Chairing of the Bard

Ceremony in an eisteddfod

The Chairing of the Bard ( Cadeirio'r Bardd) is one of the most important events in the Welsh eisteddfod tradition. The most famous chairing ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is always on the Friday afternoon of Eisteddfod week. Winners are referred to as Y Prifardd (literally "The Chief Bard"). The custom of chairing the bard is, however, much older than the modern eisteddfod ceremony, and is known to have taken place as early as 1176. [[File:The chair of Taliesin o Eifion NLW3363560. jpg|thumb|upright|The chair posthumously awarded to Taliesin o Eifion at the Wrexham Eisteddfod in 1876 The withholding of the chair happened most recently in 2013 at the Eisteddfod in Denbigh. The National Eisteddfod ceremony is presided over by the Archdruid, who asks for a representative of judges to comment on the entries, before he announces the identity of the bard, using only the pen name that the winner has used to submit 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. Local children perform a dance to honour the new bard. In 1917, Hedd Wyn (Ellis Humphrey Evans) was awarded the Chair for his ode "Yr Arwr" ("The Hero"). On 6 September 1917, when the ceremony of Chairing of the Bard took place at the National Eisteddfod, held at Birkenhead Park, England, the adjudicators announced that the winning entry had been submitted under the pseudonym Fleur de Lys. After the trumpets had summoned the winner three times to stand forth from the audience, Archdruid Dyfed announced that he had been killed in action six weeks earlier. The winner's chair was then draped in a black sheet, and was thus delivered to the parents of Hedd Wyn. That year's eisteddfod is now referred to in the Welsh language as "Eisteddfod y Gadair Ddu" ("The Eisteddfod of the Black Chair"). The chair from that ceremony, which was made by a Belgian carpenter, Eugeen Vanfleteren (1880–1950), who had fled to Britain when Belgium was invaded and had settled in Birkenhead, is on display at Yr Ysgwrn, the poet's former home. Winning the "double" of bardic chair and crown at the same eisteddfod is a feat that has only been performed a handful of times in the history of the eisteddfod. Alan Llwyd and Donald Evans have each performed the double twice. The first woman to win the Chair at the National Eisteddfod was Mererid Hopwood in 2001; she went on to win the crown at a later eisteddfod.

Year LocationPoemPoetBardic name 1876 Wrexham Thomas Jones Taliesin o Eifion 1877 Caernarfon Ieuenctid William Roberts (Porthmadog) Gwilym Eryri 1880 Caernarfon Athrylith W B Joseph Y Myfyr 1881 Merthyr Tydfil Cariad Evan Rees Dyfed 1882 Denbigh Dyn No winner 1883 Cardiff Y Llong No winner 1884 Liverpool Gwilym Hiraethog Evan Rees Dyfed 1885 Aberdare Y Gwir yn Erbyn y Byd Watkin Hesekiah Williams Watcyn Wyn 1886 Caernarfon Gobaith Richard Davies Tafolog 1887 London Y Frenhines Victoria Robert Arthur Williams 1888 Wrexham Peroriaeth Thomas Jones Tudno 1889 Brecon Y Beibl Cymraeg Evan Rees Dyfed 1890 