With the Maes emptying and the work of dismantling the Pavilion and the other buildings on the Maes well underway, Elfed Roberts, Eisteddfod Chief Executive, looks back at the week in Bodedern.
He said, “We’d all been looking forward to start working on Anglesey for a while. This was the first time for the Eisteddfod to be held in Anglesey since 1999, and we were very aware of calls for us to return here and we were also keen to come back to Anglesey to promote the language and culture of Wales.
“We weren’t disappointed. From the very start, we had a great relationship with the local council, community groups, organisations and all the towns and villages across the area. The community project was a great success, with the Local Fund breaking all records.
“We enjoyed excellent competing during the week, and it was great to see so many young people taking past. This was a pattern throughout the project, with young people keen to be part of the organising as well as taking part in the artistic events and competitions. It was a young local choir who received the week’s greatest choral accolade, the Festival Choir award, with Mari Lloyd Pritchard’s hard work with Côr Ieuenctid Môn paying off. Many congratulations to them all.
“Unfortunately, the weather was against us at the beginning of the week, and we had to change the parking arrangements. Thank you to everyone for their work, patience and understanding and good humour when dealing with the system. The parking in Mona worked well, and we are grateful to the Anglesey Showground, the bus companies, the council, police and all the volunteers from Llangefni Rugby Club for their support to ensure this success.
“Looking back at the week, we can definitely say that we had some fantastic competing, excellent winners in the composition competitions, although we had two ceremonies with no winners. It is important that the adjudicators have the freedom to be able to withhold prizes to maintain high standards. Thousands of people on the Maes from morning till night, and more people than ever in maes B to see the best Welsh bands and performers. A week of competing, socialising and enjoying which surpassed all hopes.
“So, as we prepare to leave Anglesey, I would like to thank everyone, local and national volunteers, our officials, visitors and local people for the welcome to the area. We were promised a warm welcome in Anglesey, and this is what we had. We now look forward to Cardiff next year, and to a different Eisteddfod in the bay. I very much hope that many Anglesey people will make the journey south next year and join us in Cardiff for what will undoubtedly be another week to remember.”