The Crowning of the Bard (Welsh: Coroni'r Bardd) (Scottish Gaelic: Crùn na Bàrdachd) is one of the most important events in a Welsh eisteddfod or Scottish Gaelic Mòd.

Eisteddfod

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The most famous such 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).[1]

A new bardic crown is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for the Pryddest, poetry written in free verse.[2][3] 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."[4]

There are three judges and these have included past crowned bards, such as Mererid Hopwood and T. James Jones.[5]

The National Eisteddfod crown was first awarded in 1867.[6] 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.[7]

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. 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, "Ac mi gwnest nhw i gyd ar dy din!!!" ('And you earned them all sitting on your arse!!!').[8]

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

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.[9]

Mòd

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According to Ronald Black, "In 1923, following the example of the Welsh Eisteddfod, An Comunn Gàidhealach simplified the structure of its annual poetry competitions into a single contest for a Bardic Crown (Crùn na Bàrdachd), the winner to be acknowledged as Bard of An Commun (Bàird a' Chomuinn Gàidhealaich) for the coming year. The man behind the move, not surprisingly, was Angus Robertson, then President of An Comunn. Offering a distinctive middle path between traditional and modern verse, the competition produced much work of note which deserves to be put into perspective... (Many subsidiary prizes remained; Sorley Maclean won a junior one in 1928, while in 1946 Derick Thomson won a gold medal as the most distinguished entrant in the literary competitions generally). The Bard was crowned each year at the closing concert of the Mòd. Astonishingly, unlike in Wales, the winning poem itself formed no part of the proceedings... In 1978 no award was made because not entry was of adequate quality. It was the second time in five years that this had happened, and in March 1979 An Comunn announced that the Bardic Crown would no longer be awarded."[10]

A watershed moment took place during the 2011 Royal National Mòd at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, when the poetry of Lewis MacKinnon, composed in the Canadian Gaelic dialect spoken in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, won the Bardic Crown. It was the first time in the history of the Mòd that such an award had been granted to a Gaelic poet from the Scottish diaspora.[11]

