We were delighted to partner and support URDD Gobaith Cymru, as they hosted the 2022 URDD national eisteddfod.
Urdd Gobaith Cymru is a National Voluntary Youth Organisation with over 55,000 members between the ages of 8–25 yrs old. Since 1922, the URDD have provided opportunities through the medium of Welsh for children and young people in Wales to enable them to make positive contributions to their communities.
This year's eisteddfod held additional significance, not just as it represented the first face to face eisteddfod since the outset of the pandemic; but that 2022 is also the centenary year for the URDD.
This year's location was Denbighshire; and with Welsh Government subsidising free entry, the half term attendance was significantly high with 118,000 people visiting the Maes.
Thousands of competitors from across Wales had the opportunity to perform on stage in one of the three pavilions as the Urdd offered "a stage for everyone" for the very first time, an experiment which was a “major success” according to event organisers.
Urdd officials were delighted with the event which saw merit in all the major competitions and the ceremonies held on an outdoor stage with the stunning background of the Clwydian hills was well received and well attended.
We sponsored 2 main stage competitions that were the culmination of school and regional activity throughout the year. The competitions were the individual recitation finals in categories for the under 19's, and the 19-25 year-old group.
The choice of competitions compliments our work over recent years in developing our mental health debate programme across Wales, as well as our activity in supporting and promoting the Welsh language.
The entries were an incredibly high standard, and we’ve linked the prize winners and their performances from each category.
Under 19
- 1st Mared Vaughan
- 2nd Elin Llwyd
- 3rd Iestyn Jones
19-25 year olds
- 1st Cai Davies
- 2nd Daniel O'Callaghan
- 3rd Nest Jenkins
The pieces themselves are commissioned for the eisteddfod, and support the values of the URDD in supporting and promoting the Welsh language and culture.
‘Su’mae Shw'mae’ in the under 19 category is written by Manon Steffan Ros,
Manon is a prolific Welsh novelist. The piece details how a young person from Caernarfon, visits Cardiff and decides to speak the first line of every conversation they have in the Welsh language. Whilst a specific selection out of the '
stafell fy haul’ (room my sun) volume by Manon Rhys was chosen for the 19-25 year-old category.
We’d like to congratulate all of this year's entrants as well as this year's winners (you can find more detail here), they've made it a really successful eisteddfod.
Further performances can be viewed through URDD YouTube channel.
For further information, please contact:
- Email: oliver.john@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Web: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/wales
- Contact Name: Ollie John
- Twitter: @RCPsychWales
- Out-of-hours contact number: 02922 33 1080