Tregaron National Eisteddfod

On the Monday of the Eisteddfod, a session was held in Maes D, Pentre’r Dysgwyr, to note the unique contribution and dedication of Dr Carl Clowes to the work of restoring the village of Nant Gwrtheyrn and turning it into a centre for learning the Welsh language.

The discussion was guided by Huw Jones, Chair of the Trust using audio clips of Carl himself talking about some of the principal milestones. There were very enlightening contributions from Dafydd Iwan and Alun Jones, two of the original trustees, who offered a range of recollections about the long-drawn-out campaign to buy the site, and then to raise money for improving the houses and to start the work of holding Welsh classes. Francesca Sciarrillo joined immediately after being accepted as a member of the Gorsedd to note how important the Nant’s courses, as well as its memorable location, had been in her journey as a learner.

A good audience came together for the event and the general feeling was that the session had been a valuable platform to remind people of the tremendous feat of restoring an isolated  village that had been in ruins and of the unique contribution of the man who had had the vision to bring it about.