List of Bardic Crown winners at the National Eisteddfod of Wales

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Year Location Winner (bardic name) Title of work[12]
1880 Caernarfon Ellis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyrfai) Buddugoliaeth y Groes
1881 Merthyr Tydfil Watkin Wyn Bywyd
1882 Denbigh D R Williams Y Cadfridog Garfield
1883 Cardiff Anne Thomas (Morfudd Eryri)  Llandaf
1884 Liverpool J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) Madog ab Owain Gwynedd
1885 Aberdare Tecwyn Parry Hywel Dda
1886 Caernarfon J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) Cystenin Fawr
1887 London J Cadfan Davies (Cadfan) John Penry
1888 Wrexham H Elvet Lewis (Elfed) Y Sabath yng Nghymru
1889 Brecon H Elvet Lewis (Elfed) Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf
1890 Bangor J J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) Ardderchog Lu'r Merthyri
1891 Swansea David Adams (Hawen)  Oliver Cromwell
1892 Rhyl J J Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon) Dewi Sant
1893 Pontypridd Ben Davies Cymru Fydd
1894 Caernarfon Ben Davies Tennyson
1895 Llanelli W L Lewis (Llew Llwyfo) Ioan y Disgybl Annwyl
1896 Llandudno No winner
1897 Newport Thomas Davies (Mafonwy) Arthur y Ford Gron
1898 Blaenau Ffestiniog R Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) Charles o'r Bala
1899 Cardiff R Gwylfa Roberts (Gwylfa) Y Diddanydd Arall
1900 Liverpool J T Job (Job) Williams Pantycelyn
1901 Merthyr Tydfil John Jenkins (Gwili) Tywysog Tangnefedd
1902 Bangor Robert Roberts (Silyn) Trystan ac Esyllt
1903 Llanelli J E Davies (Rhuddwawr) Y Ficer Prichard
1904 Rhyl R M Humphreys (Machno) Tom Ellis
1905 Mountain Ash Thomas Davies (Mafonwy)  Ann Griffiths
1906 Caernarfon Hugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) Branwen Ferch Llyr
1907 Swansea John Dyfnallt Owen Y Greal Sanctaidd
1908 Llangollen Hugh Emyr Davies (Emyr) Owain Glyndwr
1909 London W J Gruffydd Yr Arglwydd Rhys
1910 Colwyn Bay William Williams (Crwys) Ednyfed Fychan
1911 Carmarthen William Williams (Crwys) Gwerin Cymru
1912 Wrexham T H Parry-Williams Gerallt Gymro
1913 Abergavenny Wil Ifan Ieuan Gwynedd
1914 First World War First World War - No Eisteddfod
1915 Bangor T H Parry-Williams Y Ddinas
1916 Aberystwyth No winner
1917 Penbedw Wil Ifan Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed
1918 Neath Emrys Lewis Mynachlog Nedd
1919 Corwen William Williams (Crwys) Morgan Llwyd
1920 Barry James Evans Trannoeth y Drin
1921 Caernarfon Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Mab y Bwthyn
1922 Ammanford R Beynon Y Tannau Coll
1923 Mold Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Yr Ynys Unig
1924 Pontypool Prosser Rhys Atgof
1925 Pwllheli Wil Ifan Bro Fy Mebyd
1926 Swansea Dewi Emrys Casgliad o farddoniaeth wreiddiol
1927 Holyhead Caradog Prichard Y Briodas
1928 Treorchy Caradog Prichard Penyd
1929 Liverpool Caradog Prichard Y Gân Ni Chanwyd
1930 Llanelli Gwilym Myrddin Ben Bowen
1931 Bangor Albert Evans-Jones (Cynan) Y Dyrfa
1932 Aberafan Eirug Davies A Ddioddefw a Orfu
1933 Wrexham Simon B Jones Rownd yr Horn
1934 Neath Eirug Davies Y Gorwel
1935 Caernarfon Gwilym R Jones Ynys Enlli
1936 Fishguard David Jones Yr Anialwch
1937 Machynlleth J M Edwards Y Pentref
1938 Cardiff Edgar Thomas Peniel
1939 Denbigh No winner
1940 Mountain Ash (radio) No winner
1941 Old Colwyn J M Edwards Peiriannau
1942 Cardigan Herman Jones Ebargofiant
1943 Bangor Dafydd Owen Rhosydd Moab
1944 Llandybie J M Edwards Yr Aradr
1945 Rhos Griffith John Roberts Coed Celyddon
1946 Mountain Ash Rhydwen Williams Yr Arloeswr
1947 Colwyn Bay Griffith John Roberts Glyn y Groes
1948 Bridgend Euros Bowen O'r Dwyrain
1949 Dolgellau John Eilian Meirionnydd
1950 Caerphilly Euros Bowen Difodiant
1951 Llanrwst T Glyn Davies Adfeilion
1952 Aberystwyth No winner
1953 Rhyl Dilys Cadwaladr Y Llen
1954 Ystradgynlais E Llwyd Williams Y Bannau
1955 Pwllheli W J Gruffydd (Elerydd)  Ffenestri
1956 Aberdare No winner
1957 Llangefni Dyfnallt Morgan Drama Fydryddol Rhwng Dau
1958 Ebbw Vale Llewelyn Jones Cymod
1959 Caernarfon Tom Huws Cadwynau
1960 Cardiff W J Gruffydd (Elerydd) Unigedd
1961 Rhosllanerchrugog L Haydn Lewis Ffoadur
