Dafydd Iwan marks end of 60 years of performing at Eisteddfod
He said: "The line has to be drawn somewhere, and I'm looking forward to enjoying several more 'Steddfods' from the back seats!"
But Dafydd emphasised that he will not stop singing completely.
He added: "I know it's a bit of a joke that I want to stop singing. I've been trying to retire for years. But I want to stop singing with the band.
"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy singing with the band. I'm having amazing fun singing with them behind me but I felt it was appropriate now to stop the big nights but it's starting to get boring, the late nights and all the arrangements to get everyone together so after August singing by myself to the accompaniment of the guitar, some kind of conversation and song, would do."
(Image: Aled Llywelyn) Dafydd was determined to make sure that the last performance on the main stage was a memorable one.
He said: "I have enjoyed performing on Llwyfan y Maes and I have very happy memories when a huge crowd came to the Maes in Tregaron. It was the first Eisteddfod was after the coronavirus pandemic and the first after Wales fought through to the World Cup finals. There were a large number of young people in the audience and they knew the words to my songs.
"It was a very special occasion that remains alive in the memory."
When reminiscing about past Eisteddfods, Dafydd said the first one he performed was the Newtown National Eisteddfod in 1965.
He said: "That was a memorable Eisteddfod. For some reason I was staying at a school in Machynlleth. Canvas beds had been placed in classrooms and people were sleeping in the rooms. Among those there were Waldo Williams and Eirwyn Pontshân.
"The ones in Newtown were informal and unofficial performances. Singing by myself to the accompaniment of a guitar only around the Maes yr Eisteddfod. It was something quite similar for a few years.
"The pattern in the Pavilion at that time was a classical concert after the competition was over for the day. I saw an opportunity, with others, to organise something more experimental and use the Pavilion to host joyful evenings and folk singing gatherings after the concert.
"At the Ammanford Eisteddfod in 1970, something a little different was organised. Painting the World Green was the title of a show of songs with a sort of story in them and that late in the Pavilion.
"There were certainly no problems with the Pavilion being cold but as it was new the place was full and we had a lot of fun."
At the beginning of the 1970s Cymdeithas yr Iaith organized musical evenings for young people and Dafydd took part in a number of these.
One of the most famous of these nights was Tabodau Tan in the Corwen Pavilion during the Ruthin National Eisteddfod in 1973.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Telegraph
Lineker could stick two fingers up at BBC and front ITV World Cup coverage
It is the big question to emerge from Gary Lineker's reported return to television with ITV weeks after he was forced to quit the BBC. Would he commit the ultimate act of revenge on the corporation by fronting its arch-rival's World Cup coverage? It seemed unlikely he would be given the chance after the 'anti-Semitic' rat emoji he reposted on Instagram back in May wrecked his bid to use next summer's tournament to bid farewell to his 30-year BBC career. But while an unreserved apology for his latest social-media misstep – one he said was not intentional – was not enough for corporation chiefs fed up with his political activism, ITV bosses have taken little time to come to a different conclusion. Indeed, there could hardly be a more ringing endorsement than picking Lineker to front a new game show – called The Box – which has been tipped to fill the void left by one of its biggest hits, presented by its biggest stars: Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. What The Sun has dubbed a 'huge deal' for Lineker has inevitably fuelled speculation that all this could eventually pave the way for him to join ITV's World Cup presenting team. This has hardly been dampened by the silence from both parties in response to queries on Wednesday about whether that might end up being the case. Lineker planning to travel to the World Cup Bookmakers have also begun slashing their odds in anticipation of a flurry of bets on just such a move. Lee Phelps, a spokesman for William Hill, said: 'After leaving the BBC just three months ago, Gary Lineker has been quick to switch to ITV, reportedly penning a deal to present new game show The Box. 'With the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, we think it's likely, at 1/3, that Lineker is in line to present ITV's coverage of the tournament.' For Lineker, there would be every incentive to accept an offer from the broadcaster, which shares the rights to the World Cup with the BBC. Last week, in his first interview since he lost his job, the 64-year-old told The New World, formerly The New European, that he thought his apology should have been enough to spare him the axe – hardly the words of someone at peace with his departure. Public relations consultant Mark Borkowski told Telegraph Sport: 'When you're sort of 'castrated' away from a position, you want to prove that you're absolutely the polished populist – which he is.' But sticking two fingers up to the BBC would not be the only motivating factor for a man who repeatedly topped its list of highest-paid stars before his exit. Telegraph Sport has been told that despite blowing the chance to front the corporation's World Cup coverage next summer, Lineker is still planning to travel to the tournament to anchor his increasingly lucrative The Rest is Football podcast. That is after last year's European Championship helped make the podcast one of the UK's most-listened to, largely thanks to Lineker and co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards being mainstays of the BBC's coverage. And while the corporation would doubtless fund Shearer and Richards's World Cup trips, a contract with its arch-rival would help support Lineker on what could prove an expensive endeavour criss-crossing North and Central America for an expanded 48-team tournament. Borkowski said: 'I'd be very, very surprised if he didn't front ITV's World Cup coverage. 