Chairing of the Bard explained

The Chairing of the Bard is one of the most important events in the Welsh eisteddfod tradition. The most famous chairing ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is always on the Friday afternoon of Eisteddfod week.[1] Winners are referred to as Y Prifardd (literally "The Chief Bard"). The custom of chairing the bard is, however, much older than the modern eisteddfod ceremony, and is known to have taken place as early as 1176.[2]

A new bardic chair is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for the "awdl", poetry written in a strict metre form known as cynghanedd. It is possible for the chair to be withheld, if the standard of entries is not considered high enough by the judges. This was the case in 1889, when a chair made for a minor eisteddfod at Bagillt, in Flintshire, was not awarded. The chair in question made news in 2006, when it was returned to Wales after being acquired by a local Welsh society in Canada.[3] The withholding of the chair happened most recently in 2013 at the Eisteddfod in Denbigh.[4]

The National Eisteddfod ceremony is presided over by the Archdruid, who asks for a representative of judges to comment on the entries, before he announces the identity of the bard, using only the pen name that the winner has used to submit 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. Local children perform a dance to honour the new bard.

In 1917, Hedd Wyn (Ellis Humphrey Evans) was awarded the Chair for his ode "Yr Arwr" ("The Hero"). On 6 September 1917, when the ceremony of Chairing of the Bard took place at the National Eisteddfod, held at Birkenhead Park, England, the adjudicators announced that the winning entry had been submitted under the pseudonym Fleur de Lys. After the trumpets had summoned the winner three times to stand forth from the audience, Archdruid Dyfed announced that he had been killed in action six weeks earlier. The winner's chair was then draped in a black sheet, and was thus delivered to the parents of Hedd Wyn. That year's eisteddfod is now referred to in the Welsh language as "Eisteddfod y Gadair Ddu" ("The Eisteddfod of the Black Chair").

The chair from that ceremony, which was made by a Belgian carpenter, Eugeen Vanfleteren (1880–1950), who had fled to Britain when Belgium was invaded and had settled in Birkenhead,[5] is on display at Yr Ysgwrn, the poet's former home.[6]

Winning the "double" of bardic chair and crown at the same eisteddfod is a feat that has only been performed a handful of times in the history of the eisteddfod. Alan Llwyd and Donald Evans have each performed the double twice.[7]

The first woman to win the Chair at the National Eisteddfod was Mererid Hopwood in 2001; she went on to win the crown at a later eisteddfod.

