Eryl Crump - 2 Aug 2024

The preparations are completed, the gates are open and everyone’s flocking over the River Taf to Ynysangharad Park on the opening day of the Eisteddfod

But where to go and what to see? Here are some of the picks of the day for you to enjoy.

Where better to start the Eisteddfod than the Pavilion? Competitions start early with the Section 2 and 3 brass bands taking their place on stage. 

The Section 4 brass band competition follows at the beginning of the afternoon, and later the solo dancing and recitation competitions for those aged under 12.

The Eisteddfodau Cymru Choral Competition is a popular choice starting at 15:05. The choirs on stage will have competed in at least two local Eisteddfods since May last year to gain the right to compete in the festival. The first prize is the Miss Menai Williams and Mrs Nesta Davies Cup.

Concluding events in the Pavilion is the main ceremony for the day, the Visual Arts presentation at 17:00.

Elinor Wyn Reynolds joins pupils from local schools to officially open the Literary Pavilion with a performance of Aneirin Karadog’s Cywydd Croeso (welcome poem) at 10:30.

Later today teams of poets will go head to head in the final round of the BBC Radio Cymru poetry series, 'Y Talwrn'. This is one of the most popular shows of the week and it's first come, first served for a seat!

Walrs’ best folk performers and bands take to the stage at Tŷ Gwerin during the week. Today, it’s Carreg Lafar's chance to present their mix of traditional and original music. 

The group has been part of the folk scene since 1995, using traditional and contemporary instruments including violin, flute, bagpipes, pipes and guitar along with voice. They’ve released four albums with Recordiau Sain, the most recent, 'Aur', in 2017.

The National Eisteddfod has been held in the Rhondda, Cynon and Taf valleys several times in the past with the first in Aberdare in 1861. This town was the home of the Eisteddfod the last time it visited the area in 1956. 

At 11:00 Helen Prosser, chair of this year's Eisteddfod Executive Committee, will give a talk about the history of the area's National Eisteddfods as well as a behind the scenes look at the arrangements for the 2024 Eisteddfod in Maes D, the Welsh learners’ village.

Why not pop in to Maes D for a cuppa with Betsan Moses in the Welsh Government tent at 13:45? Get to know the National Eisteddfod’s Chief Executive and find out more about the organisation’s priorities for the next few years. 

This is the first of a series of talks throughout the Eisteddfod. Dona Lewis, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh; Siân Lewis, Urdd Gobaith Cymru; Dr Ioan Matthews, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol; Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, from Mudiad Meithrin; Myfanwy Jones, Mentrau Iaith Cymru; Mared Jones, YFC and Tegwen Morris, Merched y Wawr, also taking part during the week.

One of the Valleys’ musical greats was opera singer Sir Geraint Evans and family members will share their memories of the life and career of the notable baritone from Cilfynydd in Encore at 13:00.

Can you run faster than a horse? Come and see! In tribute to Guto Nyth Brân the athlete from Llwyncelyn, there’s a very special horse race on Sqwâr y Pentre in the Pentref Plant at 13.30.

Danny Sioned is a folk singer from Pontarddulais and will be performing a mix of original songs and traditional Welsh folk songs in Paned o Gê. Go listen at 15:00.

And He's Still Here! Dafydd Iwan will appear twice on the Maes during the day. Catch the evergreen singer in the Welsh Learners’ Village at 16:30 before he joins his band - Hefin Elis (bass guitar), Pwyll ap Siôn (keyboards), Deian Elfryn (drums), Wyn Pearson (lead guitar) and Euros Rhys (keyboard) – on Llwyfan y Maes at 21:00 to sing a selection of his most popular songs, some of which will be new to many in the crowd.

Eryl Crump will be sharing his tips for your trip the following day every day. Have a look to see if you agree on what to do on the Maes.