Latest news with #CymdeithasyrIaith
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Dafydd Iwan marks end of 60 years of performing at Eisteddfod
Dafydd and his talented band took to the stage in Wrexham on Sunday afternoon (July 3) with several thousand people expecting him to sing some of his favourite songs. And they were not disappointed. 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.
Leader Live
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Gruff Rhys to perform at National Eisteddfod in Wrexham
The event, organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, will take place at Neuadd William Aston on the Wrexham University campus. This will be the first time Gruff Rhys has played during Eisteddfod week since 2002, and the first time ever with his full band. Nia Marshall from Cymdeithas said: "We're really excited because this is the first time that Gruff Rhys has played during the Eisteddfod week since 2002, and the first time ever with his full band, and he will be releasing new Welsh-language tunes this summer." The concert will be part of a series of three evening gigs, including the Red Wall Celebration on the Thursday and the End-of-Week Eisteddfod party on the Saturday. READ MORE: Wrexham's Evrah Rose releases new album that is her 'most experimental project' yet Supporting Gruff Rhys will be Griff Lynch (formerly of the Ods) with his new band, Ynys and Wrkhouse. Tickets for the gig are now on sale on the websites of both Neuadd William Aston and Cymdeithas yr Iaith. Remaining tickets will also be available at the Cymdeithas unit on the Urdd Eisteddfod field in Margam during Spring Bank Holiday week.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Protesters demand more homes for local people
Hundreds of people have taken part in a rally calling for more control over the housing market in Wales. About 400 people attended the march in Nefyn, Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd, organised by Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith, in Nefyn, Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd. The group said it was an opportunity to launch a new campaign that calls for local houses for local people. The Welsh government said the "principle that everyone has a right to an adequate home is one we wholeheartedly support". Wales least affordable part of Britain for first-time buyers, report says House prices plunge as council acts on second homes Where are Welsh homes most and least affordable? Protesters called for the "empowerment of local communities" to organise their housing developments according to the needs of the people in the area. According to research by Cyngor Gwynedd, 65% of people in the county have been priced out of the market, with the authority already imposing a premium tax of 150% on second homes. Wallis George, who formerly worked in housing associations in north Wales, said the group are calling for legislation which "transforms the housing system". "We want housing to be treated as a basic right, that the planning system is based on the system of local needs," he said. "We want local communities to feel empowered to have far more influence of what's going on in their communities and that local people have priority whether they are looking to buy or rent." Iwan Rhys Evans, 23, is a member of the Nefyn Town Council and he said finding a house to buy is "impossible". "The average house here is like £400,000 and there's a house just near where my mother lives which is that's going for £1.2m. "It's ridiculous when you think about it, there's not a chance someone my age can afford that. "It's a very dire situation where communities and families who have lived here for generations are now being pushed out." In a statement the Welsh government said one of its key ambitions is "ensuring everyone in Wales has a decent, affordable and safe place to call home".
BBC News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gwynedd: Protestors demand for more control in housing market
Hundreds of people have taken part in a rally calling for more control over the housing market in Wales. About 400 people attended the march in Nefyn, Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd, organised by Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith, in Nefyn, Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd. The group said it was an opportunity to launch a new campaign that calls for local houses for local Welsh government said the "principle that everyone has a right to an adequate home is one we wholeheartedly support". Protesters called for the "empowerment of local communities" to organise their housing developments according to the needs of the people in the to research by Cyngor Gwynedd, 65% of people in the county have been priced out of the market, with the authority already imposing a premium tax of 150% on second homes. Wallis George, who formerly worked in housing associations in north Wales, said the group are calling for legislation which "transforms the housing system". "We want housing to be treated as a basic right, that the planning system is based on the system of local needs," he said."We want local communities to feel empowered to have far more influence of what's going on in their communities and that local people have priority whether they are looking to buy or rent."Iwan Rhys Evans, 23, is a member of the Nefyn Town Council and he said finding a house to buy is "impossible"."The average house here is like £400,000 and there's a house just near where my mother lives which is that's going for £1.2m."It's ridiculous when you think about it, there's not a chance someone my age can afford that."It's a very dire situation where communities and families who have lived here for generations are now being pushed out."In a statement the Welsh government said one of its key ambitions is "ensuring everyone in Wales has a decent, affordable and safe place to call home".
