With the National Eisteddfod visiting Wrecsam in 2025, festival organisers have announced the names of the officials steering the project over the next year and a half.
The artistic and local committees have already been set-up, and meetings to choose the competitions and adjudicators have begun, so that the List of Competitions is ready for the spring. Committee members have been voting to elect Executive Committee officials over the past few weeks.
Llinos Roberts has been elected as Chair of the Executive Committee. Originally from the area, she has lived and worked locally for most of her life and is now Head of Corporate Communications and the Welsh Language at Coleg Cambria. With a strong understanding of the area and its people, she’s keen for the Eisteddfod to reflect the enthusiasm and the constant challenge to keep the language alive so close to the border.
The Chair of the Local Fund is Chris Evans. Like Llinos, Chris is from Wrecsam, and has been teaching at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd for many years. He’s the Chair of Saith Seren, and was involved with the local papur bro, Y Clawdd, for many years.
Another local face has been elected as the committee’s Deputy Chair (Strategy). Jane Angharad Edwards works for the Welsh Language Commissioner and she’ll be leading on community issues, raising awareness and the local legacy at the end of the project.
Elen Mai Nefydd has worked at Wrecsam University for years and is Head of Welsh Language Academic Development at the University. With a strong background in theatre and performing arts, Elen Mai is the 2025 Eisteddfod’s Deputy Chair (Culture) and will be leading on the project’s artistic elements.
Shoned Mererid Davies’ roots are firmly in Wrecsam, and she’s been elected as the committee’s Secretary. A former manager at Siop y Siswrn in Mold and Wrecsam, Shoned has worked as an Education Officer for the Welsh Books Council for over twenty years.
National Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses, said, “We’re looking forward to working with Llinos and the team over the next few months as we prepare for the 2025 Eisteddfod.
“It’s great to be returning to the Wrecsam area. Although we visited the area quite recently in 2011, the Eisteddfod has developed and evolved massively since then, as has Wrecsam itself. This is an exciting time to be holding the festival in the area, and we’re looking forward to working with the community on all levels over the next year and a half.”
The National Eisteddfod will be held in the area from 2-9 August 2025