'That's his sweet spot and he clearly wants to do that. And there might be a deal to be done. 'He's not going to be under scrutiny for his wage, and so his agent can cut him a great deal.' But not everyone is convinced Lineker would be willing to put his Match of the Day legacy on the line in such a fashion. Des Lynam, whose decision to do just that back in 1999 handed Lineker his big break with the BBC, said: 'I can't imagine him doing it, really.' For ITV, meanwhile, there are plenty of reasons why it might turn to Lineker next summer. Love him or loathe him, he is a major star who would guarantee a bumper audience for his first fixtures on the network – not least for the curiosity factor. With the BBC replacing him with one or more new World Cup anchors in the shape of Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, this may also allow ITV to steal a march in any ratings war between the broadcasters.
Wales Online
12 hours ago
- Wales Online
National Eisteddfod 2025: Sisters win Battle of the Folk Bands
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Two sisters have emerged victorious in Brwydr y Bandiau Gwerin (Battle of the Folk Bands) at the National Eisteddfod, which is being held this year in Wrexham. Elin and Carys from Montgomeryshire were deemed the winners by adjudicators Gwenan Gibbard and Iestyn Tyne to win the first prize in a lively competition between four competitors. Danny Sioned from Pontarddulais near Swansea was awarded second and Paul Magee from Holyhead, Anglesey, third. Folk music runs deep in the sisters' blood with their father, John Gittins, a member of Plethyn, and starting to perform as a duo was a natural step for them. With influences stretching from Lankum to Fairport Convention, their songs have a strong Welsh, Celtic and international feel. The Ty Gwerin audience had the opportunity to enjoy a full set by the two sisters later on Tuesday evening. Brwydr y Bandiau Gwerin is a new competition launched for the first time at the Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod two years ago. The organisers say the intention is to follow the example of the success of the Battle of the Bands competition by creating a similar scheme for folk musicians, which offers an opportunity to develop artists and strengthen the folk scene for the future. The competition is a partnership between the National Eisteddfod and the BBC and is an attempt to discover new Welsh folk music talent. Folk is defined as traditional Welsh songs and melodies or new songs in the folk style. Elin and Carys received a cash prize of £600, a donation from Bethan Rhiannon and Huw Williams in memory of Angharad, Bethan's mother from the band Calan. She contributed her own tunes to the folk music tradition and accompanied a number of dancers on the Eisteddfod stage. Elin and Carys will also have the opportunity to record and film two songs to be broadcast on BBC Radio Cymru and on the digital platforms of the Eisteddfod. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Look for places near you
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Welsh learner of the year announced at Wrexham National Eisteddfod
A school teacher has been named as the Welsh learner of the year at the National Eisteddfod. Lucy Cowley, originally from Wrexham, was honoured in a special ceremony on the Pavilion stage on Wednesday, bagging the top prize of £ Cowley said she was "emotional" winning the prize in the year the event is held in her home city, and specifically in Isycoed, where she grew learnt a small amount of Welsh in school, but it wasn't until she started teaching that she realised she loved sharing Welsh with her pupils."I'm very proud. I never thought I'd win," said the primary school accolade goes to someone who has shown dedication and progress to the Welsh language. Although Lucy lives and works in north Wales, she did not feel that she fitted in speaking Welsh. She said: "Winning this means the world to me. 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 enrolled on courses and incorporated more Welsh in the school where she works. She also established a Welsh discussion group in Llangollen, Denbighshire, where she now group attracts new learners and others who want to reconnect with the Celtic language. For Lucy, the learning will continue, and as a jewellery designer in her spare time, she hopes to give lessons on this subject in than 150,000 people are expected to attend the National Eisteddfod this week, with 6,000 competitors showcasing the best Welsh language art, music, drama and is held in north and south Wales on alternate years and it's the first time since 2011 that the eisteddfod has been held in the area.
