Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru

Today's the day .......................... for all things Welsh

There are three different Eisteddfod  that happen every year in Wales - an eisteddfod  being a sort of festival/competition of music, dance, singing, poetry and the arts in general.  I've already introduced you to the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen last month.  The Urdd  Eisteddfod for young people was held from 30th May to 4th June in Flintshire - and the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru  or the National Eisteddfod of Wales is on at present in Abergavenny in South Wales.

Andrea, Will and I spent the day here, but really you would need the whole week to get round everything.  There are completitions going on in a dozen different venues within the site.  There's a whole village devoted to food and drink - and endless marquees showing off Welsh produce of every kind.  It's all highly sophisticated and I'm sure it must take the whole year to organise.

The day finished with a spectacular concert written and produced by Catrin Finch, the harpist - featuring dancers, musicians, singers - and incredible graphics, all about the different planets in the solar system.  And if you were in any doubt that music and the arts are an important part of Welsh culture, you certainly wouldn't have been by the end.  A fabulous spectacle to have attended .....................