Eisteddfod puts Llangollen on the international map
She said: 'I've been to the Eisteddfod many times before because people who grow up in North Wales as I did know it as an opportunity to experience a lot of things that they haven't before. It's a place where people from all over the world gather to share in our cultural and musical richness.
'But the Eisteddfod is crucially important not just to this area but the whole of Wales. It's also a truly an international event, something that really puts us on the world map.'
(Image: Llangollen Eisteddfod) Ms Gittins added: 'The Eisteddfod not only has huge cultural capital but is also good for travel and tourism to this area. And North East Wales is always ready to rise to the occasion each year.
"Our restaurants, cafes and hotels are always ready to welcome people and, especially in Llangollen, they make sure that people are welcomed back again and again.
'People come on a personal pilgrimage each year to see beautiful Llangollen and its Eisteddfod.
'The team work very hard to put the festival on.
"There's a huge amount of organisation that goes into it, so fundraising and sustainability is very important and I, along with Ken Skates the Senedd Member for this area, was happy to play my small part in helping to secure funding for the Eisteddfod from the Arts Council of Wales.'
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Leader Live
12 hours ago
- Leader Live
Eisteddfod puts Llangollen on the international map
The Clwyd East MP visited the festival to look around the field, watch the competitions and meet some of the volunteers which make it possible each year. She said: 'I've been to the Eisteddfod many times before because people who grow up in North Wales as I did know it as an opportunity to experience a lot of things that they haven't before. It's a place where people from all over the world gather to share in our cultural and musical richness. 'But the Eisteddfod is crucially important not just to this area but the whole of Wales. It's also a truly an international event, something that really puts us on the world map.' (Image: Llangollen Eisteddfod) Ms Gittins added: 'The Eisteddfod not only has huge cultural capital but is also good for travel and tourism to this area. And North East Wales is always ready to rise to the occasion each year. "Our restaurants, cafes and hotels are always ready to welcome people and, especially in Llangollen, they make sure that people are welcomed back again and again. 'People come on a personal pilgrimage each year to see beautiful Llangollen and its Eisteddfod. 'The team work very hard to put the festival on. "There's a huge amount of organisation that goes into it, so fundraising and sustainability is very important and I, along with Ken Skates the Senedd Member for this area, was happy to play my small part in helping to secure funding for the Eisteddfod from the Arts Council of Wales.'
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
A giant 150ft mural of Pavarotti has appeared on a North Wales hillside
The widow of the great Luciano Pavarotti has given her seal of approval to a massive 150ft mural of her late husband. The chalk profile was created in just 24 hours on a hillside in North Wales. The artwork was create to celebrate Pavarotti's first appearance 70 years ago at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Denbighshire. To mark the anniversary, his widow Nicoletta Mantovani was a guest of honour at this year's festival. She attended the mural's unveiling alongside members of the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir – the choir that first hosted Luciano and his father Fernando in 1955. She arrived in the town on board a vintage steam train from Corwen where the choir serenaded her with a Welsh song special to her late husband. Nicoletta said she shed a tear when she heard the world-famous choir perform. The 45-metre by 30-metre artwork is visible from the Eisteddfod Pavilion below and from Castell Dinas Brân above – a ruined medieval castle built by the Welsh Princes. It's hosted by Wern Isaf campsite on Donkey Hill overlooking the Eisteddfod grounds. Nicoletta was given a clear view of the stunning chalk sculpture, which depicts the Maestro in full voice. It was designed in partnership with record label Decca. She said it was 'really great', adding: 'It is good that it is there for people to see someone who was so closely connected to the festival.' David Hennigan, Eisteddfod board director, said the mural has become an instant tourism attraction in the town. 'The reaction from eisteddfod concertgoers has been overwhelming,' he said. 'People have been standing in the car park to view the sculture and the comments have been amazing. 'We thought it would be well received but the response has been even better than we expected. It's been a very worthwhile project.' Nicoletta, who was married to the singing legend until his death in 2007, journeyed from Italy to celebrate three major milestones at this week's International Eisteddfod. Pavarotti was just 19 and a trainee teacher when he came to the Llangollen in 1955 with his father, Fernando, as part of Chorus Rossini from their home city of Modena. He returned as a global star in 1995 to perform a sell-out concert. This year would have been his 90th birthday. Today (Saturday, July 12) she will be on the famous Pavilion stage to help present the Pavarotti Trophy, named in honour of her late husband, to the winners of the Choir of the World Competition. In another coup for the festival, on Sunday evening Nicoletta will hand over the coveted Pendine Trophy to the winner of the International Voice of the Future competition. She will sharing the presentation with sponsors Mario and Gill Kreft and another megastar of the opera world, Sir Bryn Terfel. Songs performed by Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir as Nicoletta arrived in Denbighshire included We'll Keep a Welcome in the Hillside, which Pavarotti loved. At Llangollen train station she was also entertained by Italian and Bulgarian groups competing at the festival, both in colourful national costumes. She said: 'My arrival was incredible. It was exactly the way Luciano told me how the people of Wales are so warm and friendly. And to hear the Fron Choir perform – especially the welcome song that was a favourite of his – I cried. 'Travelling on the train was also very special, seeing the countryside and when we arrived at Llangollen station, I enjoyed the choir and the dancers who greeted us. I knew one of the songs and mimed along to it. 'At the Eisteddfod it was fantastic to meet the volunteers. It is really important and so precious for people from all different countries to come together in the name of culture and music.'
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Leader Live
Eighties rock legend John Parr to appear at Wrexham Library
John Parr, known for hits featured in films such as St. Elmo's Fire, Three Men and a Baby, and The Running Man, will be at the library on August 5 at 6pm. He has crafted a short film and score based on the life of Welsh-language poet Hedd Wyn. Hedd Wyn, born Ellis Humphrey Evans, was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele during the First World War. He was posthumously awarded the bard's chair at the 1917 National Eisteddfod, and the chairing ceremony saw the empty chair draped in black, later delivered to Evans's parents. The 1917 National Eisteddfod is now referred to as Eisteddfod y Gadair Ddu (The Eisteddfod of the Black Chair). The event is free and will be conducted in English. READ MORE: Lucky Flintshire street named People's Postcode Lottery winner today Library-goers can register their place by phoning the library. For those attending the National Eisteddfod and wanting to engage in the fringe events during that week, a free shuttle bus service will be operational between the Eisteddfod and Wrexham General train station. The service will run all day, every day, throughout the Eisteddfod week.
