2021 Eisteddfod officials announced

With over 400 people at the recent public meeting, many more had registered their interest to be part of the team preparing for the festival held in Boduan, Llŷn, from 31 July – 7 August 2021.

Pwllheli solicitor, Michael Strain, was announced as Chair of the Executive Committee.  Originally from Abersoch and living in Bryncroes, he has been chair of the Llanw Llŷn ‘papur bro’ for a number of years, and is eager to attract local people who don’t often visit the Eisteddfod to become part of the project and the festival itself.

Guto Dafydd, well-known to the Eisteddfod audience, was elected as Vice-chair.  Originally from Trefor and now living in Pwllheli, he won the Eisteddfod Crown and the Daniel Owen Memorial Medal at this year’s festival – for the second time.  He is the treasurer of Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Y Ffôr.

Mai Bere is the Executive Committee Secretary.  She was a schools governance officer with Gwynedd Council until her recent retirement.  She is active in her community and with Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Y Ffôr every year.

Dafydd Rhun from Nefyn will serve as Chair of the Local Fund.  A solicitor in Pwllheli, he as Vice-chair of the Cerdd Dant Festival when it was held locally in 2016, working as part of the event organising and fundraising committee.  He has also secured tens of thousands of pounds of sponsorship towards a community development in his hometown.

Welcoming the team, Eisteddfod Organiser and Artistic Director, Elen Elis, said, “I’m very much looking forward to working with Michael and the team over the next few months.  Many congratulations to those who’ve been elected to all the committees, and our thanks to everyone keen to be part of the team.

“I know people across the whole of Wales are looking forward to coming to the area in August 2021, and I’m sure we’ll create a memorable festival for everyone.

“I hope people from all corners of Llŷn, Eifionydd and Arfon will come together to raise awareness about the Eisteddfod’s visit.  The subject committees’ first task is to choose competitions for their sections, and then, next year, we’ll be working on the Eisteddfod programme.

“We want to build excitement across the region, and the work of setting up local appeal committees will start very soon.  If you’d like to be part of the preparations for the week, please get in touch, and you can do this online or by ringing the office.

“It’s difficult to believe that the Eisteddfod Maes has not been in Llŷn since 1955, when the festival was held in Pwllheli.  We’ve been back to the region in 1975 and 1987, but a visit to Llŷn was long overdue, and we’re delighted to be here. 

“This is an opportunity for everyone to come together, just as they did in 2005 when the Eisteddfod was held in Eryri, and we’re looking forward to working with people from Bangor to Boduan over the next few months!”

Below are details of the Chair of the other committees, who will become part of the Executive Committee, guiding the preparations for the festival:

Visual Arts – Mirain Fflur

Cerdd Dant – Einir Wyn Jones

Music – Pat Jones

Dance – Tudur Phillips

Learning Welsh – Martyn Croydon

Folk – Gwenan Gibbard

Science and Technology – Bryn Hughes Parry

Recitation – Siân Teifi

Literature – Esyllt Maelor

Theatre – Nia Wyn Williams

Maes B – Dafydd Rhys Hughes

Mas ar y Maes – Osian Gwyn Elis

The vote for Chair of the Visitor Experince and Marketing Committee will be held at the first meeting of the committee in the new year, as the result of the first vote was tied.

For more information on the 2021 Eisteddfod, go online, www.eisteddfod.wales, or ring 0845 4090 400.