Gorsedd Cymru will gather twice on the Maes during the day. At 10:00 there will be the first of the week’s two ceremonies to welcome new members to the Gorsedd
Hopefully the weather will be dry so everyone gets to see these colourful ceremonies in all their glory.
Then in the afternoon the Crowning ceremony is held in the Pavilion. The theme this year is 'Atgof' and poets had to submit a poem or a collection of poems up to 250 lines.
The Crown is one of the main Eisteddfod honours, and is donated by Ysgol Garth Olwg, as is this year’s financial prize of £750.
The importance of Welsh language education is deeply rooted in the area and in Pontypridd where the first Welsh medium high school in south Wales was opened in 1962.
The beautiful Crown was made in silver by the Neil Rayment Company in their workshop in Cardiff Bay.
Remember that the week’s main ceremonies of the day start at 16:00 this year.
'Atgof' was the title of the winning poem at the Pont-y-pool National Eisteddfod a century ago. But Edward Prosser Rhys' victory was controversial from the start and the poet faced a storm of insults for the depictions of sex, lust and gay romance in his poem at a time when being gay was illegal.
At 13:30 there’s a discussion in the Literary Pavilion on the response to Prosser's controversial essay weighing up the contribution of 'Atgof' to the Welsh queer canon.
For some it was a sinful poem by a 'freak' but for others, it broke new ground; Lois Gwenllian Jones chairs a session with Arwel Gruffydd, Cathryn Charnell-White, Kayley Roberts and Gareth Evans-Jones.
Later, at 19:30 at the Muni, ‘Bwystfilod Aflan’ will deal with these reactions from a new perspective. This is a new production by Music Theatre Wales in partnership with the National Eisteddfod. Composed by Conor Mitchell, with performances by Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Eddie Ladd, and the director is Jac Ifan Moore.
If you want something different, join Siôn Tomos Owen and Rhys Mwyn for a chat about the history and landscape of the Eisteddfod area before a guided walk around the Maes.
The walk, organised by Cwlwm Cyhoeddwyr Cymru, starts at 10:30 in the Literary Pavilion and ends at the Cant a Mil stall with a chance to purchase signed copies of Siôn and Rhys’ latest books.
One of the most popular competitions every year in the Pavilion is the choral competition for those aged 60 and over with no fewer than 20 in number. The choirs must prepare a programme of self-selected music of up to 12 minutes, including an unaccompanied piece and a piece by a Welsh composer.
Côr Hen Nodiant, Cardiff, won the OR Owen (Owen Gele) Cup last year but who’ll take it this year? The competition starts at 11:45 in the Pavilion.
There’s a presentation on the harp by Annest Mair Davies, winner of the Nansi Richards Scholarship 2024, at Encore at 12:00.
At the same time the Emporium ABC Opra will host the The Academy of Barmy Composers. This is an interactive adventure workshop full of stories and music where you can travel back to 1597 to the land of pizza and pasta and meet the characters of The Academy of Barmy Composers.
Among them are Professor Peri, Lully Unlucky, Tortellini Rossini, Windy Wolfie and many other heroes as well as the occasional Welsh hero.
This Eisteddfod’s major show is the rock opera Nia Ben Aur which has been transformed from the original performance half a century ago at the Bro Myrddin National Eisteddfod.
Geraint Cynan leads a discussion about that pioneering show in August 1974 while reminiscing with original cast members including Cleif Harpwood, Heather Jones, Geraint Davies and Sioned Mair. Head over to the Tipi to listen at 14:30 or at Encore at 16:45.
And to end the day, let’s celebrate the big birthday of one of Wales’ best folk groups! This year Mynediad am Ddim is celebrating fifty years of singing and creating fun on stages throughout Wales and beyond. Join them on Llwyfan y Maes from 21:00.