THE FOUR finalists for the Welsh Learner of the Year competition at Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las have been announced. The competition is organised by the National Eisteddfod and the National Centre for Learning Welsh.
The four finalists are. Jonathan Davies from Loughor near Swansea, Caroline Jones from Gwynedd, Kierion Lloyd from Wrecsam and Paige Morgan from the USA.
The final round will be held on the Eisteddfod Maes on Wednesday, August 5, and the adjudicators are Karl Davies, Kevin Knox and Mirain Iwerydd.
The judges said: “It was a privilege and a pleasure to meet all the new speakers who applied for the Eisteddfod y Garreg Las Learner of the Year Award 2026.
“They have wonderful stories to share, and each of them has learned Welsh to an excellent standard. They have embraced the Welsh language and committed themselves to the culture of Wales. Four came top – Paige, Jonathan, Kierion and Caroline.
“They’re exceptional people – full of enthusiasm and passion for the Welsh language, using Welsh in their everyday lives and supporting others to enjoy the language. Many congratulations to them, and best wishes to all our competitors.”
So who are they? Here’s a little bit of their history and their Welsh language journey over the past few years.
Jonathan Davies from Loughor near Swansea, began learning Welsh in order to reconnect with his heritage and identity after living in London. He studied Music there, completing both an undergraduate and a master’s degree before training as a teacher through a PGCE. In 2020, he began learning Welsh, making rapid progress and becoming a confident Welsh speaker. His skills as a teacher and communicator transferred naturally to the new language.
He went on to begin a PhD in Linguistics and Education through the medium of Welsh at Cardiff University, focusing on accessibility in education. He facilitates a group for young learners, teaches creative writing, and is the founder of the podcast Ymchwil y Gweilch. He is also part of a team developing a bilingual tool to assess text accessibility. He is committed to supporting learners and strengthening the Welsh language in education and communities.
Caroline Jones is originally from London and became aware of the Welsh language when she met her husband twenty years ago. In 2004, she moved to North Wales, where she began learning the language while studying for an MSc and a doctorate at Bangor University. She is now a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Department at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Her colleagues praise her dedication to promoting the language in the workplace, and she offers bilingual services to patients, particularly children and young people.
Her children attend a Welsh-medium school, and she continues to develop her own skills at an advanced level. In 2026, she won the Betsi Cadwaladr Intermediate/Advanced Learner of the Year award. Caroline is proud of the language, which has opened doors to new experiences and perspectives, and she now acts as an ambassador encouraging others to use it.
Kierion Lloyd was born in Wales to a non-Welsh-speaking family and spent his childhood moving frequently due to his father’s work in the army. As a result, he did not have the opportunity to learn Welsh when he was young. While living in New Zealand, he felt disappointed that he could not speak the language. In 2018, he began learning Welsh in an evening class at Coleg Cambria in Wrexham, and he continues to develop his skills.
Welsh has strengthened his connection to the culture and history of Wales and has increased his confidence. He has a strong interest in Welsh-language music and regularly attends gigs and Eisteddfodau. He also contributes to a song lyrics website, helping to make Welsh content more accessible, and is determined to see the language thrive.
When she was young, Paige Morgan dreamed of becoming a writer, but she gave up the idea in her teenage years. Later, after beginning to learn Welsh, that dream came back to life in an unexpected way. In 2024, she had the opportunity to learn cynghanedd, and she thrived by being willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
She is now part of the Pencerdd scheme run by Literature Wales and Barddas, and is the first American woman to join the scheme. In 2025, she began writing articles for Lingo360 and later for Golwg, focusing on American politics. She also writes short stories that have won competitions. Although she lives in America, she contributes to the Welsh language and is determined to inspire others through it.
The winner will be announced on the Pafiliwn stage on Wednesday, August 5, and will receive the Dysgwr y Flwyddyn Trophy donated by Cymdeithas Waldo, and £300, donated by Geraint and Siân James, Siop Awen Teifi, Cardigan. The other three finalists will receive £100.
For more information on the Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, visit the National Eisteddfod website, and for more on the National Centre for Learning Welsh and to find a Welsh course which works for you, click here.
