Crowning of the Bard
The Crowning of the Bard (Welsh: Coroni'r Bardd) (Scottish Gaelic: Crùn na Bàrdachd) is one of the most important events in a Welsh eisteddfod or Scottish Gaelic Mòd.
Eisteddfod
[edit]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] According to Jan Morris, "When Welsh poets speak of Free Verse, they mean forms like the sonnet or the ode, which obey the same rules as English poesy. Strict Metres verse still honours the complex rules laid down for correct poetic composition 600 years ago."[4]
There are three judges and these have included past crowned bards, such as Mererid Hopwood and T. James Jones.[5]
The National Eisteddfod crown was first awarded in 1867.[6] 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 pen name 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.[7]
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.
During the 1912 National Eisteddfod at Wrexham, T.H. Parry-Williams achieved a double victory for the first time. Parry-Williams later recalled returning home to Rhyd-ddu, where had been working as a hired hand on the farm of a relative. Upon telling his employer of his double-victory, Parry-Williams was advised to, "seek grace." When Parry-Williams then informed his employer that both victories had gained him £40, the relative shouted in angry disbelief, "Ac mi gwnest nhw i gyd ar dy din!!!" ('And you earned them all sitting on your arse!!!').[8]
More recently, both Alan Llwyd and Donald Evans have won a double victory 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.[9]
Mòd
[edit]According to Ronald Black, "In 1923, following the example of the Welsh Eisteddfod, An Comunn Gàidhealach simplified the structure of its annual poetry competitions into a single contest for a Bardic Crown (Crùn na Bàrdachd), the winner to be acknowledged as Bard of An Commun (Bàird a' Chomuinn Gàidhealaich) for the coming year. The man behind the move, not surprisingly, was Angus Robertson, then President of An Comunn. Offering a distinctive middle path between traditional and modern verse, the competition produced much work of note which deserves to be put into perspective... (Many subsidiary prizes remained; Sorley Maclean won a junior one in 1928, while in 1946 Derick Thomson won a gold medal as the most distinguished entrant in the literary competitions generally). The Bard was crowned each year at the closing concert of the Mòd. Astonishingly, unlike in Wales, the winning poem itself formed no part of the proceedings... In 1978 no award was made because not entry was of adequate quality. It was the second time in five years that this had happened, and in March 1979 An Comunn announced that the Bardic Crown would no longer be awarded."[10]
A watershed moment took place during the 2011 Royal National Mòd at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, when the poetry of Lewis MacKinnon, composed in the Canadian Gaelic dialect spoken in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, won the Bardic Crown. It was the first time in the history of the Mòd that such an award had been granted to a Gaelic poet from the Scottish diaspora.[11]
List of Bardic Crown winners at the National Eisteddfod of Wales
[edit]| Year | Location | Winner (bardic name) Title of work[12] |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Esyllt Maelor—Gwres [13] |
| 2023 | Boduan | Rhys Iorwerth (Gregor)[14] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ National Eisteddfod: the Gorsedd Today Archived 2012-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Druid Network: History of the Gorsedd of Bards Archived 2012-07-10 at archive.today
- ^ "The main ceremonies". BBC iWonder. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Jan Morris (1984), The Matter of Wales: Epic Views of a Small Country, Oxford University Press. Page 152.
- ^ "Translator wins National Eisteddfod poetry crown". BBC News. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ "The Crowning Ceremony". National Museum of Wales. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Gorsedd Ceremonies Today". Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Hywel Teifi Edwards (2015), The Eisteddfod, University of Wales Press, pages 76-77.
- ^ Huw Thomas (7 August 2018). "National Eisteddfod: Archdruid apology for 'sexist' remark". BBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ Ronald Black (1999), An Tuil: Anthology of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse, page 821.
- ^ Non-Scot is Gaelic Bard for first time By David Ross. The Herald, 19th October 2011.
- ^ "Crown Winners | National Eisteddfod". eisteddfod.wales. Archived from the original on 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ "Esyllt Maelor wins the Eisteddfod Crown | National Eisteddfod".
- ^ "Writer from Caernarfon wins the National Eisteddfod Crown". Nation.Cymru. 7 August 2023.