Pic: Ben Bore (Rhys)

The Daily Post reports that the need for Wales’ smaller eisteddfodau to work closer together was emphasised at a meeting in Bangor over the weekend. The aim is to avoid date clashes, encourage support from local schools, plus the need to win back senior competitors, currently conspicuous by their absence in many eisteddfodau.

Cymdeithas Eisteddfodau Cymru (Association of Welsh Eisteddfodau) was established 10 years ago by Dr Aled Lloyd Davies and others to support and promote the 120 smaller eisteddfodau across Wales.

Funds were made available through various sources to enable two part-time field officers to be appointed, one in the north and the other in the south, enabling help to be given to a number of eisteddfodau.

But such funds are running out, resulting in North Wales being without the benefit of such an officer.

The priority at the moment is to seek financial aid from the Welsh Assembly to help the Association support and promote the smaller eisteddfodau. After all, such support is forthcoming for both the National Eisteddfod and the Urdd, so why not the smaller local events?

There are many who would argue that the grass roots eisteddfodau contribute more to safeguard the Welsh language and culture than the national events.

Assembly Ministers need to be reminded of the hundreds of young people who compete at these smaller events, plus the fact that thousands of people right across Wales turn up to support them.

Read the full story at the Wales Daily Post.

Originally posted 2008-12-13 09:26:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Trackback URI | Comments RSS