Welsh Learner of the Year announced at 2025 National Eisteddfod
The Welsh Learner of the Year has been confirmed at the 2025 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. The award this year was presented to Lucy Cowley, who lives in Llangollen.
She was honoured in a special ceremony on the Pavilion stage on Wednesday following a high-standard competition. Lucy is from Is-y-Coed, Wrexham, which is the home of this year's National Eisteddfod. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
Her grandfather was a refugee from Poland and her grandmother a refugee from Ukraine. Although she had some Welsh in school, she wasn't confident, but while working as a teacher at Holt School, she realised she loved sharing Welsh with the children.
She went on to take courses and began using Welsh resources in the classroom. She has established a Welsh discussion group in Llangollen, which attracts a group of people from various backgrounds - some new learners and others looking to reconnect with their Welsh. She designs jewellery and brought a stall to the Llŷn and Eifionydd Eisteddfod.
The judges of the competition were Steve Morris, Francesca Sciarrillo, and Ian Gwyn Hughes.
They said the standard of competition was very high and it was difficult to choose the winner.
The other three finalists were Rachel Bedwin, who lives in the Bangor area, Hammad Hassan Rind, who lives in Cardiff, and Leanne Parry, who lives in Prestatyn.
Lucy received the Learner of the Year Trophy, donated by Spencer and Jeni Harris, and £300, donated by Ann Aubrey. The other three finalists each received £100.
Lucy said after the ceremony that she was "in shock". She said: "I'm very proud. I never thought I'd win and to do that in Is-y-Coed is fantastic. I'm very emotional, there's no word to describe how I feel.
"Winning this means the world to me. I live locally and work locally but I didn't feel like I fit in. I speak with an English accent and I didn't speak Welsh. People didn't understand why I was learning Welsh but I'm so glad I did."
She added that she will carry on with Welsh lessons and hold jewellery lessons in the language. "And we will have something to discuss in the next discussion group," she said. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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