A concert enjoyed by a huge crowd, an epic battle between male voice choirs, and a spectacular performance by acrobats brought the 2025 National Eisteddfod in Wrecsam to a close on Saturday night
There was even a surprise appearance by the veteran folk singer Dafydd Iwan during the concert.
Fans of the folk-rock group Bwncath were thrilled to see them on Llwyfan y Maes, performing a selection of their most well-known songs. When lead singer Elidir Glyn began singing the opening verse of 'Yma o Hyd', few in the audience noticed Dafydd Iwan, wrapped in a Welsh flag, coming onto the stage to lead the song.
After Bwncath’s concert ended, the stage was handed over to a dramatic and colourful event that broke boundaries and celebrated inclusion. It was inspired by the novel Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd by Wrecsam author Islwyn Ffowc Ellis and the Well-being of Future Generations Act, in an ambitious and inventive showcase.
Acrobats joined rope dancers in sequences described by spectators as “excellent” and “incredible,” while musicians played.
Earlier in the day, nine male voice choirs competed for the top prize and the right to hold the Welsh Male Voice Choirs Association cup for the next 12 months. After a four-hour competition, the honour was won by Côr Meibion Rhosllannerchrugog, with supporters cheering loudly in the pavilion and later in the bar on the Maes.
Côr BuAnn from Llŷn and Eifionydd came second, and Côr Meibion Llangwm came third.
The pavilion events concluded with the 'Epilogue', where six new poems by Archdruid Mererid Hopwood were set to music by Robat Arwyn. The short 30-minute concert ended with Robat Arwyn’s new arrangement of “Ar Hyd y Nos.”
Then the audience in the pavilion sang 'Hen Wlad fy Nhadau', and the Signing Sensations group, a sign language choir from Wrexham, had the opportunity to join the professional singers and John’s Boys choir on stage.