Bangor Y Llafurwr Thomas Jones Tudno 1891 Swansea Yr Haul John Owen Williams Pedrog 1892 Rhyl Y Cenhadwr Evan Jones Gurnos 1893 Pontypridd Pulpud Cymru J Ceulanydd Williams 1894 Caernarfon Hunanaberth H. Elvet Lewis Elfed 1895 Llanelli Dedwyddwch John Owen Williams Pedrog 1896 Llandudno Tuhwnt i'r Llen Ben Davies 1897 Newport Brawdgarwch J. T. Job Job 1898 Blaenau Ffestiniog Awen R. O. Hughes Elfyn 1899 Cardiff Gladstone No winner 1900 Liverpool Y Bugail John Owen Williams Pedrog 1901 Merthyr Tydfil Y Diwygiwr Evan Rees Dyfed 1902 Bangor Ymadawiad Arthur T. Gwynn Jones 1903 Llanelli Y Celt John Thomas Job Job 1904 Rhyl Geraint ac Enid Machreth Rees 1905 Mountain Ash Gorau arf, Dysg No winner 1906 Caernarfon Y Lloer J. J. Williams 1907 Swansea John Bunyan T Davies 1908 Llangollen Ceiriog J J Williams 1909 London Gwlad y Bryniau T. Gwynn Jones 1910 Colwyn Bay Yr Haf R. Williams Parry 1911 Carmarthen Iorwerth VII Gwilym Ceiriog 1912 Wrexham Y Mynydd T. H. Parry Williams 1913 Abergavenny Aelwyd y Cymro T J Thomas Sarnicol 1914 Not held: First World War N/A N/A N/A 1915 Bangor Eryri T H Parry Williams 1916 Aberystwyth Ystrad Fflur J Ellis Williams 1917 Penbedw Yr Arwr Ellis Evans Hedd Wyn 1918 Neath Eu Nêr a Folant J T Job Job 1919 Corwen Y Proffwyd Cledlyn Davies 1920 Barry Yr Oes Aur No winner 1921 Caernarfon Min y Môr Meuryn R J Rowlands 1922 Ammanford Y Gaeaf John Lloyd Jones 1923 Mold Dychweliad Arthur Cledlyn Davies 1924 Pontypool I'r Duw nid Adwaenir Albert Evans Jones Cynan 1925 Pwllheli Cantre'r Gwaelod Dewi Morgan 1926 Swansea Y Mynach D. Gwenallt Jones Gwenallt 1927 Holyhead Y Derwydd No winner 1928 Treorchy Y Sant No winner 1929 Liverpool Dafydd ap Gwilym Dewi Emrys 1930 Llanelli Y Galilead Dewi Emrys 1931 Bangor Breuddwyd y Bardd D. Gwenallt Jones 1932 Aberafan Mam D J Davies 1933 Wrexham Harlech Edgar Phillips Trefin 1934 Neath Ogof Arthur W Morris 1935 Caernarfon Magdalen Gwyndaf Evans 1936 Fishguard Ty Ddewi Simon B Jones 1937 Machynlleth Y Ffin T. Rowland Hughes 1938 Cardiff Rwy'n Edrych Dros y Bryniau Pell Gwilym R Jones 1939 Denbigh A hi yn dyddhau No winner 1940 Mountain Ash (radio) Pererinion Thomas Rowland Hughes 1941 Old Colwyn Hydref Rowland Jones 1942 Cardigan Rhyfel neu "Creiddylad" No winner 1943 Bangor Cymylau Amser Dewi Emrys 1944 Llandybie Ofn D Lloyd Jenkins 1945 Rhos Yr Oes Aur T Parry Jones 1946 Mountain Ash Awdl Foliant i'r Amaethwr Geraint Bowen 1947 Colwyn Bay Maelgwn Gwynedd John Eilian 1948 Bridgend Yr Alltud Dewi Emrys 1949 Dolgellau Y Graig Rowland Jones 1950 Caerphilly Awdl Foliant i'r Glowr Gwilym Tilsley | Tilsli 1951 Llanrwst Y Dyffryn Brinley Richards 1952 Aberystwyth Dwylo John Evans 1953 Rhyl Y Ffordd E Lloyd Williams 1954 Ystradgynlais Yr Argae John Evans 1955 Pwllheli Gwrtheyrn G Ceri Jones 1956 Aberdare Gwraig Mathonwy Hughes 1957 Llangefni Cwm Carnedd Gwilym Tilsley 1958 Ebbw Vale Caerllion ar Wysg T. Llew Jones 1959 Caernarfon Y Dringwr T Llew Jones 1960 Cardiff Dydd Barn or "Morgannwg" No winner 1961 Rhosllanerchrugog Awdl Foliant i Gymru Emrys Edwards 