“Urdd at the heart of Welsh language and culture” Wales Office Minister visits Urdd National Eisteddfod
Wales Office Minister, Stephen Crabb MP will join thousands of visitors as they celebrate Welsh history, its language and its heritage at the Urdd National Eisteddfod.
The annual Welsh language youth festival will descend on Cilwendeg Farm in the village of Boncath, Pembrokeshire between 27 May and 1 June 2013. The annual event will see over 15,000 children and young people will compete in various competitions such as singing, dancing and performing.
Mr Crabb will meet with the Eisteddfod director, Aled Sion and attend the opening reception and concert on Sunday 26 May. As the festivities begin in earnest on Monday, Mr Crabb will attend the opening of the new science pavilion and the arts and crafts pavilion. He will also attend the launch of ‘Developing Dylan’ - an educational project designed to introduce the magic of Dylan Thomas’ words to the young people of Wales.
On Wednesday (29 May), Mr Crabb will return to the Maes where he will visit a range of stands and exhibitions. He will also take the opportunity to meet with Welsh Language Commissioner, Meri Huws to discuss issues and opportunities facing the language.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Crabb said:
Since its early days, the Urdd movement has been at the heart of building pride in the Welsh language and culture and I’m delighted to welcome the Eisteddfod to Pembrokeshire this year. I have fond memories of my own involvement in the Urdd as a child - particularly my stay at their excellent youth camp in Llangrannog.
Thanks to the Urdd, generations of young people from all walks of life have had an opportunity to engage in a range of artistic and creative activities through the medium of Welsh. As a Welsh learner, I fully understand the crucial and important role the language plays in our identity and culture.
The Urdd organisation works so hard to raise the profile of the language and of young people in Wales and I’m looking forward to meeting many of those taking part in the festivities next week.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information, please contact Lynette Evans at the Wales Office on 029 2092 4204 / 07826 868 891 / lynette.evans@walesoffice.gsi.gov.uk
*Urdd Gobaith Cymru is Wales’ leading youth organisation
*The Urdd has given children and young people exciting opportunities for 90 years
*Urdd Gobaith Cymru has 50,000 members between 8 and 25 years old
*The aim of the Urdd is to give the children and young people of Wales an opportunity to live their lives through the medium of Welsh, developing confidence and respect for each other and the people of the world
*Urdd activities include tours and visits, sports, eisteddfod, magazines, adrannau and aelwydydd and residential centres
*The Urdd Eisteddfod is a Welsh-language annual youth festival, held over one week and focusing on literature, music and performing arts. The festival is one of Europe’s largest events of its type, and locations vary between North and South Wales, with the festival returning every fourth year to the Millennium Centre at Cardiff Bay.