Wrexham MS looks ahead to the National Eisteddfod
Excitement is building as a major national cultural event gets underway in Wrexham at the end of this week.
Taking place from 2 – 9 August, the National Eisteddfod is returning to Wrexham for the first time since 2011.
The Eisteddfod dates back to 1861 and is a celebration of Welsh language and culture through music, performance and other competitions.
As well as celebrating history, the festival has modernised and developed extensively in recent years.
Up to 170,000 visitors are expected to visit and it is considered to be the largest cultural event in Europe.
Over the 8 days, the festival site, or 'Maes', is a centre for hundreds of cultural, recreational and commercial events from all round Wales.
There is also evening entertainment from Saturday to Monday night in the Pavilion.
As you will expect, all activities and events are delivered through the medium of Welsh but regardless of whether you speak Welsh or not, you are more than welcome on the Maes. There is also a translation centre on site.
The Maes will be located in Isycoed, a village five miles away from the city centre.
In recent months, I have been communicating with Transport for Wales and I am aware it has been engaging with Wrexham Council and festival organisers to ensure attendees have public transport options for getting to and from Y Maes.
Existing train services will be strengthened and there will also be additional rail services throughout the week.
A shuttle bus will be in operation between 8am and midnight which will call at Wrexham General station, Wrexham Bus station on King Street and the Maes.
Safe routes are also being identified to encourage cycling and walking, and there will be 400 bike parking spaces on site.
Ensuring people can rely on public transport to attend the Eisteddfod is crucial and I am grateful to Transport for Wales as these initiatives will not just help attendees travelling from Wrexham, but also those coming from further afield.
It promises to be a special occasion and I am looking forward to spending a few days at the Maes.
All the information about the Eisteddfod can be found on the website but, as always, if you're a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please contact me via email: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales or call 01978 355743.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans splits from fiancée weeks after proposing
The opera singer hinted that his relationship with business owner Liz Brookes was "not healthy" Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans has revealed he's parted ways with his fiancée Liz Brookes, just weeks after popping the question during a romantic Moroccan getaway. The Welsh opera singer hinted at an "unhealthy" relationship in a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday, August 2, and confessed he's already dipping his toes back into the dating pool. Rumours of the couple's split started circulating last month when eagle-eyed fans spotted that Wynne had removed his engagement announcement from Instagram and stopped following Liz on social media. It now seems their romance has come to a definitive end. Insiders confided to the Daily Mail that the split was triggered by Wynne's hectic schedule since he decided to launch his own restaurant in his hometown of Carmarthen, whilst also kicking off his own radio show, set to be based in the eatery, reports the Mirror. The source disclosed: "Wynne and Liz called off their engagement a few weeks ago. The strain of his new business ventures led to a major disagreement. "Initially, there was hope they would reconcile once the bad feelings subsided, as they had broken up before and managed to mend things. "But with Wynne actively seeking new dates and publicly labelling the relationship as 'not healthy', it's safe to say they've permanently split this time." The Mirror has reached out to Wynne Evans' representatives for a statement. Liz, who operates a thriving events business in Wales, initially encountered Wynne in 2024 when he entertained guests at one of her company's corporate gatherings. She became a familiar face in the audience throughout his Strictly journey, frequently supporting him from the sidelines and posting encouraging messages across social media platforms. Wynne had previously credited Liz with motivating his fitness regime ahead of his BBC appearance, telling a podcast presenter: "I go out running with my girlfriend and stuff and I feel much better for it". Wynne popped the question to Liz in June, documenting the special moment on Instagram with a collection of photographs, including a detailed shot of her engagement ring. He wrote alongside the post: "Big news... I got engaged! This weekend in Morocco, somewhere between the couscous, the camels, and me limping around the souks like a man with no spatial awareness, I proposed to Liz - and she said yes! (No take-backs, I've checked.)". "She's clever, she's kind, she's got excellent taste in men. Absolutely no idea how I pulled that off, but here we are! Feeling very lucky, very happy, and just a tiny bit smug." The pair's split arrives during a challenging year for the Go Compare star, who was axed by the BBC earlier this year following a contentious "spit roast" remark during the Strictly live tour. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. While Wynne subsequently clarified the phrase related to fellow contestant Jamie Borthwick rather than presenter Janette Manrara as initially reported, he maintained he was compelled to issue an apology and has since severed ties with BBC Radio Wales. He has subsequently launched his own internet radio programme and established a wine bar and eatery called Welsh House by Wynne, which he pledged would feature MasterChef -style dishes on the menu as a tribute to his stint on the cookery programme.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Rhosllannerchrugog: Actor Mark Lewis Jones pays heartfelt tribute
