Crowning of the Bard

The Crowning of the Bard (Welsh: Coroni'r Bardd) is one of the most important events in an eisteddfod. The most famous such ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is normally on the Monday afternoon of Eisteddfod week (it was formerly held on the Tuesday).[1]

A new bardic crown is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for the Pryddest, poetry written in free verse.[2][3] There are three judges and these have included past crowned bards, such as Mererid Hopwood and T. James Jones.[4]

The National Eisteddfod crown was first awarded in 1867.[5] The crowning ceremony is presided over by the Archdruid, who invites one of the judges to read the adjudication and judges' comments before announcing the identity of the bard, using only the nom de plume that the winner has used when submitting the work. Up to this point, no one knows the true identity of the bard, who is asked to stand and is then escorted to the stage and crowned.[6]

Winning the "double" of bardic chair and crown at the same Eisteddfod is a feat that has only been achieved a handful of times in the history of the Eisteddfod. Alan Llwyd and Donald Evans have won the double twice.

In August 2018 the winner of the crown was awarded to Cardiff author, Catrin Dafydd, though during the ceremony the archdruid, Geraint Llifon, caused controversy by saying she couldn't have achieved this without men. Llifon later apologised.[7]

List of the crown winners

Year Location Winner (bardic name) Title of work[8]
1880 Caernarfon Ellis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyrfai) Buddugoliaeth y Groes
1881 Merthyr Tydfil Watkin Wyn Bywyd
1882 Denbigh D R Williams Y Cadfridog Garfield
1883 Cardiff Anne Thomas (Morfudd Eryri)  Llandaf
1884 Liverpool J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) Madog ab Owain Gwynedd
1885 Aberdare Tecwyn Parry Hywel Dda
1886 Caernarfon J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) Cystenin Fawr
1887 London J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) John Penry
1888 Wrexham H Elvet Lewis (Elfed) Y Sabath yng Nghymru
1889 Brecon H Elvet Lewis (Elfed) Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf
1890 Bangor J J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) Ardderchog Lu'r Merthyri
1891 Swansea David Adams (Hawen)  Oliver Cromwell
1892 Rhyl J J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) Dewi Sant
1893 Pontypridd Ben Davies Cymru Fydd
1894 Caernarfon Ben Davies Tennyson
1895 Llanelli W L Lewis (Llew Llwyfo) Ioan y Disgybl Annwyl
1896 Llandudno No winner
1897 Newport Thomas Davies (Mafonwy) Arthur y Ford Gron
1898 Blaenau Ffestiniog R Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) Charles o'r Bala
1899 Cardiff R Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) Y Diddanydd Arall
1900 Liverpool J T Job (Job) Williams Pantycelyn
1901 Merthyr Tydfil John Jenkins (Gwili) Tywysog Tangnefedd
1902 Bangor Robert Roberts (Silyn) Trystan ac Esyllt
1903 Llanelli J E Davies (Rhuddwawr) Y Ficer Prichard
1904 Rhyl R M Humphreys (Machno) Tom Ellis
1905 Mountain Ash Thomas Davies (Mafonwy)  Ann Griffiths
1906 Caernarfon Hugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) Branwen Ferch Llyr
1907 Swansea John Dyfnallt Owen Y Greal Sanctaidd
1908 Llangollen Hugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) Owain Glyndwr
1909 London W J Gruffydd Yr Arglwydd Rhys
1910 Colwyn Bay William Williams (Crwys) Ednyfed Fychan
1911 Carmarthen William Williams (Crwys) Gwerin Cymru
1912 Wrexham T H Parry-Williams Gerallt Gymro
1913 Abergavenny Wil Ifan Ieuan Gwynedd
1914 First World War First World War - No Eisteddfod
1915 Bangor T H Parry-Williams Y Ddinas
1916 Aberystwyth No winner
1917 Penbedw Wil Ifan Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed
1918 Neath Emrys Lewis Mynachlog Nedd
1919 Corwen William Williams (Crwys) Morgan Llwyd
1920 Barry James Evans Trannoeth y Drin
1921 Caernarfon Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Mab y Bwthyn
1922 Ammanford R Beynon Y Tannau Coll
1923 Mold Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Yr Ynys Unig
1924 Pontypool Prosser Rhys Atgof
1925 Pwllheli Wil Ifan Bro Fy Mebyd
1926 Swansea Dewi Emrys Casgliad o farddoniaeth wreiddiol
1927 Holyhead Caradog Prichard Y Briodas
1928 Treorchy Caradog Prichard Penyd
1929 Liverpool Caradog Prichard Y Gân Ni Chanwyd
1930 Llanelli Gwilym Myrddin Ben Bowen
1931 Bangor Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Y Dyrfa
1932 Aberafan Eirug Davies A Ddioddefw a Orfu
1933 Wrexham Simon B Jones Rownd yr Horn
