Crowning of the Bard

The Crowning of the Bard () is one of the most important events at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

National Eisteddfod of Wales The ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is normally on the Monday afternoon of Eisteddfod week (it was formerly held on the Tuesday).National Eisteddfod: the Gorsedd Today

A new bardic crown is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod and is awarded to the winning entrant in a competition for either a pryddest, an extended poem written in free verseDruid Network: History of the Gorsedd of Bards , or a collection of poems in free verse (in other words, and more specifically, poetry not written in cynghanedd, whether in metre or vers libre). According to Jan Morris, "When Welsh poets speak of Free Verse, they mean forms like the sonnet or the ode, which obey the same rules as English poesy. Strict Metres verse still honours the complex rules laid down for correct poetic composition 600 years ago."Jan Morris (1984), The Matter of Wales: Epic Views of a Small Country, Oxford University Press. Page 152.

There are three judges and these have included past crowned bards, such as Mererid Hopwood and T. James Jones.

The National Eisteddfod crown was first awarded in 1867. The crowning ceremony is presided over by the Archdruid, who invites one of the judges to read the adjudication and judges' comments before announcing the identity of the bard, using only the pen name that the winner has used when submitting the work. Up to this point, no one knows the true identity of the bard, who is asked to stand and is then escorted to the stage and crowned.

Winning the "double" of bardic chair and crown at the same Eisteddfod is a feat that has only been achieved a handful of times in the history of the Eisteddfod.

During the 1912 National Eisteddfod at Wrexham, T.H. Parry-Williams achieved a double victory for the first time, a feat he repeated in Bangor 1915. Parry-Williams later recalled returning home to Rhyd-ddu, where had been working as a hired hand on the farm of a relative. Upon telling his employer of his double-victory, Parry-Williams was advised to, "seek grace." When Parry-Williams then informed his employer that both victories had gained him £40, the relative shouted in angry disbelief, "!!!" ('And you earned them all sitting on your arse!!!').Hywel Teifi Edwards (2015), The Eisteddfod, University of Wales Press, pages 76-77.

More recently, both Alan Llwyd and Donald Evans have won a double victory twice.

111 people have won the Crown. 16 people have won it twice, as well as 5 men winning it 3 times, and on six occations (1896, 1916, 1939, 1940, 1952, and 1956) no one was "teilwng" and so the crown was not awarded.

At the 1953 Rhyl Eisteddfod Dilys Cadwaladr became the first woman to win the crown, and in total 10 women have won the prize, with Eluned Phillips winning it twice, in 1967 and 1983.

In August 2018 the winner of the crown was awarded to Cardiff author, Catrin Dafydd, though during the ceremony the archdruid, Geraint Llifon, caused controversy by saying she couldn't have achieved this without men. Llifon later apologised.

