National Eisteddfod Proclamation Day in Aberdare

The Eisteddfod Proclamation is taking place this Saturday (24th June), which marks Gorsedd Cymru’s first ceremony in the Eisteddfod calendar, celebrating that the Eisteddfod is on its way.

This year the Proclamation is being held in Aberdare, the home of the first modern day Eisteddfod in 1861.

Main Events Timetable:

The procession will depart from the Sobell Leisure Centre, Aberdare at 2pm

“A colourful procession with local schools and organisations along with Gorsedd (Gor-seth) Cymru to welcome the Eisteddfod to the area”.

And the Proclamation Ceremony will take place at 3pm at the Ron Jones Stadium at The Ynys,

During which The List of Competitions for the 2024 festival in RCT will be presented to the archdruid (arch- drew-id) by the Chair of the local Executive Committee, Helen Prosser.

And a group of local children will perform a colourful dance based on the patterns of collecting flowers from the meadows and fields.

If the weather is bad the procession will be cancelled and the Proclamation Ceremony will take place in the Sobell Leisure Centre at 3pm.

Preparing for the Proclamation has been a partnership between Gorsedd Cymru, the Eisteddfod and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, and Councillor Rhys Lewis, Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation & Welsh Language, said,

“It will be fantastic to welcome the Eisteddfod back to Aberdare for the Proclamation event, back in the place where the first ever modern Eisteddfod was held.

“The Proclamation is steeped in tradition and will be an important milestone in the countdown to the 2024 Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod. Events such as this, and the frequent community events being held across Rhondda Cynon Taf, are creating a real buzz leading up next year’s festival.

“I would urge all our residents to come along and take part; it really will be a special day for everyone.”

Other events on across the weekend include two on Saturday morning at 10.30am at at St Johns Church in Aberdare with D Leslie Davies and the other at Ysgol Gwmunedol Aberdare with the other at 6pm on Sunday 25th June there will be a Proclamation Cwmanfa at Tabernacle Chapel in Efail Isaf.