Church bells will ring to celebrate 2024 Eisteddfod

The bells at St Collen's will be ringing out at 11.30am this Wednesday, July 3 to celebrate the 2024 International Eisteddfod.

This will mark too the Interfaith Experience which is being held in the Pavilion at 12.30 pm that day.  

The bells will also welcome Dr Rowan Williams to Llangollen, former Archbishop of Canterbury and before that Archbishop of Wales.  

He is chair of Academi Heddwch Cymru (Wales' National Peace Institute) and will be giving the annual Peace Lecture in the Pavilion at 1pm, following the Interfaith Experience.

Seven candidates contest Clwyd East in general election

Seven candidates are standing in the new Clwyd East constituency – which includes Llangollen – in the general election this Thursday.

They are:

As the result of boundary changes, Llangollen now forms part of the Clwyd East constituency, which has of 76,395 electors compared to Clwyd South’s 77,062.

This new constituency also includes areas such as Ruthin immediately to the north of Llangollen, Llanarmon-lal/Llandegla to the north as well as parts of Flintshire such as Leeswood, Northop, Mostyn, Caerwys and Ffynongrow up towards the coast, Mold and Prestatyn.

Since the general election of December 2019, when it was still part of Clwyd South, Llangollen had been represented by Simon Baynes of the Welsh Conservatives. He is now contesting the neighbouring North Shropshire seat for his party on July 4. 

The Welsh Conservative contender in Clwyd East is Dr James Davies who had been MP for Vale of Clwyd.

Opposing him are Becky Gittins of Welsh Labour, Alec Dauncey of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Lee Lavery of the Green Party, Paul Penlington of Plaid Cymru, Rob Roberts, an Independent, and Kirsty Walmsley of Reform UK. 

As the usual polling station for Llangollen at the Pavilion will be in use by the Eisteddfod on election voting will now take place at Llangollen Town Hall and the count for Clwyd East will be held at Coleg Cambria in Connah’s Quay, Deeside.

In the poll on July 4 voters need to show photo ID at polling stations. Further details on this can be found at: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/your-council/voting-and-elections/voter-id.aspx

* The daughter of two well-known members of the clergy who was brought up in Llangollen is standing at the general election.

Joanna Stallard, whose mother, Mary Stallard, was one of the first women priests in Wales and is now Bishop of Llandaff, and father, Andrew Sully, was Vicar of St Collen's until 2018, is the Labour candidate for the Plaid Cymru-held seat of Dwyfor Meirionnydd.  

Kaiser Chiefs rule over buzzing Pavilion audience

 

* Kaiser Chiefs pictures by Desh Kapur CUFFE & TAYLOR.

* Fans at the Pavilion. CUFFE & TAYLOR.

* Spielman opens for the Kaiser Chiefs. Desh Kapur CUFFE & TAYLOR.

* Royel Otis on stage. Desh Kepur CUFFE & TAYLOR.

It was another sensational date at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod last evening as Indie heroes Kaiser Chiefs rocked the Pavilion stage.

 

The multi-award-winning band made a triumphant return to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

And with almost two decades in the game and an extensive back-catalogue of stadium belters at their disposal, it was no surprise that the buzzing crowd was treated to a setlist filled with hits such as I Predict A Riot, Everyday I Love You Less and Less, Modern Way and Ruby.

 

Opening the night in style were Australian pop-rock duo Royel Otis and singer-songwriter Spielmann.

 

The headline shows are part of a new partnership between the Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. 

 

The series continues next Tuesday (July 2) with Tom Jones opening the iconic Core Week of the Eisteddfod.

 

Specially-written song marks centenary of Women's Peace Petition

 

* The Madri'gals sing during the exhibition launch at Dory Gallery.

Local ladies’ choir Madri’gals performed a specially-written song as part of a weekend of celebrations in Llangollen to celebrate 100 years of the Welsh Women’s Peace petition.  

Welsh Women’s Dream, to the tune of iconic Welsh folk song Myfanwy with lyrics by Moira Gleed of Llangollen, delighted people who heard it when they came along to the launch this morning (Saturday) of an exhibition centred on the petition at the Dory Gallery in Regent Street, which will run until August 11.

In 1923, the horrors of WW1 having galvanised a generation against conflict, the women of Wales organised an unprecedented campaign for world peace.

A total of 390,296 women - a number from Llangollen - signed a memorial petition through the Welsh League of Nations Union, said to have been seven miles long, calling for America to join and lead the new League of Nations and 2023 marked the centenary of the campaign.

Throughout 2023/ 2024, this once-forgotten story has been brought back to life thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with communities across Wales and beyond celebrating the women’s achievement and starting new conversations about peace today.

* The peace petition banner on show at the gallery. Next Wednesday afternoon it will be proudly carried in the Eisteddfod's Parade of Nations through the town centre.

The weekend of celebrations in Llangollen began last night (Friday) when St Collen’s Community Hall hosted a one-woman show, entitled Annie Cwrt Mawr, inspired by the experiences of Annie Hughes-Griffiths, who travelled across America with the petition in 1924.

