Over 50 business representatives from all over Rhondda Cynon Taf gathered at the Lido in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd this morning to celebrate the winners of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Eisteddfod Business Legacy Awards
The aim of the project, launched following the festival held locally last year was to celebrate the commitment of local businesses to the Welsh language, together with the impact that the Eisteddfod had on businesses during August last year.
The awards were organised by Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Eisteddfod and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, with the support of Helo Blod and Ymbweru Bro.
The Cabinet Minister for Finance and the Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford MS was at the event to congratulate everyone and talk about the importance of projects like this in order to reach one million Welsh speakers and double the daily use of our language by 2050.
There were five categories in the awards, and over 35 nominations were received from all over the catchment area. Representatives from each of the businesses came to the Lido to hear who came top in each award.
- Use of Welsh: award for a business or company that developed their use of Welsh and created opportunities for staff and customers to use our language. Presented by Myfanwy Jones, Mentrau Iaith Cymru.
Winner: Rustico, Pontypridd, Taf
Other shortlisted entries: The Old Library, Porth, Rhondda; Principality Building Society, Pontypridd, Taf. - Visible use of Welsh: award for a business or company that made creative use of Welsh in the period leading up to, during and following the Eisteddfod. Presented by Efa Gruffudd Jones, Welsh Language Commissioner.
Winner: The Old Library, Porth, Rhondda
Other shortlisted entries: Clwb y Bont, Pontypridd, Taf; Pete’s Shop, Pontypridd, Taf; Bizzie Lizzie’s Baby Shop, Pontypridd, Taf. - Special award: award for a cluster of businesses working together or on the same site that showed support for the Eisteddfod and our language. Presented by Cllr Andrew Morgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
Winner: Mill Street, Pontypridd, Taf
Other shortlisted entry: Penderyn Cluster, Cynon. - Local Diolch award: special award presented by local volunteers to thank a business or company who supported the organisers and fundraisers during the period leading up to the Eisteddfod. Presented by Betsan Moses, National Eisteddfod.
Winner: The Lion, Treorchy, Rhondda
Other shortlisted entries: Aberdare Rugby Club, Cynon; Clwb y Bont, Pontypridd, Taf. - Croeso i’r ŵyl award: a chance for those who live outside the area to nominate a business or company that showed a special welcome to Eisteddfod visitors during festival week. Presented by Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language.
Winner: Clwb y Bont, Pontypridd, Taf
Other shortlisted entries: Zucco, Pontypridd, Taf.
This was the last event of the Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod, and it had to be postponed before Christmas following the floods in early December.
Helen Prosser, in her last role as chairof the local Executive Committee, said, "Thank you to everyone who was part of the Awards, which have been a great opportunity to celebrate the response to last year's Eisteddfod. It’s so wonderful to see and hear the positive comments that businesses from all over the county have about the Eisteddfod and about the language.
“Our intention was to promote the language and show the important link between language and business, and I’m proud that we’ve succeeded in doing this at the end of the project. We’re all grateful to the menter iaith and our partners for their willingness to take up the legacy and continue with the work. Congratulations to everyone who was part of this project."
Osian Rowlands, Chief Executive of Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf, said, "The response the Eisteddfod has received locally has been fantastic, and we as an initiative want to thank all of the local businesses who went out of their way to welcome everyone to the area over the summer.
"The fact that a number of businesses still welcome people from outside the area is proof that we as a county have so much to offer, and we look forward to continuing the work with local businesses to develop the use of Welsh over the coming months and years. Days like today are an important part of our work and show the importance of the Welsh language in every element of our lives."
Betsan Moses, Chief Executive of the National Eisteddfod, added, "Today has been a wonderful way to conclude the Rhondda Cynon Taf Eisteddfod project. The response to the awards and to the work as a whole has been very special, and we’re extremely proud to have been able to come to the area after so many years and host a community project and festival that has left such a legacy behind.
"I'm particularly proud that we've managed to reach so many people who experienced our language and culture for the first time, and it's great to see how local businesses have benefited from the Eisteddfod, as well as how the Eisteddfod benefits from the dedication and support of our volunteers and the local community every year.
“Thank you to the Menter Iaith for the happy collaboration along the way, and we’ll continue to support and celebrate every success that comes to our language and culture in Rhondda Cynon Taf in the future.”
The Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod was held on Ynysangharad Park in August 2024. This year's Eisteddfod will be held in Wrecsam from 2-9 August.
