Latest news with #EisteddfodyrUrdd2025
Business News Wales
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Final Countdown Begins for Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025 at Margam Park
Port Talbot is getting ready to welcome thousands of visitors to Margam Park for Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025. Following the final rounds of the Urdd's Composing and Creating Competitions (homework), the organisation has announced a record-breaking 119,593 registrations to compete in this year's festival, which also includes a significant rise of 42% in the number of young Welsh learners compared to last year. The event is set to take place between May 26 and 31. Organisers have also confirmed details for the shuttle bus service running between Port Talbot (Parkway) train station to the Eisteddfod Maes throughout the week. The service is free to the public, running between 06:30 and 21:56 or 23:26 (depending on which day). Thanks to a £200,000 support package from the Welsh Government, lower income families can access the Maes for free once again this year. Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, said: 'Eisteddfod yr Urdd is for all. Seeing more young people and more Welsh learners than ever choosing to take part this year proves that the Eisteddfod is meeting the needs and the interests of the young people of Wales, providing them with valuable opportunities to experience activities and opportunities to build their self-confidence through the medium of Welsh. A huge thank you in advance to the hundreds of volunteers helping us at the festival next week.' As well as competitors, local talent and celebrities be visiting the Eisteddfod, including the festival's President Jeremy Miles MS, and five Presidents of the Day: actor Steffan Rhodri, famous for his role as 'Dave Coaches' in Gavin and Stacey, presenters and sports stars Lowri Morgan and Sarra Elgan, entrepreneur Emyr Afan from Afanti and singer and TikTok star Bronwen Lewis, who also performed the Eisteddfod's Welcome Song alongside Huw Chiswell. Triban Festival continues on the maes over the weekend (30-31 May). Friday night will be a tribute to Welsh musician and performer Dewi Pws, with artists including Mei Gwynedd and band, Dadleoli, Taran, local schools and more. Saturday will be an evening with Huw Chiswell, Bronwen Lewis, Aleighcia Scott and other popular artists. S4C will be broadcasting the competitions from the Red, White and Green pavilions from 8.00am every day and they will be streamed on Clic. For the first time, it will also be possible to look back on the streams and re-watch competitions, by watching Clic on desktop devices. The streams will be available for three days after the competitions have taken place and it will be possible to 'spool' the stream by watching on a computer or laptop. This will be available from the 'Our picks' section at the top of the Clic home page. S4C's live daily programmes will be hosted by Trystan Ellis Morris and Heledd Cynwal between 10.30am and 6.30pm and a highlights programme will air every night at 8.00pm. These programmes will be available on demand on Clic and BBC iPlayer with English subtitles. BBC Radio Cymru and the Ifan Evans programme will be broadcasting daily live radio shows on the Maes between 2pm and 5pm, with Jac Northfield joining in. All winners will also be featured across the station and BBC Cymru Fyw will share the latest daily news and stories online. The main daily ceremonies will take place in the white pavilion at 2pm: Monday, Chief Artist and Art Medal; Tuesday, the Drama Medal; Wednesday, Welsh Learners Medal and the Bobi Jones Medal; Thursday, the Chairing; Friday, the Crowning; Saturday, Main Composer Medal.
Business News Wales
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Four Local Volunteers to be Honoured at Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025
As preparations scale up for Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr 2025 this month, Urdd Gobaith Cymru is thanking a group of volunteers for decades of voluntary work for the youth organisation. Each year, individuals who have made a special contribution to Wales' largest youth organisation are honoured by the Urdd. This year, attention turns to West Glamorgan, and four volunteers will be named Honorary Presidents of Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025 in a special ceremony on the Maes (the festival ground). The four Honorary Presidents of Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr 2025 are Davida Lewis, Janet Jones, Menna Bennett Joynson and Wayne Pedrick. Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts, Urdd Gobaith Cymru said: 'The four who are being honoured this year have given over 160 years of support to the movement. Volunteers play a vital role in the work and reach of the Urdd, and we're delighted to recognise the dedication of these particular four volunteers at a special ceremony at the Eisteddfod on Monday, 26 May.' Davida Lewis Brought up in Swansea, Davida Lewis has spent her life in the Eisteddfod's local area. She established two local choirs: 'Côr Plant Waunarlwydd' in 1965 and 'Côr Waunarlwydd' in 1970. The choirs have had considerable success locally and internationally for 60 years. The choirs still exist, and even though Davida has transferred the reigns to a new conductor, she still enjoys participating as a member. Being awarded the title of Honorary President at the Eisteddfod in her own area will be a crowning achievement, after her wealth of experiences and successes in Eisteddfodau over the decades. Janet Jones Brought up in Loughor, Janet has lived in Neath for over 40 years. Music is in her blood and over the years she has competed regularly on stages, winning several major prizes at Eisteddfod yr Urdd and at the National Eisteddfod. Janet is the conductor of 'Parti Llwchwr'. She has shared her musical talents by teaching children to sing and perform at Eisteddfodau and numerous events over the years. She established 'Adran Nedd' in 1993 to offer cultural and Welsh experiences to the youth of the area. Following the success of the group, she established 'Uwch Adran Nedd' to continue to provide experiences to older children. She has also been an active member of the Neath and Afan Local Committee, as well as Chair of the Regional Committee. Janet is one of the Vice-Chairs of the Executive Committee for this year's Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Menna Bennett Joynson Menna was born in Llanidloes before her family moved to Llanuwchllyn and then to Aberystwyth. She grew up in a musical and cultured household and was familiar with singing and participating in Eisteddfodau from an early age. At Eisteddfod yr Urdd, she has had considerable success in the field of 'cerdd dant', while she also coached pupils to sing and compete in her role as a music teacher at Ysgol Rhydfelen. In 1976 she moved to Swansea with her husband and raised three children locally. Menna established 'Adran Sgeti' in 1978 which later developed into 'Aelwyd yr Urdd Sgeti'. Over the years, they went on to have considerable success at Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Menna was appointed music teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr and a peripatetic harp teacher in the area. She talks of her gratitude to the Urdd, adding that all the experiences she and her pupils have had have greatly enriched her life. Wayne Pedrick Wayne's first experience of Eisteddfod yr Urdd was through his children, Lisa and Aled, when they were pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. Both loved to compete, with Aled winning the 2003 Bryn Terfel Scholarship at the Tawe, Neath and Afan Eisteddfod. Wayne worked at the local coal plant, and in 1998 he got a job as a peripatetic brass teacher. In that role, he encouraged and supported his pupils to compete at Eisteddfod yr Urdd, both as soloists and as an ensemble. He was appointed Head of the Peripatetic Music Service in Neath Port Talbot in 2016 and helps run three youth and junior orchestras, three youth and junior brass bands and a Youth Choir and Big Band. Wayne also regularly adjudicates instrumental competitions at regional and national Eisteddfodau. Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr will be held at Margam Park between 26 and 31 May.