Mark Lewis Jones' face is well known even if the name is not as familiar. His credits read like a list of recent iconic TV shows - The Crown, Game of Thrones, Keeping Faith, Man Up and Baby Reindeer. His film career is equally impressive ranging from his memorable role as First Order Captain Moden Canady in Star Wars: The Last Jedi to his role in the recent film, Sweetland. This week he is President of the National Eisteddfod which is being held in Wrexham, only a few miles from his home village. He noted his sincere thanks to the grandfather for insisting that the Eisteddfod be "by everyone and for everyone". In his speech he said: "My grandfather, Jonathan Dafis, sang in the pavilion many times as a loyal member of the Rhos Male Voice Choir, as well as helping to organise the festival when he came to the area in 1945, but somehow when I was growing up I didn't feel that the Eisteddfod was relevant to me. "I was, and continue to be, a proud Welshman, brought up in a community that was Welsh even though we were so close to the border, but even so I didn't think the Eisteddfod was for a Welshman like me. And it took me a while to understand that I was wrong." He added his wife, Gwenno, runs a clothes shop in Cardiff, and would regularly hire a stall on the Maes. "One of my favorite memories of coming to the Eisteddfod (with Gwenno), was meeting and chatting with people who had travelled from afar to be part of the festival. "It became clear to me how essential the Eisteddfod is, supporting and promoting the arts in our country. I now have four sons, each one appreciating the importance of the festival, and Jacob, the youngest, is working on the Maes this week. "I have come to understand what Taid understood from the beginning - that the Eisteddfod is for everyone, for everyone. And if he was still with us I know he would be here, in the front row, with a proud smile on his face when he finally saw his grandson on stage." Mark Lewis Jones also outlined how he chose to become an actor. "I have been fortunate to be able to stand on several famous stages over the years - the Globe and the National in London, the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford - but I have never been on the stage of the National Eisteddfod before," he said. He went to Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham and he had no idea what to do with his life. "But at school there was a teacher called Gwawr Mason. And one day, for some reason, she asked me to be in the next school show? And for some reason I said - yes, ok," he said. He came from a home without any connection with the arts, and a home where English was the main language. "After taking part in that school show, my life changed completely. I wanted to act. My parents were unsure of course, but supportive nonetheless. After all, I had nothing to lose - I have two brothers who are carpenters, but I think my mother and father realised after seeing me handle a saw that there was no future for me in that field. "So I went on to work with Clwyd Youth Theatre. I went to the College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, then to Theatr Clwyd and London. "But I can definitely tell you that that would never have happened if Gwawr Mason had not offered a helping hand to a young, lost boy. Very sadly we lost Gwawr during lockdown and although I have thanked her many times for her support I don't feel I will ever, ever, ever be able to thank her enough," he said. As President Mark Lewis Jones has a full schedule in the next few days but he is especially looking forward to taking part in the Stiwt theatre's centenary celebrations, an institution he has a very personal connection to, in his home village.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
What is the Eisteddfod: Explainer as Wrexham hosts festival
The National Eisteddfod is a celebration of Welsh arts, language and culture. The setting changes each year, alternating between north and south Wales. Although primarily a competitive event, the festival element has grown in recent years and now mirrors some of the best festivals in the UK. More than 5,000 competitors take place each year as hundreds of thousands festival goers attend the Eisteddfod. 186,000 attended the event in Pontypridd last year. The national Eisteddfod was established 164 years ago in 1861 and has gone from strength to strength each year. The festival site is known as the Maes and is host to a range of different stages and areas. There's the pavilion, maes B, and the main stage for most acts and artists. There is a food and drink area on site, as well as a spot for children's activities. MOST READ: LIVE: FC Groningen v Wrexham - Pre-season friendly Plans to demolish former cafe on A55 near Holywell Recap: Air ambulance lands in Flintshire town this morning There are a host of stalls and shops, with local traders showcasing their talents and goods. This year's festival is taking place in Isycoed, Wrexham from August 2 until August 9, with a wide range of different acts, shows, galleries and more on offer over the weeklong schedule. For more information about the 2025 festival, visit the website at