Winners of the chair at the National Eisteddfod

YearLocationPoemPoet[8] Bardic name
1876 Wrexham data-sort-value="Jones, Thomas" Thomas Jones[9] Taliesin o Eifion
1877 Caernarfon Welsh: Ieuenctid data-sort-value="Roberts, William" William Roberts (Porthmadog) Gwilym Eryri
1880 Caernarfon Welsh: Athrylith data-sort-value="Joseph, W B" W B Joseph Y Myfyr
1881 Merthyr Tydfil Welsh: Cariad data-sort-value="Rees, Evan" Dyfed
1882 Denbigh Welsh: Dyn data-sort-value="" No winner
1883 Cardiff Welsh: Y Llong data-sort-value="" No winner
1884 Liverpool Welsh: Gwilym Hiraethog data-sort-value="Rees, Evan" Evan Rees Dyfed
1885 Aberdare Welsh: Y Gwir yn Erbyn y Byd data-sort-value="Williams, Watkin Hesekiah" Watcyn Wyn
1886 Caernarfon Welsh: Gobaith data-sort-value="Davies, Richard" Richard Davies Tafolog
1887 London Welsh: Y Frenhines Victoria data-sort-value="Williams, Robert Arthur" Robert Arthur Williams
1888 Wrexham Welsh: Peroriaeth data-sort-value="Jones, Thomas" Thomas Jones Tudno
1889 Brecon Welsh: Y Beibl Cymraeg data-sort-value="Rees, Evan" Evan Rees Dyfed
1890 Bangor Welsh: Y Llafurwr data-sort-value="Jones, Thomas" Thomas Jones Tudno
1891 Swansea Welsh: Yr Haul data-sort-value="Williams, John Owen" Pedrog
1892 Rhyl Welsh: Y Cenhadwr data-sort-value="Jones, Evan" Evan Jones Gurnos
1893 Pontypridd Welsh: Pulpud Cymru data-sort-value="Williams, J Ceulanydd" J Ceulanydd Williams
1894 Caernarfon Welsh: Hunanaberth data-sort-value="Lewis, H Elvet" Elfed
1895 Llanelli Welsh: Dedwyddwch data-sort-value="Williams, John Owen" John Owen Williams Pedrog
1896 Llandudno Welsh: Tuhwnt i'r Llen data-sort-value="Davies, Ben"
1897 Newport Welsh: Brawdgarwch data-sort-value="Job, J. T." Job
1898 Blaenau Ffestiniog Welsh: Awen data-sort-value="Hughes, R. O." R. O. Hughes Elfyn
1899 Cardiff Welsh: Gladstone data-sort-value="" No winner
1900 Liverpool Welsh: Y Bugail data-sort-value="Williams, John Owen" John Owen Williams Pedrog
1901 Merthyr Tydfil Welsh: Y Diwygiwr data-sort-value="Rees, Evan" Evan Rees Dyfed
1902 Bangor Welsh: [[Ymadawiad Arthur]] data-sort-value="Jones, T. Gwynn"
1903 Llanelli Welsh: Y Celt data-sort-value="Job, J. T." Job
1904 Rhyl Welsh: Geraint ac Enid data-sort-value="Rees, Machreth" Machreth Rees
1905 Mountain Ash Welsh: Gorau arf, Dysg data-sort-value="" No winner
1906 Caernarfon Welsh: Y Lloer data-sort-value="Williams, J. J."
1907 Swansea Welsh: John Bunyan data-sort-value="Davies, T" T Davies
1908 Llangollen Welsh: Ceiriog data-sort-value="Williams, J. J." J J Williams
1909 London Welsh: Gwlad y Bryniau data-sort-value="Jones, T. Gwynn"
1910 Colwyn Bay Welsh: Yr Haf data-sort-value="Parry, R. Williams"
1911 Carmarthen Welsh: Iorwerth VII data-sort-value="Ceiriog, Gwilym" Gwilym Ceiriog
1912 Wrexham Welsh: Y Mynydd data-sort-value="Parry-Williams, T. H."
1913 Abergavenny Welsh: Aelwyd y Cymro data-sort-value="Thomas, T J" T J Thomas Sarnicol
1914 Not held: First World War N/Adata-sort-value="" N/A N/A
1915 Bangor Welsh: Eryri data-sort-value="Parry-Williams, T. H." T H Parry-Williams
1916 Aberystwyth Welsh: Ystrad Fflur data-sort-value="Williams, J Ellis" J Ellis Williams
1917 Penbedw Welsh: Yr Arwr data-sort-value="Evans, Ellis" Ellis Evans Hedd Wyn
1918 Neath Welsh: Eu Nêr a Folant data-sort-value="Job, J. T." J T Job Job
1919 Corwen Welsh: Y Proffwyd data-sort-value="Davies, Cledlyn" Cledlyn Davies
1920 Barry Welsh: Yr Oes Aur data-sort-value="" No winner
1921 Caernarfon Welsh: Min y Môr Meuryn data-sort-value="Rowlands, R J" R J Rowlands
1922 Ammanford Welsh: Y Gaeaf data-sort-value="Lloyd-Jones, John"
1923 Mold Welsh: Dychweliad Arthur data-sort-value="Davies, Cledlyn" Cledlyn Davies
1924 Pontypool Welsh: I'r Duw nid Adwaenir data-sort-value="Evans-Jones, Albert" Cynan