1962 Llanelli D Emlyn Lewis Y Cwmwl
1963 Llandudno Tom Parri-Jones Y Bont
1964 Swansea Parch Rhydwen Williams Ffynhonnau
1965 Newtown Tom Parri-Jones Y Gwybed
1966 Aberafan Dafydd Jones Y Clawdd
1967 Bala Eluned Phillips Corlannau
1968 Barry Rev Haydn Lewis Meini
1969 Flint Dafydd Rowlands I Gwestiynau fy Mab
1970 Ammanford Bryan Martyn Davies Darluniau ar Gynfas
1971 Bangor Bryan Martyn Davies Y Golau Caeth
1972 Haverfordwest Rev Dafydd Rowlands Dadeni
1973 Ruthin Alan Llwyd Y Dref
1974 Carmarthen W R P George Tân
1975 Criccieth Elwyn Roberts Dilyniant o gerdd Pridd
1976 Cardigan Alan Llwyd Dilyniant o benillion Troeon Bywyd
1977 Wrexham Donald Evans Hil
1978 Cardiff Sion Eirian Cerdd hir yn portreadu llencyndod
1979 Caernarfon Meirion Evans Dilyniant o Gerddi Serch neu Siom
1980 Lliw Valley Donald Evans Dilyniant o Gerddi
1981 Machynlleth Sion Aled Wynebau
1982 Swansea Eirwyn George Dilyniant o Gerddi
1983 Anglesey Eluned Phillips Clymau
1984 Lampeter John Roderick Rees Llygaid
1985 Rhyl John Roderick Rees Glannau
1986 Fishguard T James Jones Llwch
1987 Porthmadog John Gruffydd Jones Casgliad o Gerddi
1988 Newport T James Jones Ffin
1989 Llanrwst Selwyn Griffith Dilyniant o Gerddi
1990 Rhymney Valley Iwan Llwyd Gwreichion
1991 Mold Einir Jones Pelydrau
1992 Aberystwyth Cyril Jones Cyfrannu
1993 Llanelwedd Eirwyn George Llynnoedd
1994 Neath Gerwyn Williams Dolenni
1995 Abergele Aled Gwyn Melodïau
1996 Llandeilo David John Pritchard Olwynion
1997 Bala Cen Williams Branwen
1998 Bridgend Emyr Lewis Rhyddid
1999 Anglesey Ifor ap Glyn Golau yn y Gwyll
2000 Llanelli Dylan Iorwerth Tywod
2001 Denbigh Penri Roberts Muriau
2002 St David's Aled Jones Williams Awelon
2003 Meifod Mererid Hopwood Gwreiddiau
2004 Newport Jason Walford Davies Egni
2005 Snowdonia Christine James Llinellau Lliw
2006 Swansea Eigra Lewis Roberts Fflam
2007 Flintshire Tudur Dylan Jones Copaon
2008 Cardiff Hywel Meilyr Griffiths Stryd Pleser
2009 Meirion Ceri Wyn Jones Yn y Gwaed
2010 Blaenau Gwent and heads of the valleys Glenys Mair Glyn Roberts Newid
2011 Wrexham Geraint Lloyd Owen Gwythiennau
2012 Vale of Glamorgan Gwyneth Lewis Ynys
2013 Denbighshire Ifor ap Glyn Terfysg
2014 Carmarthenshire Guto Dafydd Tyfu
2015 Montgomery and borderlands Manon Rhys Breuddwyd
2016 Monmouthshire Elinor Gwynn Llwybrau
2017 Anglesey Gwion Hallam Trwy'r Drych
2018 Cardiff Catrin Dafydd Olion
2019 Llanrwst Guto Dafydd Cilfachau
2020 Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic No Eisteddfod (COVID-19)
2021 "Eisteddfod AmGen" Eisteddfod AmGen - Dyfan Lewis Ar Wahân
2022 Tregaron Esyllt Maelor—Gwres [13]
2023 Boduan Rhys Iorwerth (Gregor)[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ National Eisteddfod: the Gorsedd Today Archived 2012-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Druid Network: History of the Gorsedd of Bards Archived 2012-07-10 at archive.today
  3. ^ "The main ceremonies". BBC iWonder. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  4. ^ Jan Morris (1984), The Matter of Wales: Epic Views of a Small Country, Oxford University Press. Page 152.
  5. ^ "Translator wins National Eisteddfod poetry crown". BBC News. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  6. ^ "The Crowning Ceremony". National Museum of Wales. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Gorsedd Ceremonies Today". Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  8. ^ Hywel Teifi Edwards (2015), The Eisteddfod, University of Wales Press, pages 76-77.
  9. ^ Huw Thomas (7 August 2018). "National Eisteddfod: Archdruid apology for 'sexist' remark". BBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  10. ^ Ronald Black (1999), An Tuil: Anthology of 20th Century Scottish Gaelic Verse, page 821.
  11. ^ Non-Scot is Gaelic Bard for first time By David Ross. The Herald, 19th October 2011.
  12. ^ "Crown Winners | National Eisteddfod". eisteddfod.wales. Archived from the original on 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  13. ^ "Esyllt Maelor wins the Eisteddfod Crown | National Eisteddfod".
  14. ^ "Writer from Caernarfon wins the National Eisteddfod Crown". Nation.Cymru. 7 August 2023.