Communities across north Pembrokeshire are preparing to welcome thousands of visitors for eight days of Welsh language, music, literature and culture
THERE are now just ten days to go until Eisteddfod y Garreg Las opens its gates for an eight-day celebration of the Welsh language, creativity and culture.
The National Eisteddfod will be held at Llantwd, in north Pembrokeshire, from Saturday, August 1, until Saturday, August 8.
Excitement is already building throughout the area, with communities decorating villages, roadsides and public spaces ahead of the festival’s arrival. Construction of the Maes, the main Eisteddfod site, is also gathering pace as organisers prepare the stages, pavilions, exhibition areas and other facilities needed for one of Wales’ largest cultural events.
Although the festival is being staged in Pembrokeshire, the official catchment area stretches beyond the county boundary and includes communities in south Ceredigion and west Carmarthenshire.
Months of community events, concerts, sponsored activities and fundraising drives have helped build momentum ahead of the Eisteddfod.
Local committees have raised more than £528,000, believed to be the largest amount ever collected by a local fund for a National Eisteddfod.
John Davies, chairman of the Garreg Las National Eisteddfod Executive Committee, described the fundraising campaign as historic.
He said: “More than £528,000 has been raised so far, the largest amount ever raised by a local fund for a National Eisteddfod.”
Volunteers who have supported the fundraising effort will be recognised during a special Celebrating Our Champions ceremony at 10:00am on the festival’s opening day. Representatives from local committees will be invited onto the stage to receive public recognition for their work.
Pembrokeshire on display
Pembrokeshire County Council and its partners will have their own dedicated area on the Maes, known as Pentre’r Garreg Las.
The area will celebrate the people, culture, communities and organisations of Pembrokeshire and the wider Eisteddfod region.
A full programme of discussions, performances, demonstrations and community activities will be held in Pabell Pawb throughout the week.
The programme is expected to feature local performers, community organisations, schools, businesses and projects, giving visitors an opportunity to discover more about the area and the people who live and work here.
Organisers hope the Eisteddfod will not only provide a major economic and cultural boost during festival week, but will also leave a lasting legacy by encouraging greater use of the Welsh language and strengthening links between communities.
Full programme available through festival app
The National Eisteddfod’s official app is now live and includes details of events taking place across the Maes each day.
Visitors can use the app to explore the full festival programme, check competition times and create their own schedules before travelling.
It also contains the programme for Pentre’r Garreg Las, helping visitors plan which talks, performances and demonstrations they would like to attend.
With activities taking place simultaneously in venues across the Maes, organisers are encouraging visitors to download the app in advance so they do not miss their preferred competitions, concerts or appearances.
Extra buses serving the Maes
Additional public transport services are being provided during Eisteddfod week to help visitors reach the site.
The TrawsCymru T5 service will travel directly to the Maes from Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Cardigan, with more frequent journeys and late-evening services operating between Fishguard and Cardigan.
The 430 service, which connects Narberth, Crymych and Cardigan, will operate every day during the festival. An additional late bus will leave the Maes at 11:15pm.
Visitors travelling through Cardigan will also be able to use Bws yr Arglwydd Rhys, a free shuttle service running from Finch Square to the Maes every hour between 7:00am and midnight.
Travel will remain free for holders of an All Wales Concessionary Bus Pass, while eligible passengers aged 21 and under can travel for £1 per journey, subject to a maximum daily fare of £3.
Celebrating 850 years of Eisteddfod tradition
This year’s festival carries particular historical significance, marking 850 years since the gathering widely regarded as the first recorded Eisteddfod.
That event was held by Lord Rhys at Cardigan Castle in 1176, only a few miles from the site of this year’s festival.
According to historical accounts, poets and musicians were invited to Cardigan to compete for prizes, establishing a tradition of artistic competition that has continued in different forms for centuries.
The modern National Eisteddfod remains one of the most important events in the Welsh cultural calendar. It brings together poets, musicians, writers, artists, choirs, dancers, actors and competitors from across Wales and beyond.
Alongside the traditional competitions and ceremonies, visitors can expect concerts, exhibitions, discussions, food, family activities and opportunities to learn and use Welsh.
The Eisteddfod is open to Welsh speakers, learners and people with no previous knowledge of the language, with organisers presenting it as an opportunity for everyone to experience Welsh culture.
As the final preparations continue, communities across north Pembrokeshire, south Ceredigion and west Carmarthenshire are preparing to welcome visitors for what is expected to be one of the most significant cultural events held in the region for many years.