List of Crown winners at the National Eisteddfod of Wales +YearLocationWinner (bardic name)Subject/title of work1880CaernarfonEllis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyrfai) Buddugoliaeth y Groes1881Merthyr TydfilWatkin Wyn Bywyd1882DenbighD R Williams Y Cadfridog Garfield1883CardiffAnne Thomas (Morfudd Eryri)  Llandaf1884LiverpoolJ Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) Madog ab Owain Gwynedd1885AberdareTecwyn Parry Hywel Dda1886CaernarfonJ Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) Cystenin Fawr1887LondonJ Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) John Penry1888WrexhamH Elvet Lewis (Elfed) Y Sabath yng Nghymru1889BreconH Elvet Lewis (Elfed) Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf1890BangorJ J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) Ardderchog Lu'r Merthyri1891SwanseaDavid Adams (Hawen)   Oliver Cromwell1892RhylJ J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) Dewi Sant1893PontypriddBen Davies Cymru Fydd1894CaernarfonBen Davies Tennyson1895LlanelliW L Lewis (Llew Llwyfo) Ioan y Disgybl Annwyl1896LlandudnoNo winner1897NewportThomas Davies (Mafonwy) Arthur y Ford Gron1898Blaenau FfestiniogR Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) Charles o'r Bala1899CardiffR Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) Y Diddanydd Arall1900LiverpoolJ T Job (Job) Williams Pantycelyn1901Merthyr TydfilJohn Jenkins (Gwili) Tywysog Tangnefedd1902BangorRobert Roberts (Silyn) Trystan ac Esyllt1903LlanelliJ E Davies (Rhuddwawr) Y Ficer Prichard1904RhylR M Humphreys (Machno) Tom Ellis1905Mountain AshThomas Davies (Mafonwy)   Ann Griffiths1906CaernarfonHugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) Branwen Ferch Llyr1907SwanseaJohn Dyfnallt Owen Y Greal Sanctaidd1908LlangollenHugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) Owain Glyndwr1909LondonW J Gruffydd Yr Arglwydd Rhys1910Colwyn BayWilliam Williams (Crwys) Ednyfed Fychan1911CarmarthenWilliam Williams (Crwys) Gwerin Cymru1912WrexhamT H Parry-Williams Gerallt Gymro1913AbergavennyWil Ifan Ieuan Gwynedd1914Not held due to First World WarNo Eisteddfod1915BangorT H Parry-Williams Y Ddinas1916AberystwythNo winner1917BirkenheadWil Ifan Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed1918NeathEmrys Lewis Mynachlog Nedd1919CorwenWilliam Williams (Crwys) Morgan Llwyd1920BarryJames Evans Trannoeth y Drin1921CaernarfonAlbert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Mab y Bwthyn1922AmmanfordR Beynon Y Tannau Coll1923MoldAlbert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Yr Ynys Unig1924PontypoolProsser RhysAtgof1925PwllheliWil Ifan Bro Fy Mebyd1926SwanseaDewi Emrys Casgliad o farddoniaeth wreiddiol1927HolyheadCaradog Prichard Y Briodas1928TreorchyCaradog Prichard Penyd1929LiverpoolCaradog Prichard Y Gân Ni Chanwyd1930LlanelliGwilym Myrddin Ben Bowen1931BangorAlbert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Y Dyrfa1932AberafanEirug Davies A Ddioddefw a Orfu1933WrexhamSimon B Jones Rownd yr Horn1934NeathEirug Davies Y Gorwel1935CaernarfonGwilym R Jones Ynys Enlli1936FishguardDavid Jones Yr Anialwch1937MachynllethJ M Edwards Y Pentref1938CardiffEdgar Thomas Peniel1939DenbighNo winner 1940Mountain Ash (radio)No winner 1941Old ColwynJ M Edwards Peiriannau1942CardiganHerman Jones Ebargofiant1943BangorDafydd Owen Rhosydd Moab1944LlandybieJ M Edwards Yr Aradr1945RhosGriffith John Roberts Coed Celyddon1946Mountain AshRhydwen Williams Yr Arloeswr1947Colwyn BayGriffith John Roberts Glyn y Groes1948BridgendEuros Bowen O'r Dwyrain1949DolgellauJohn Eilian Meirionnydd1950CaerphillyEuros Bowen Difodiant1951LlanrwstT Glyn Davies Adfeilion1952AberystwythNo winner 1953RhylDilys Cadwaladr Y Llen1954YstradgynlaisE Llwyd Williams Y Bannau1955PwllheliW J Gruffydd (Elerydd)   Ffenestri1956AberdareNo winner 1957LlangefniDyfnallt Morgan Drama Fydryddol Rhwng Dau1958Ebbw ValeLlewelyn Jones Cymod1959CaernarfonTom Huws Cadwynau1960CardiffW J Gruffydd (Elerydd) Unigedd1961RhosllanerchrugogL Haydn Lewis Ffoadur1962LlanelliD Emlyn Lewis Y Cwmwl1963LlandudnoTom Parri-Jones Y Bont1964SwanseaParch Rhydwen Williams Ffynhonnau1965NewtownTom Parri-Jones Y Gwybed1966AberafanDafydd Jones Y Clawdd1967BalaEluned Phillips Corlannau1968BarryRev Haydn Lewis Meini1969FlintDafydd Rowlands I Gwestiynau fy Mab1970AmmanfordBryan Martyn Davies Darluniau ar Gynfas1971BangorBryan Martyn Davies Y Golau Caeth1972HaverfordwestRev Dafydd Rowlands Dadeni1973RuthinAlan Llwyd Y Dref1974CarmarthenW R P George Tân1975CricciethElwyn Roberts Dilyniant o gerdd Pridd1976CardiganAlan Llwyd Dilyniant o benillion Troeon Bywyd1977WrexhamDonald Evans Hil1978CardiffSion Eirian Cerdd hir yn portreadu llencyndod1979CaernarfonMeirion Evans Dilyniant o Gerddi Serch neu Siom1980Lliw ValleyDonald Evans Dilyniant o Gerddi1981MachynllethSion Aled Wynebau1982SwanseaEirwyn George Dilyniant o Gerddi1983AngleseyEluned Phillips Clymau1984LampeterJohn Roderick Rees Llygaid1985RhylJohn Roderick Rees Glannau1986FishguardT James Jones Llwch1987PorthmadogJohn Gruffydd Jones Casgliad o Gerddi1988NewportT James Jones Ffin1989LlanrwstSelwyn Griffith Dilyniant o Gerddi1990Rhymney ValleyIwan Llwyd Gwreichion1991MoldEinir Jones Pelydrau1992AberystwythCyril Jones Cyfrannu1993LlanelweddEirwyn George Llynnoedd1994NeathGerwyn Williams Dolenni1995AbergeleAled Gwyn Melodïau1996LlandeiloDavid John Pritchard Olwynion1997BalaCen Williams Branwen1998BridgendEmyr Lewis Rhyddid1999AngleseyIfor ap Glyn Golau yn y Gwyll2000LlanelliDylan Iorwerth Tywod2001DenbighPenri Roberts Muriau2002St David'sAled Jones Williams Awelon2003MeifodMererid HopwoodGwreiddiau2004NewportJason Walford DaviesEgni2005SnowdoniaChristine James Llinellau Lliw2006SwanseaEigra Lewis Roberts Fflam2007FlintshireTudur Dylan Jones Copaon2008CardiffHywel Meilyr Griffiths Stryd Pleser2009MeirionCeri Wyn Jones Yn y Gwaed2010Blaenau Gwent and heads of the valleysGlenys Mair Glyn Roberts Newid2011WrexhamGeraint Lloyd Owen Gwythiennau2012Vale of GlamorganGwyneth Lewis Ynys2013DenbighshireIfor ap Glyn Terfysg2014CarmarthenshireGuto Dafydd Tyfu2015Montgomery and borderlandsManon Rhys Breuddwyd2016Monmouthshire and districtElinor Gwynn (Carreg Lefn) Llwybrau2017AngleseyGwion Hallam Trwy'r Drych2018CardiffCatrin Dafydd (Yma) Olion2019LlanrwstGuto Dafydd Cilfachau2020Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemicNo Eisteddfod 2021"Eisteddfod AmGen"Dyfan Lewis Ar Wahân2022TregaronEsyllt Maelor—Gwres 2023BoduanRhys Iorwerth (Gregor) 2024Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwynfor Dafydd (Samsa) 2025WrexhamOwain Rhys (Llif 2) 2026PembrokeshireMartin Huws (Fan[-]go) Adnabod

See also Chairing of the Bard Crown of the Urdd National Eisteddfod Welsh Poetry Competition

References