County embraces Welsh language and culture on St David’s Day in run up to National Eisteddfod

Communities across Monmouthshire celebrated Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant – St David’s Day – on March 1st with a festival of singing to support the Welsh language and culture in the year that the National Eisteddfod comes to Abergavenny. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Among the events held to raise funds for the National Eisteddfod was a concert by Abergavenny’s Welsh-medium primary school – Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni – in the town’s market hall. Meanwhile, Usk Primary School held a St David’s Day musical coffee morning in support of the National Eisteddfod where members of the public enjoyed coffee, cake and performances by pupils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Raglan Primary School organised an eisteddfod while local choristers The Singing Club arranged an open rehearsal in Usk’s Sessions House inviting people to sing along to well-known Welsh melodies and learn Mae hen wlad fy nhadau – the Welsh national anthem. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for the Welsh language, Councillor Phil Hobson said: “We’re enthusiastically embracing Welsh culture in the approach to the National Eisteddfod visiting Monmouthshire this summer. Further events are planned in the next five months which I hope the county’s residents will enjoy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• The Monmouthshire & District National Eisteddfod takes place on Abergavenny’s Castle Meadows from July 29th to August 6th and 150,000 people are expected to visit the county during the week. Donations may be given via: www.justgiving.com/Eisteddfod2016 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​