1925 Pwllheli Welsh: Cantre'r Gwaelod data-sort-value="Morgan, Dewi"
1926 Swansea Welsh: Y Mynach data-sort-value="Jones, D. Gwenallt" Gwenallt
1927 Holyhead Welsh: Y Derwydd data-sort-value="" No winner
1928 Treorchy Welsh: Y Sant data-sort-value="" No winner
1929 Liverpool Welsh: Dafydd ap Gwilym data-sort-value="Emrys, Dewi"
1930 Llanelli Welsh: Y Galilead data-sort-value="Emrys, Dewi" Dewi Emrys
1931 Bangor Welsh: Breuddwyd y Bardd data-sort-value="Jones, D. Gwenallt"
1932 Aberafan Welsh: Mam data-sort-value="Davies, D J" D J Davies
1933 Wrexham Welsh: Harlech data-sort-value="Phillips, Edgar" Trefin
1934 Neath Welsh: Ogof Arthur data-sort-value="Morris, W" W Morris
1935 Caernarfon Welsh: Magdalen data-sort-value="Evans, E. Gwyndaf"
1936 Fishguard Welsh: Ty Ddewi data-sort-value="Jones, Simon B" Simon B Jones
1937 Machynlleth Welsh: Y Ffin data-sort-value="Hughes, T. Rowland"
1938 Cardiff Welsh: Rwy'n Edrych Dros y Bryniau Pell data-sort-value="Jones, Gwilym R" Gwilym R Jones
1939 Denbigh Welsh: A hi yn dyddhau data-sort-value="" No winner
1940 Mountain Ash (radio) Welsh: Pererinion data-sort-value="Hughes, T. Rowland"
1941 Old Colwyn Welsh: Hydref data-sort-value="Jones, Rowland" Rowland Jones
1942 Cardigan Welsh: Rhyfel neu "Creiddylad" data-sort-value="" No winner
1943 Bangor Welsh: Cymylau Amser data-sort-value="Emrys, Dewi" Dewi Emrys
1944 Llandybie Welsh: Ofn data-sort-value="Jenkins, D Lloyd" D Lloyd Jenkins
1945 Rhos Welsh: Yr Oes Aur data-sort-value="Jones, T Parry" T Parry Jones
1946 Mountain Ash Welsh: Awdl Foliant i'r Amaethwr data-sort-value="Bowen, Geraint"
1947 Colwyn Bay Welsh: Maelgwn Gwynedd data-sort-value="Eilian, John" John Eilian
1948 Bridgend Welsh: Yr Alltud data-sort-value="Emrys, Dewi" Dewi Emrys
1949 Dolgellau Welsh: Y Graig data-sort-value="Jones, Rowland" Rowland Jones
1950 Caerphilly Welsh: Awdl Foliant i'r Glowr data-sort-value="Tilsley, Gwilym" Tilsli
1951 Llanrwst Welsh: Y Dyffryn data-sort-value="Richards, Brinley"
1952 Aberystwyth Welsh: Dwylo data-sort-value="Evans, John" John Evans
1953 Rhyl Welsh: Y Ffordd data-sort-value="Williams, E Lloyd" E Lloyd Williams
1954 Ystradgynlais Welsh: Yr Argae data-sort-value="Evans, John" John Evans
1955 Pwllheli Welsh: Gwrtheyrn data-sort-value="Jones, G Ceri" G Ceri Jones
1956 Aberdare Welsh: Gwraig data-sort-value="Hughes, Mathonwy" Mathonwy Hughes
1957 Llangefni Welsh: Cwm Carnedd data-sort-value="Tilsley, Gwilym"
1958 Ebbw Vale Welsh: Caerllion ar Wysg data-sort-value="Jones, T. Llew"
1959 Caernarfon Welsh: Y Dringwr data-sort-value="Jones, T. Llew" T Llew Jones
1960 Cardiff Welsh: Dydd Barn or "Morgannwg" data-sort-value="" No winner
1961 Rhosllanerchrugog Welsh: Awdl Foliant i Gymru data-sort-value="Edwards, Emrys" Emrys Edwards
1962 Llanelli Welsh: Llef un yn Llefain data-sort-value="Prichard, Caradog" Caradog Pritchard
1963 Llandudno Welsh: Genesis data-sort-value="" No winner
1964 Swansea Welsh: Patagonia data-sort-value="Williams, R Bryn" R Bryn Williams
1965 Newtown Welsh: Yr Ymchwil data-sort-value="Williams, W D" W D Williams
1966 Aberafan Welsh: Cynhaeaf data-sort-value="Jones, Dic" Dic yr Hendre
1967 Bala Welsh: Y Gwyddonydd data-sort-value="Roberts, Emrys"
1968 Barry Welsh: Awdl Foliant i'r Morwr data-sort-value="Williams, R Bryn" R Bryn Williams
1969 Flint Welsh: Yr Alwad data-sort-value="Nicholas, James" James Nicholas
1970 Ammanford Welsh: Y Twrch Trwyth data-sort-value="Evans, Tomi" Tomi Evans
1971 Bangor Welsh: Y Chwarelwr data-sort-value="Roberts, Emrys" Emrys Roberts
1972 Haverfordwest Welsh: Preselau data-sort-value="Owen, Dafydd" Dafydd Owen
1973 Ruthin Welsh: Llef Dros y Lleiafrifoedd data-sort-value="Llwyd, Alan"
