National Eisteddfod
Held during the first week of August every year, the National Eisteddfod is Wales’ largest celebration of culture and language.
This year's in-person National Eisteddfod was postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, AmGen (the Welsh word for ‘alternative’) – an online version of the festival – took place again virtually from Monday 2 August to Saturday 7 August 2021.
Whilst we were so disappointed to not physically be on the Maes again this year, we were delighted that colleagues from across the University were involved in a range of Welsh-language events and lectures as part of AmGen, which can still be viewed and enjoyed below.
AmGen 2021 talks and events
| Event name | Event description | Event speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Welsh Parliamentary Election 2021 | Join Richard Wyn Jones and Jac Larner as they discuss the 2021 election based on the 2021 Welsh Election Study data. | Professor Richard Wyn Jones and Dr Jac Larner Wales Governance Center, Cardiff University |
| The Forgotten Author | Marion Loeffler looks at the fascinating history of Hester Piozzi and Politics of the 1790s. Organised by Y Bywgraffiadur and the National Library of Wales. | Dr Marion Loeffler, School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University |
| Translation, adaption and replacement: the relationship between Welsh and English place names in Cardiff | Why does the area with the name 'Heath' in English have two competing Welsh names: Y Waun and Mynydd Bychan? And when and why did the authorities decide to remove the Welsh name on one of the city's main roads and replace it with a more 'respectable' English name? Why has Cardiff Council introduced a policy that ensures that Welsh will be the language of new street names from now on? The answers to these questions and others about the relationship between Welsh and English place names in Cardiff will be explored in this lecture by Dr Dylan Foster Evans, Head of the School of Welsh at Cardiff University. Organised by the Association of Welsh Translators. | Dr Dylan Foster Evans Head of School, School of Welsh, Cardiff University |
| The Nation's First Library? | Enthusiastic book collector Enoch Salisbury is almost a forgotten man today. But as the first to try (and fail) to create a National Library for Wales, there is much more to the history of this bookworm, and his vast collection of Welsh books. Was he an eccentric bankrupt, or a pioneer of his age? Join me as I discuss ten of the treasures within his collection, now being managed by Cardiff University, and decide for yourself... | Sara Huws, Special Collections and Archives, Cardiff University |
| Mental health - past and future treatments | Health, medicines and vaccines have been daily topics of discussion for over a year. But what about the health of the brain? How have mental health conditions been treated over the past century? We take a journey from the age of the asylums, surgery and the dawn of psychiatric drugs. We discuss our current in-depth understanding of the processes inside our brains as well as hopes for the future in relation to genetic research. We will explore the possibilities for developing innovative, effective therapies based on solid foundations and trials that are about to start in Wales. | Professor Simon Ward, Director of the Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University |
Llais Heb Faes
No maes? No problem! Colleagues from our School of Journalism, Media and Culture supported a group of 8 students to create unique digital content for publication on social platforms during the virtual Eisteddfod, and to gain valuable work experience as journalists.
Reporting from their homes across Wales the team published videos, podcasts and more, which varied from politics and current affairs to a series of light-hearted quick-fire questions to Welsh celebrities! Find the content on Spotify and Twitter.
The 2022 National Eisteddfod is scheduled to take place in Tregaron from Saturday 30 July to Saturday 6 August 2022.