Cymraeg

Tynnu’r stops mas i ddathlu ond . . . . ai dim ond 30 mlynedd sydd ar ôl?

Published

11 years ago

November 19, 2014

PRIN YW’R CAPELI hynny sy’n dathlu 300 mlynedd eu bodolaeth. Prinnach fyth yw’r capeli rheiny sy’n dathlu cyrraedd y fath garreg fi lltir mewn steil. Ond ma’ pobol Bro’r Preseli yn gw’bod shwt ma’ dathlu, gwlei. Dyna fel o’dd hi yng nghapel Llandeilo, yr Annibynwyr, ar gyrion Maenclochog, yn ddiweddar. Tynnwyd y stops i gyd mas i’r eithaf. Ac nid sôn am stops yr organ wdw i. Gwariwyd yn helaeth ar adnewyddu ac addurno, gosod carpedi newydd, peintio’r nenfwd mewn lliw gwyrdd ysgafn, hongian oriel o gynweinidogion ar y wal a threfnu oedfa urddasol ac i bwrpas.

Gosodwyd y cywair cywir gan y gweinidog, y Parch Ken Thomas, wrth iddo sôn yn ei gyfl wyniad am ragoriaethau ddoe ond ar yr un pryd bwysleisio’r angen i gadw llygad ar anghenion yfory. Cymrwyd at y rhannau arweiniol o ddarllen a gweddïo gan un o’r cyn-weinidogion, y Parch D. Gerald Jones, Llangennech. Fe’i dilynwyd gan ieuenctid yr eglwys yn cyfl wyno dwy gân cyn i’r ysgrifennydd, Eifi on Evans, gyfl wyno braslun o hanes yr achos. Soniodd am y digwyddiad cyffrous hwnnw yn 1836 pan benderfynodd Sgweier Llangolman daro ergyd yn erbyn drws y capel ar ei ffordd adref wedi bod yn hela ar brynhawn Sul. Mae’n debyg ei fod yn anffyddiwr.

Yn ffodus doedd yna fawr o ddifrod i’r drws deri. Rhoddwyd datganiad ysgytwol ar gân gan Eleri Roberts ar ran y fam eglwys yn Henllan Amgoed. Ar ran Tabernacl, Maenclochog, soniodd Denzil Jenkins am ei arfer o ymweld â beddrodau’r teulu yn y fynwent wrth dalcen y capel bob tro y mynycha oedfa yn Llandeilo. Soniodd Awen Evans, ar ran gofalaeth Cymdeithas Bro Cerwyn, am ei hawyddfryd i weld ehangu’r Gymanfa Bwnc fl ynyddol i gynnwys holl gapeli’r ofalaeth. Cynrychioli Capel Rhydwilym, y Bedyddwyr, gerllaw, a wnâi Russell Evans, gan gyfeirio at y pledo diarhebol arferai fod yn Llandeilo adeg y Gymanfa Bwnc slawer dydd. Cafwyd gair gan y Parch Geoffrey Eynon ar ran Cyfundeb Penfro. Daeth cyfarchion wrth y cyn-weinidog, y Parch Ddr.

Cerwyn Davies o Ganada yn gresynu na fedrai fod yn bresennol. Cododd y pregethwr gwadd, y Parch Emyr Gwyn Evans, un o blant yr eglwys a fagwyd ar ffarm Blaensawd, ei destun yn Efengyl Ioan:`Yna synhwyrodd Iesu eu bod am ddod a’i gipio ymaith i’w wneud yn frenin, a chiliodd i’r mynydd eto ar ei ben ei hun`. Roedd ffrwyth ei fyfyrdod yn destun cnoi cil wrth iddo bwysleisio mai da o beth yw cofi o a dathlu ond mai’r dyfodol sy’n ein hwynebu. `Ymlaen mae Cannan` meddai. Cyhoeddwyd y Fendith gan y Parch Llunos Edwards a’r cyfeilyddion oedd Mary Llewellyn a Brenda Williams. Yn ieithwedd y wlad gwnaeth pawb eu gwaith yn ddiffws ddiffwdan. Ond wedi dwy awr o oedfa sionc doedd y dathlu ddim ar ben chwaith.

Ymneilltuwyd i Neuadd Gymunedol Maenclochog i fwynhau gwledd na chafwyd ei rhagorach erioed yn Sycharth. Ma’ Hafwen Thomas yn gw’bod shwt ma’ trefnu gloddest. Sawl dewis o bwdin wedd ‘na gwedwch? Doedd y bar ddim ar agor. Does dim rhaid wrth alcohol i fwynhau pryd o fwyd, i chwedleua, i hiraethu ac i obeithio. Yn gopsi ar y cwbl torrwyd cacen y dathlu gan Gwyneth Phillips, un o aelodau hynaf a ffyddlonaf y capel. Cynhaliwyd pob dim trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg sydd ynddo’i hun yn ddigwyddiad amheuthun y dyddie rhain. Ond, mewn sobrwydd, tebyg mai dyna’r dathlu mawr diwethaf yn hanes Llandeilo o ystyried nad yw rhif yr aelodaeth yn fwy na thraean o’r hyn a oedd yn ystod ei anterth o rhyw 150.

