Archdruid of Wales Mererid Hopwood to appear at festival

Rhyl Journal

10-07-2025

Mererid Hopwood, the Archdruid of Wales, will appear at the North Wales International Music Festival in St Asaph as part of the event's fringe programme, sponsored by Pendine Park through its Pendine Arts and Community Trust.
She will read a poem originally written to uplift people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mererid Hopwood, archdruid of Wales, said: "Such events often create a quite magical atmosphere and I'm excited at being invited to take part."
Her appearance is scheduled for 9.30pm on Thursday, September 18 at Jacob's Ladder café, following the evening concert at St Asaph Cathedral.
Mererid Hopwood, who became the first woman to be awarded the chair at the National Eisteddfod in 2001 when it was held in Denbigh, has fond memories of the Vale of Clwyd.
She will read from her new book Mae, a collection written in both Welsh and English.
She said: "I'll be reading poems from my new book Mae as well as some others.
"Most of them are in Welsh but I have written poems in English and several more have been translated."
Mae includes poems about peace, injustice, the environment, and family.
The title comes from a piece commissioned during the first Covid lockdown in March 2020.
She said: "Someone from S4C phoned up and said they wanted a poem to cheer people up who were stuck at home."
Paul Mealor, artistic director of the festival, said: "It's the second time we've staged these fringe events and they were so successful last year we've decided they'll return again this year."
Other fringe highlights include pianist Cyrill Ibrahim performing Harmonie du Soir at St Asaph Cathedral, jazz guitarist Joshua Lascar at the New Inn on Saturday, September 13, and a cabaret night with Jillian Bain Christie and John Frederick Hudson on Friday, September 19.
Mr Mealor said: "Our first comedy evening was hugely successful and Manon James will again be appearing at the New Inn along with Katie Gill and it'll be an evening of laughs and more laughs."
Ms Hopwood has previously collaborated with Mr Mealor.
She said: "During Covid I wrote the words for a piece composed by Paul called Gweddi Cymru (Wales' Prayer).
"It was for the BBC's annual St David's Day concert and my words were read over the music."
The festival opens on Thursday, September 11, with Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who Mr Mealor describes as "the world's finest lyric tenor."
Other headliners include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, vocal ensemble Apollo5, and the Black Dyke Band.
Film and TV composer Debbie Wiseman OBE will make her festival debut this year with performances of her well-known themes by the NEW Sinfonia orchestra.
The festival will also host the second Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition.
This year's closing concert will feature the North Wales Choral Union and Orchestra conducted by Trystan Lewis.
Community events include a Tots & Children's concert, a dementia-friendly concert, and Mindfulness through Music workshops.
Tickets and more information are available online.