we get to see this opportunity maybe every 20 years, it’s down to us to make the best of the opportunity, overall it’s a fantastic story for us as a county.”

A full budget breakdown is expected at the July Cabinet meeting, members agreeing to back the recommendations.

Community

Pembrokeshire adventurer Tori James named National Learn Welsh Ambassador

Published

3 weeks ago

May 23, 2026

Richard Lewis

AS THE NATIONAL Centre for Learning Welsh celebrates its highest ever number of learners – over 20,000 in 2024–2025 – it has announced a new ambassadors scheme with the aim of inspiring even more people to learn, use and enjoy the Welsh language.

The Learn Welsh Ambassadors Scheme will be launched today (May 23) at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Anglesey, as part of the Eisteddfod’s ‘Learners’ Day’ celebrations.

Four high-profile ambassadors have been appointed to the new scheme:

Aleighcia Scott – singer and DJ, and one of the mentors on S4C’s talent show Y Llais, who will also be honoured with the Green robe at Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las in August.
Tori James – adventurer and the first Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest.
Katie Owen – DJ and social media influencer.
Ian Gwyn Hughes – Head of Public Relations at the Football Association of Wales.

The four ambassadors will represent the Centre, sharing their personal experiences of the Welsh language, and promoting the work of the Learn Welsh sector. They will also support recruitment campaigns, encouraging people from all backgrounds to begin learning Welsh, or to continue their language journey.

The scheme reflects the Centre’s vision to attract and support a wide range of audiences to learn and use Welsh, including workforces, communities, key sectors such as Health and Social Care, the Education Workforce and Sport, young people and families.

The Centre is launching the scheme at the Urdd Eisteddfod. It works in partnership with the Urdd to provide a range of opportunities for the organisation’s staff, and the young people using its services, to strengthen their Welsh language skills or to begin learning the language.

The Centre is also pleased to support the Urdd’s medals for young Welsh learners, the Bobi Jones Medal for learners aged 19 years’ old and above, and the Learners’ Medal for learners aged under 19 years.

Dona Lewis, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: “Creating new Welsh speakers is the Centre’s main aim, supporting them to use and enjoy the language with confidence in their everyday lives.

“I’m pleased to say the Learn Welsh sector is going from strength to strength, with more people than ever completing our courses.

“We’re delighted to welcome a group of passionate ambassadors who will share their experiences of the Welsh language and help promote and celebrate our work. We’re proud to launch this new scheme at the Urdd Eisteddfod, one of our partners.

“The Centre works creatively and in partnership across different sectors, providing one, single learning pathway to becoming a Welsh speaker. We are all here to welcome and support our learners and new speakers at every stage of their language journey.”

Aleighcia Scott said: “I’m delighted to take part in this scheme. Learning Welsh has been an important personal journey for me, and it has opened new doors – both creatively and socially.”

Tori James said: “Learning a new skill can be a bit like climbing a mountain – it can be a challenge, but every small step is a success!

“I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to support people to take their first step into learning Welsh, and to keep going – it’s a journey well worth taking.”

Katie Owen said: “I’d always wanted to learn Welsh, and it has been the best thing I’ve done. The Welsh-speaking community is so welcoming, and the National Centre for Learning Welsh offers so many opportunities to learn and use the language.”

Ian Gwyn Hughes said: “Welsh belongs to all of us, and it has been fantastic to see the positive response to our use of the language at the Football Association of Wales. I look forward to supporting the Centre’s work to extend the use of Welsh in all kinds of contexts.”

Cymraeg

Welsh language report says students face mixed experiences across colleges and universities

Published

3 weeks ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report has found that Welsh-speaking students face inconsistent access to Welsh language services across Wales’ colleges and universities.

The research, published by the Welsh Language Commissioner on Monday (May 25), gathered responses from more than 1,500 further and higher education students.

It examined four key areas: whether students can submit written work in Welsh, choose accommodation with Welsh-speaking students, access a Welsh-speaking personal tutor, and receive wellbeing support through the medium of Welsh.

The report also looked at the wider language culture on campuses, including how institutions promote Welsh language services and support students to use Welsh naturally in academic and social settings.

Osian Llywelyn, Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner, said colleges and universities had a vital role in helping students use Welsh as part of everyday life.

He said: “Given the importance of sustaining and developing the continued use of the Welsh language, it is essential to recognise the key role that further education colleges and higher education institutions play in ensuring that students have the opportunity to use Welsh naturally as part of their academic and social lives.

“While it is encouraging to see strong examples of good practice, that experience is not consistent across the sector. As a result, we have identified clear improvement actions, and we will be asking the relevant institutions to address them.”

Five improvement actions have been identified. These include standardising Welsh-medium assessment arrangements, proactively offering Welsh language services rather than simply making them available on request, addressing gaps in workforce Welsh-language skills, strengthening students’ sense of belonging through Welsh, and improving self-assessment and monitoring.

James Owen, Chief Executive of Medr, the body responsible for funding and regulating tertiary education in Wales, said the findings showed the need for more support across the sector.

He said Medr’s new Welsh Language Condition would place a clearer focus on providers promoting and supporting the use of Cymraeg, and on creating formal and informal opportunities for staff and learners to develop their Welsh-language skills.

Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said students’ experiences of Welsh at college or university could influence their willingness and ability to use the language later in the workplace.

He said the report showed the need for the Welsh-language experience to extend “well beyond the classroom”.