1974 Carmarthen Welsh: Y Dewin data-sort-value="Jones, Moses Glyn" Moses Glyn Jones
1975 Criccieth Welsh: Afon data-sort-value="Owen, Gerallt Lloyd"
1976 Cardigan Welsh: Gwanwyn data-sort-value="Llwyd, Alan" Alan Llwyd
1977 Wrexham Welsh: Llygredd data-sort-value="Evans, Donald" Donald Evans
1978 Cardiff Welsh: Y Ddinas data-sort-value="" No winner
1979 Caernarfon Welsh: Gwynedd data-sort-value="" No winner
1980 Lliw Valley Welsh: Y Ffwrnais data-sort-value="Evans, Donald"
1981 Machynlleth Welsh: Y Frwydr data-sort-value="Jones, John Gwilym" John Gwilym Jones
1982 Swansea Welsh: Cilmeri data-sort-value="Owen, Gerallt Lloyd" Gerallt Lloyd Owen
1983 Anglesey Welsh: Ynys data-sort-value="Evans, Einion" Einion Evans
1984 Lampeter Welsh: Y Pethau Bychain data-sort-value="Wiliam, Aled Rhys" Aled Rhys Wiliam
1985 Rhyl Welsh: Cynefin data-sort-value="Powell, Robat" Robat Powell
1986 Fishguard Welsh: Y Cwmwl data-sort-value="Gwilym, Gwynn ap"
1987 Porthmadog Welsh: Llanw a Thrai data-sort-value="Wyn, Ieuan" Ieuan Wyn
1988 Newport Welsh: Storm data-sort-value="Edwards, Elwyn" Elwyn Edwards
1989 Llanrwst Welsh: Y Daith data-sort-value="Reynolds, Idris" Idris Reynolds
1990 Rhymney Valley Welsh: Gwythiennau data-sort-value="Dafydd, Myrddin ap"
1991 Mold Welsh: Awdl Foliant Merch ein Hamserau data-sort-value="Llwyd ab Owain, Robin"
1992 Aberystwyth Welsh: A Fo Ben ... data-sort-value="Reynolds, Idris" Idris Reynolds
1993 Llanelwedd Welsh: Gwawr data-sort-value="MacIntyre Huws, Meirion" Meirion MacIntyre Huws
1994 Neath Welsh: Chwyldro data-sort-value="Lewis, Emyr" Emyr Lewis
1995 Abergele Welsh: Y Môr data-sort-value="Jones, Tudor Dylan" Tudur Dylan Jones
1996 Llandeilo Welsh: Grisiau data-sort-value="Williams, R O" R O Williams
1997 Bala Welsh: Gwaddol data-sort-value="Jones, Ceri Wyn" Ceri Wyn Jones
1998 Bridgend Welsh: Fflamau data-sort-value="" No winner
1999 Anglesey Welsh: Pontydd data-sort-value="Ifan, Gwenallt Llwyd" Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan
2000 Llanelli Welsh: Agored data-sort-value="Jones, Llion" Llion Jones
2001 Denbigh Welsh: Dadeni data-sort-value="Hopwood, Mererid"
2002 St David's Welsh: Llwybrau data-sort-value="Dafydd, Myrddin ap"
2003 Meifod Welsh: Drysau data-sort-value="Morys, Twm" Twm Morys
2004 Newport Welsh: Tir Neb data-sort-value="Edwards, Huw Meirion" Huw Meirion Edwards
2005 Snowdonia Welsh: Gorwelion data-sort-value="Jones, Tudor Dylan" Tudur Dylan Jones
2006 Swansea Welsh: Tonnau data-sort-value="Ifor, Gwynfor ab" Gwynfor ab Ifor
2007 Flintshire Welsh: Ffin data-sort-value="Jones, T. James"
2008 Cardiff Welsh: Tir Newydd data-sort-value="Edwards, Hilma Ll." Hilma Ll. Edwards
2009 Meirion Welsh: Cyffro data-sort-value="" No winner
2010 Blaenau Gwent and heads of the valleys Welsh: Ennill Tir data-sort-value="Hallam, Tudur" Tudur Hallam
2011 Wrexham Welsh: Clawdd Terfyn data-sort-value="Iorwerth, Rhys" Rhys Iorwerth
2012 Vale of Glamorgan Welsh: Llanw data-sort-value="Iorwerth, Dylan" Dylan Iorwerth
2013 Denbighshire Welsh: Lleisiau data-sort-value="" No winner
2014 Carmarthenshire Welsh: Lloches data-sort-value="Jones, Ceri Wyn" Ceri Wyn Jones
2015 Montgomery and borderlands Welsh: Gwe data-sort-value="Griffiths, Hywel" Hywel Griffiths
2016 Monmouthshire Welsh: Ffiniau data-sort-value="Karadog, Aneirin" Aneirin Karadog
2017 Anglesey Welsh: Arwr data-sort-value="Jones, Osian Rhys" Osian Rhys Jones
2018 data-sort-value="Cardiff" Welsh: Porth data-sort-value="Owen, Gruffudd Eifion" Gruffudd Eifion Owen
2019 Llanrwst Welsh: Gorwelion data-sort-value="Jones, T. James" T. James Jones[10]
2020Not held: COVID-19 pandemicN/AN/AN/A
2021"Eisteddfod AmGen" (on-line virtual eisteddfod)DeffroGwenallt Llwyd Ifan
2022TregaronTraethLlŷr Gwyn Lewis
2023Llŷn ac EifionyddLlifAlan Llwyd