1934 Neath Eirug Davies Y Gorwel
1935 Caernarfon Gwilym R Jones Ynys Enlli
1936 Fishguard David Jones Yr Anialwch
1937 Machynlleth J M Edwards Y Pentref
1938 Cardiff Edgar Thomas Peniel
1939 Denbigh No winner
1940 Mountain Ash (radio) No winner
1941 Old Colwyn J M Edwards Peiriannau
1942 Cardigan Herman Jones Ebargofiant
1943 Bangor Dafydd Owen Rhosydd Moab
1944 Llandybie J M Edwards Yr Aradr
1945 Rhos Griffith John Roberts Coed Celyddon
1946 Mountain Ash Rhydwen Williams Yr Arloeswr
1947 Colwyn Bay Griffith John Roberts Glyn y Groes
1948 Bridgend Euros Bowen O'r Dwyrain
1949 Dolgellau John Eilian Meirionnydd
1950 Caerphilly Euros Bowen Difodiant
1951 Llanrwst T Glyn Davies Adfeilion
1952 Aberystwyth No winner
1953 Rhyl Dilys Cadwaladr Y Llen
1954 Ystradgynlais E Llwyd Williams Y Bannau
1955 Pwllheli W J Gruffydd (Elerydd)  Ffenestri
1956 Aberdare No winner
1957 Llangefni Dyfnallt Morgan Drama Fydryddol Rhwng Dau
1958 Ebbw Vale Llewelyn Jones Cymod
1959 Caernarfon Tom Huws Cadwynau
1960 Cardiff W J Gruffydd (Elerydd) Unigedd
1961 Rhosllanerchrugog L Haydn Lewis Ffoadur
1962 Llanelli D Emlyn Lewis Y Cwmwl
1963 Llandudno Tom Parri-Jones Y Bont
1964 Swansea Parch Rhydwen Williams Ffynhonnau
1965 Newtown Tom Parri-Jones Y Gwybed
1966 Aberafan Dafydd Jones Y Clawdd
1967 Bala Eluned Phillips Corlannau
1968 Barry Rev Haydn Lewis Meini
1969 Flint Dafydd Rowlands I Gwestiynau fy Mab
1970 Ammanford Bryan Martyn Davies Darluniau ar Gynfas
1971 Bangor Bryan Martyn Davies Y Golau Caeth
1972 Haverfordwest Rev Dafydd Rowlands Dadeni
1973 Ruthin Alan Llwyd Y Dref
1974 Carmarthen W R P George Tân
1975 Criccieth Elwyn Roberts Dilyniant o gerdd Pridd
1976 Cardigan Alan Llwyd Dilyniant o benillion Troeon Bywyd
1977 Wrexham Donald Evans Hil
1978 Cardiff Sion Eirian Cerdd hir yn portreadu llencyndod
1979 Caernarfon Meirion Evans Dilyniant o Gerddi Serch neu Siom
1980 Lliw Valley Donald Evans Dilyniant o Gerddi
1981 Machynlleth Sion Aled Wynebau
1982 Swansea Eirwyn George Dilyniant o Gerddi
1983 Anglesey Eluned Phillips Clymau
1984 Lampeter John Roderick Rees Llygaid
1985 Rhyl John Roderick Rees Glannau
1986 Fishguard T James Jones Llwch
1987 Porthmadog John Gruffydd Jones Casgliad o Gerddi
1988 Newport T James Jones Ffin
1989 Llanrwst Selwyn Griffith Dilyniant o Gerddi
1990 Rhymney Valley Iwan Llwyd Gwreichion
1991 Mold Einir Jones Pelydrau
1992 Aberystwyth Cyril Jones Cyfrannu
1993 Llanelwedd Eirwyn George Llynnoedd
1994 Neath Gerwyn Williams Dolenni
1995 Abergele Aled Gwyn Melodïau
1996 Llandeilo David John Pritchard Olwynion
1997 Bala Cen Williams Branwen
1998 Bridgend Emyr Lewis Rhyddid
1999 Anglesey Ifor ap Glyn Golau yn y Gwyll
2000 Llanelli Dylan Iorwerth Tywod
2001 Denbigh Penri Roberts Muriau
2002 St David's Aled Jones Williams Awelon
2003 Meifod Mererid Hopwood Gwreiddiau
2004 Newport Jason Walford Davies Egni
2005 Snowdonia Christine James Llinellau Lliw
2006 Swansea Eigra Lewis Roberts Fflam
2007 Flintshire Tudur Dylan Jones Copaon
2008 Cardiff Hywel Meilyr Griffiths Stryd Pleser
2009 Meirion Ceri Wyn Jones Yn y Gwaed
2010 Blaenau Gwent and heads of the valleys Glenys Mair Glyn Roberts Newid
2011 Wrexham Geraint Lloyd Owen Gwythiennau
2012 Vale of Glamorgan Gwyneth Lewis Ynys
2013 Denbighshire Ifor ap Glyn Terfysg
2014 Carmarthenshire Guto Dafydd Tyfu
2015 Montgomery and borderlands Manon Rhys Breuddwyd
2016 Monmouthshire Elinor Gwynn Llwybrau
2017 Anglesey Gwion Hallam Trwy'r Drych
2018 Cardiff Catrin Dafydd Olion
2019 Llanrwst Guto Dafydd Cilfachau
2020 Not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic No Eisteddfod (COVID-19)
2021 "Eisteddfod AmGen" Eisteddfod AmGen - Dyfan Lewis Ar Wahân
2022 Tregaron

See also

References

  1. National Eisteddfod: the Gorsedd Today Archived 2012-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Druid Network: History of the Gorsedd of Bards Archived 2012-07-10 at archive.today
  3. "The main ceremonies". BBC iWonder. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  4. "Translator wins National Eisteddfod poetry crown". BBC News. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  5. "The Crowning Ceremony". National Museum of Wales. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  6. "Gorsedd Ceremonies Today". Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  7. Huw Thomas (7 August 2018). "National Eisteddfod: Archdruid apology for 'sexist' remark". BBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  8. "Crown Winners | National Eisteddfod". eisteddfod.wales. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
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