Wrth gwrs, nid wrth ei rhif mae mesur llwyddiant ac effeithlonrwydd eglwys. Ond gore gyd po fwyaf yw’r nifer er mwyn rhannu’r baich. Wrth sgwrsio wrth y byrdde yr amcangyfrif, o ystyried yr holl ffactore, oedd y byddid yn cloi’r dryse ymhen 30 mlynedd. Nid yw hynny o reidrwydd yn achos wylofain a rhincian dannedd. Mae’r efengyl yn fwy nag adeilad. Fe ddaw yna eto ffurfi e eraill o ymgynnull ac o addoli a hyrwyddo gwaith y Deyrnas. Ond ers oedfa’r dathlu fe fydd yna bum Sul cyn y cynhelir yr oedfa nesaf yn Llandeilo a hynny pan gofi a’r to hŷn am dair oedfa bob Sul yn ddi-feth. `Yng ngŵydd y tri-chanmlwyddiant – yr hiraeth/ a’r her fydd ein ffyniant,` meddai paladr englyn D. Gerald Jones i’r achlysur.

Community

Comedy in the Pavilion: Elis James at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las

Published

4 days ago

April 11, 2026

Richard Lewis

COMEDIAN Elis James will take to the Pavilion stage at the National Eisteddfod for the first time this year, performing on Wednesday, August 5 as part of the festival programme. Entry to the gig is included in the Maes day ticket, and with strong roots in the area, his return promises an evening of laughter and a warm homecoming atmosphere.

Famous for making quick connections with people from across Wales on his podcast ‘Elis & John’ on BBC Sounds, Elis will no doubt receive a warm welcome at the National Eisteddfod, arguably one of the best places in the world to connect with fellow Welsh people. With his observational comedy, often inspired by his upbringing in west Wales, this is expected to be an evening full of humour, marking the halfway point of the Eisteddfod week.

Elis said: “I’m very excited. I’ve never done stand-up in the Pavilion before. Mam will be there, I’m sure other members of the family will be there too, but don’t worry, I’m one of those people who is funny under pressure!”

Betsan Moses, the Eisteddfod’s Chief Executive, added: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Elis back home to the Garreg Las area.

“As a Welsh comedy giant, we’re looking forward to a night of humour in his company, reflecting the true spirit of the Eisteddfod.”

Elis was born in Haverfordwest and raised in Carmarthen. He’s a comedian, podcast presenter, actor and broadcaster. Since 2014, he’s presented a radio show with his friend and fellow comedian, John Robins, originally on Radio X before moving to BBC 5 Live in 2019.

Among the UK’s most popular comedians, Elis toured Wales with his show Derwydd in 2024, recording a performance at Carmarthen’s Lyric Theatre. He has since returned to English‑language stand‑up after a ten‑year break.

Day Maes tickets, which include admission to the gig, are available on the Eisteddfod website.

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las will be held in Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire between August 1 and August 8.

Cymraeg

Everyday spaces key to future of Welsh language

Published

3 weeks ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

EVERYDAY use of the Welsh language must extend beyond classrooms into workplaces, communities and online spaces if it is to thrive, according to a new report.

The study, published by the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities, highlights the need for greater investment in the social, cultural and digital environments where people live their daily lives.

The report, Cymraeg in every community: strengthening the Welsh language, focuses on areas where fewer than 40% of people speak Welsh. It examines how the language can become a more natural part of everyday life in these communities.

The Commission says that while education remains vital, it cannot carry the responsibility alone. Young people must have opportunities to use Welsh outside school, particularly in activities they enjoy such as sport, youth groups and cultural events.

Among its recommendations is the creation of a dedicated fund to boost Welsh-language content online, including support for young people producing digital media in Welsh.

The report builds on earlier work published in August 2024, which focused on areas with higher numbers of Welsh speakers.

Commission co-chair Dr Simon Brooks said: “To ensure Welsh is a national language that belongs to us all, its future as a community language must be secured in every part of Wales. We urge the next Welsh Government to act on these recommendations with ambition.”

Co-chair Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones added that there is strong appetite to use Welsh, but a lack of spaces to do so.

She said: “More than half of Welsh speakers live in areas where fewer than 40% of people speak the language. Public policy must create the right conditions for Welsh to flourish in everyday settings, with real investment in the spaces where people spend their time.”

She also pointed to international examples, including the Basque Country, where communities have actively created environments for their language to be used naturally.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford, said the Welsh Government remained committed to its target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

He said: “Significant progress has already been made, with 17 recommendations from the Commission’s first report implemented during this Senedd term. This latest report provides a strong foundation to build on that momentum.”

Cymraeg

National Eisteddfod unveils legacy framework to boost Welsh language and communities

Published

4 weeks ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW national framework aimed at securing a lasting legacy from the National Eisteddfod has been published jointly by the festival’s organisers and the Welsh Government.

The plan sets out how the Eisteddfod’s impact will be strengthened before, during and after each annual event, bringing together partners from across education, community development, culture, the economy and the Welsh language sector.

While each Eisteddfod reflects the identity of its host community, the framework aims to ensure long-term benefits are consistently delivered nationwide, rather than limited to the festival period.

The legacy programme will cover a wide range of areas including education, inclusion, digital innovation, volunteering and economic development, with new national and local structures designed to coordinate delivery more effectively.

A national project board will oversee the strategy, setting direction and sharing best practice year-on-year. At a local level, a steering group will drive community-based work, helping turn the Eisteddfod into a catalyst for lasting change.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford said the festival’s impact goes far beyond a single week.

“The Eisteddfod is far more than a week-long festival. It is a multi-year project that leaves a lasting legacy for the Welsh language and culture in the area,” he said.

“By bringing together partners from across key sectors, this framework will help deliver real and lasting change for our communities and support our ambition of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

Nic Parry, President of the Eisteddfod Court and Chair of its Management Board, said the framework strengthens collaboration at both local and national level.