Multiple wins

!Name!Number of wins!Years
Evan Rees41881, 1884, 1889, 1901
Thomas Jones31876, 1888, 1890
John Owen Williams31891, 1895, 1900
Alan Llwyd31973, 1976, 2023
T Gwyn Jones21902, 1909
JJ Williams21906, 1908
TH Parry Williams21912, 1915
Cledlyn Davies21919, 1923
D Gwenallt Jones21926, 1931
Dewi Emrys41929, 1930, 1943, 1948
T. Rowland Hughes21937, 1940
Rowland Jones21941, 1949
Gwilym Tilley21950, 1957
T Llew Jones21958, 1959
R Bryn Williams21964, 1968
Emrys Roberts21967, 1971
Gerallt Lloyd Owen21975, 1982
Donald Evans21977, 1980
Idris Reynolds21989, 1992
Tudur Dylan Jones21995, 2005
Ceri Wyn Jones21997, 2014
T James Jones22007, 2019

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eisteddfod History. BBC. 7 January 2014. 4 September 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090904223839/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/eisteddfod/pages/history.shtml. dead.
  2. Web site: The Chairing Ceremony. National Museum of Wales. 7 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140107114324/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/896/. 7 January 2014. dead.
  3. Web site: Bardic chair returns to village. BBC News. 6 April 2016.
  4. News: 2013-08-09. National Eisteddfod: Chair prize withheld from poets. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-07-22.
  5. Book: Dehandschutter, Lieven. 2001. Hedd Wyn. A Welsh tragedy in Flanders. Vormingscentrum Lodewijk Dosfel (Gent, Flanders, Belgium. 47.
  6. Web site: BBC News – Wales honours: Libyan Mahdi Jibani MBE for medical and interfaith work . Bbc.co.uk . 2012-12-29 . 2014-05-19.
  7. Web site: The Chairing of the Bard.. National Library of Wales. 6 April 2016.
  8. Web site: Winners of the Chair. National Eisteddfod. 5 June 2018.
  9. Evans . William . Jones, Thomas (Taliesin o Eifion; 1820 – 1876), poet . s-JONE-THO-1820 . 12 August 2019.
  10. Web site: Former Archdruid T James Jones wins the 2019 National Eisteddfod chair. 9 August 2019. Eryl Crump. Daily Post.