Remarkable Urdd Eisteddfod to leave lasting legacy

The Council has been reflecting on the success of the recent Eisteddfod yr Urdd and hopes that this major event has left a lasting legacy for the county for young people, the Welsh language and the local economy.

The Eisteddfod was hosted on the Kilford Farm site on the outskirts of Denbigh during the Whitsun holiday (30 May to 4 June), two years after it was originally due to be held due to Covid.

Now the Council has been looking at the success of the Eisteddfod and how the county, including children and young people have benefitted.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Jason McLellan, said: “This was a great opportunity to showcase Denbighshire as a great destination for holidaymakers and day visitors, as well as a great opportunity for our children and young people.

“We were delighted to work with the Urdd and local communities to make this Eisteddfod one to remember and the fact it broke attendance records speaks volumes for the amount of effort that went in to stage such a prestigious event.

“Denbighshire was featured on national television, radio, print and online media outlets and it really gave the county a platform to promote its attractions, its historic towns and villages and the wealth of businesses available in the county.

“Naturally the tourism accommodation sector benefitted tremendously from having the Eisteddfod in Denbighshire, with many businesses reporting to be full during the week. It’s hoped that other businesses will have had a successful week and we look forward to the outcome of research work which will show how the area benefitted economically from hosting the Eisteddfod.

Denbighshire had the best record for the highest number of entries from any county in the whole of Wales. Hundreds of children and young people had the opportunity to showcase their talents in a wealth of competitions, ranging from singing, recitation, drama, dance, group competitions, art, crafts and much more.

Over two hundred pupils took part in two shows sponsored by the Council. The ‘Fi Di Fi’ show was written and produced by Angharad Beech and Ynyr Llwyd, both formerly of Prion and former pupils at Ysgol Glan Clwyd. A cast of pupils from Glan Clwyd and Ysgol Brynhyfryd shone on the stage in front of a packed pavilion.  

The ‘Ni yw y Byd’ primary school concert featured ‘mash-up’ performances of Welsh classics and other rock and pop songs. Over 150 pupils from across the county performed some of these classics and joined together to perform the Urdd anthem ‘Hei Mistar Urdd’ as the concert finale.

Councillor Gill German, Cabinet Lead Member for Education and Children’s Services, said: “This was such a brilliant experience for our children and young people. Our schools and Urdd branches really pulled out the stops in the competitions and Denbighshire was consistently one of the best performing counties during the week.

“We are very proud of what these young people have achieved and the support provided by the parents, guardians and those who spend hours training them for the national stage. To be able to see such prestigious productions at first hand and feel that sense of pride that was felt by the audiences will be something that stays with me for a long time”.

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Cabinet Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage, said: “Eisteddfod yr Urdd is a great way of profiling Welsh language and culture  and the opportunities for young children , young people and families.

“We need to make sure that the enthusiasm and commitment of the Urdd, Denbighshire County Council and the tremendous work of local fundraising committees leaves a lasting legacy for Welsh language and culture. We will work closely with other organisations across the county to identify how best to capitalise on this renewed interest in the language and continue to provide opportunities for communities to use the language”.

See a little of what we got up to during the week!