Tomorrow (Sunday) Llangollen Museum is hosting a heritage walk around town, visiting homes and workplaces of notable women who signed the petition back in 1923/24. 

People can go along to hear about their fascinating research and learn more about life of local women in the 1920s.

* To book your free space or learn more, visit Eventbrite at: Taith Gerdded Treftadaeth / Heritage Walk Tickets, Sun, Jun 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite

The exhibition at the Dory Gallery centres around a new piece of work from local artist Bethan M Hughes named Thread of Peace, a 16m-long stitched piece inspired by the story of how the original petition pages would supposedly measure seven miles if placed end to end. The Dory Gallery is open every weekend.

* Thread of Peace, a 16m-long stitched piece inspired by the story of the original petition pages. 

Throughout 2024, Bethan has been running stitch sessions across North Wales, collecting contributions from over 150 people to this incredible piece of work. 

Thanks again to additional funding from Wales Arts international, a group of Women from America have also contributed to the project, participating in lively online sessions.

A spokesperson for the local organisers said: “We are so grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the opportunity to bring the work of so many communities together in this exhibition to celebrate this amazing story. We have such an exciting programme of events planned – everyone is welcome!”

* To learn more about the Women’s peace petition or get involved, visit: www.wcia.org.uk/academiheddwch/peacepetition/

Manics and Suede double-bill rocks the Pavilion

* Manic Street Preachers hit the stage. All pictures: CUFFE & TAYLOR

Manic Street Preachers and Suede kicked off their double-headlining UK and Ireland tour tonight with a hit-filled night in Llangollen.  

The indie music legends played to a capacity crowd at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod marking a triumphant third return for the Manic Street Preachers after they last headlined at the festival in 2017.

One of the most influential and iconic rock bands to have come out of Wales, The Manics shared the night with frontman James Dean Bradfield declaring: “It’s a privilege to be playing here. It’s the third time so thanks for having us back.”

Beginning their set with roaring crowd-pleaser Motorcycle Emptiness, the Welsh legends performed hit after hit including Everything Must Go, You Stole the Sun From My Heart, Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier and A Design For Life before ending the night with number 1 hit If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next.

Taking to the stage ahead of Manics was a fully energised set from Suede.  

Singer Brett Anderson was on form from the first note belting out hits including Trash, Animal Nitrate, Filmstar, and Metal Mickey. 

A rendition of first single The Drowners saw Anderson jump into the crowd. 

They ended the night with a rapturously-received Beautiful Ones and a farewell word from Anderson was: “Llangollen you have been beautiful.”

The all-star shows are part of a new partnership between the Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. 

The series continues tonight (Saturday) with Kaiser Chiefs.

* Suede opened the night.

Shock closure for Vale of Lllangollen Rotary Club

* The Facebook post in which the closure announcement was made.

The Vale of Llangollen Rotary is being wound up, according to a post on its Facebook page this afternoon (Friday).

Since it was set up in the autumn of 2022 the club, which always said it would “do things differently” has helped to revive a well-loved Llangollen event, staged two successful illuminated tractor runs and raised thousands of pounds for local charities.

But the Facebook post, in the name of club president Lee Todd, says: “It is with deep regret that we announce the closure of the Llangollen Rotary Club, effective July 1st.

“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand it will come as a disappointment to many. 

“After careful consideration and deliberation, the membership has determined that continuing operations is no longer feasible. 

* Club president Lee Todd.

“We are deeply grateful to all those who have supported the Rotary Club here in Llangollen. 

“We are particularly proud of our commitment to supporting local charities, and we are pleased to announce that all funds raised by Llangollen Rotary Club will be distributed to them in July. 

“While the Llangollen Rotary Club will be closing its doors, the spirit of service that has defined our organisation will live on through the continued work of these worthy charities. 

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have been a part of the Llangollen Rotary Club journey and thanks again for all your support.” 

Only last month, the club assisted with the revival of the annual Llangollen summer fete at Plas Newydd which had been halted by the pandemic in 2019.  The event raised £1,600 for a number of good causes.

The Rotary also organised two Christmas-time tractor runs, raising £6,000 and £1,600 respectively.

* The Rotary Club team at the summer fete. President Lee Todd is with town crier 'Chem' Cheminais on the right.  

Eisteddfod volunteers put finishing touches to the field

* Members of the floral committee outside their almost-complete tent.

With less than a week to go before the 2024 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod begins a small army of volunteers have been putting the finishing touches to the field.

And they've let llanblogger have these pictures to show the kind of work they've put in to create what promises to be the biggest and best festival in years.  

Things kick off with the traditional Children's Day and the debut Tom Jones concert on Tuesday and continue at that high level, with a host of competitions and activities inside the big tent and outside on the field, until Sunday when the Family Fun Day and Katherine Jenkins round things off in style the following Sunday. 

* Issy Richards sets out the merchandising display.

* Marketing's headquarters almost ready to go.