2023 Eisteddfod Chair to be made with oak from iconic Lôn Goed

The Chair is presented by the family of the late Dafydd Orwig, who contributed so much to his community in Gwynedd, and who spent some of his formative years in Ireland.

This period outside Wales influenced the prominent educator and pioneer throughout his life, and the family want to celebrate this link between Wales and Ireland by publishing the brief for the Chair on St Patrick’s Day.

As they remember Dafydd Orwig’s life and contribution, the family want to make sure that the Chair’s roots are literally in Llŷn and Eifionydd.  So the wood for the Chair has already been chosen and is from one of the 200 year old iconic oak trees from Y Lôn Goed, featured  in R Williams Parry’s famous poem, Eifionydd.

The tree fell during a storm around seven years ago, and Huw Orwig, speaking on behalf of the family, says, “We’re very grateful to the owners of Tyddyn Heilyn farm, Chwilog, Mr and Mrs Williams, for offering the wood for the Chair. We’re delighted that we’re able to create a new and different use for an ancient oak tree, lost in a storm.

“Wales has seen more than its fair share of storms over the past few months, and it’s great to think that we’re able to use a tree mentioned in one of R Williams Parry’s most famous poems to honour the winning poet on the Pavilion stage in August 2023.”

As well as the iconic oak from Y Lôn Goed, the family would also like to see slate used as part of the design, given Dafydd Orwig’s family connection with slate, both in Wales and in Ireland. The family would very much like to see a Chair that will eventually become quite at home within a domestic situation, but it should also be remembered that the Chair will need to be visually striking on the broad Eisteddfod stage, and that it should reflect the dignity of all the main ceremonies throughout the week. 

The full brief for the Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod Chair is now on the Eisteddfod website, www.eisteddfod.wales/2023-chair-brief, and anyone interested in applying can email Huw Orwig at huworwig@gmail.com for more information.  The closing date for bids is 1 June 2022.

The Lllŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod is held on the outskirts of Boduan from 5-12 August 2023.  For more information go online.