1962 Llanelli Llef un yn Llefain Caradog Pritchard 1963 Llandudno Genesis No winner 1964 Swansea Patagonia R Bryn Williams 1965 Newtown Yr Ymchwil W D Williams 1966 Aberafan Cynhaeaf Dic Jones Dic yr Hendre 1967 Bala Y Gwyddonydd Emrys Roberts 1968 Barry Awdl Foliant i'r Morwr R Bryn Williams 1969 Flint Yr Alwad James Nicholas 1970 Ammanford Y Twrch Trwyth Tomi Evans 1971 Bangor Y Chwarelwr Emrys Roberts 1972 Haverfordwest Preselau Dafydd Owen 1973 Ruthin Llef Dros y Lleiafrifoedd Alan Llwyd 1974 Carmarthen Y Dewin Moses Glyn Jones 1975 Criccieth Afon Gerallt Lloyd Owen 1976 Cardigan Gwanwyn Alan Llwyd 1977 Wrexham Llygredd Donald Evans 1978 Cardiff Y Ddinas No winner 1979 Caernarfon Gwynedd No winner 1980 Lliw Valley Y Ffwrnais Donald Evans 1981 Machynlleth Y Frwydr John Gwilym Jones 1982 Swansea Cilmeri Gerallt Lloyd Owen 1983 Anglesey Ynys Einion Evans 1984 Lampeter Y Pethau Bychain Aled Rhys Wiliam 1985 Rhyl Cynefin Robat Powell 1986 Fishguard Y Cwmwl Gwynn ap Gwilym 1987 Porthmadog Llanw a Thrai Ieuan Wyn 1988 Newport Storm Elwyn Edwards 1989 Llanrwst Y Daith Idris Reynolds 1990 Rhymney Valley Gwythiennau Myrddin ap Dafydd 1991 Mold Awdl Foliant Merch ein Hamserau Robin Llwyd ab Owain 1992 Aberystwyth A Fo Ben Idris Reynolds 1993 Llanelwedd Gwawr Meirion MacIntyre Huws 1994 Neath Chwyldro Emyr Lewis 1995 Abergele Y Môr Tudur Dylan Jones 1996 Llandeilo Grisiau R O Williams 1997 Bala Gwaddol Ceri Wyn Jones 1998 Bridgend Fflamau No winner 1999 Anglesey Pontydd Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan 2000 Llanelli Agored Llion Jones 2001 Denbigh Dadeni Mererid Hopwood 2002 St David's Llwybrau Myrddin ap Dafydd 2003 Meifod Drysau Twm Morys 2004 Newport Tir Neb Huw Meirion Edwards 2005 Snowdonia Gorwelion Tudur Dylan Jones 2006 Swansea Tonnau Gwynfor ab Ifor 2007 Flintshire Ffin T. James Jones 2008 Cardiff Tir Newydd Hilma Ll. Edwards 2009 Meirion Cyffro No winner 2010 Blaenau Gwent and heads of the valleys Ennill Tir Tudur Hallam 2011 Wrexham Clawdd Terfyn Rhys Iorwerth 2012 Vale of Glamorgan Llanw Dylan Iorwerth 2013 Denbighshire Lleisiau No winner 2014 Carmarthenshire Lloches Ceri Wyn Jones 2015 Montgomery and borderlands Gwe Hywel Griffiths 2016 Monmouthshire Ffiniau Aneirin Karadog 2017 Anglesey Arwr Osian Rhys Jones 2018 Cardiff Porth Gruffudd Eifion Owen 2019 Llanrwst Gorwelion T. James Jones 2020Not held: COVID 19 pandemicN/AN/AN/A2021"Eisteddfod AmGen" (on line virtual eisteddfod)DeffroGwenallt Llwyd Ifan2022TregaronTraethLlŷr Gwyn Lewis2023Llŷn ac EifionyddLlifAlan Llwyd

+NameNumber of winsYearsEvan Rees41881, 1884, 1889, 1901Thomas Jones31876, 1888, 1890John Owen Williams31891, 1895, 1900Alan Llwyd31973, 1976, 2023T Gwyn Jones21902, 1909JJ Williams21906, 1908TH Parry Williams21912, 1915Cledlyn Davies21919, 1923D Gwenallt Jones21926, 1931Dewi Emrys41929, 1930, 1943, 1948T. Rowland Hughes21937, 1940Rowland Jones21941, 1949Gwilym Tilley21950, 1957T Llew Jones21958, 1959R Bryn Williams21964, 1968Emrys Roberts21967, 1971Gerallt Lloyd Owen21975, 1982Donald Evans21977, 1980Idris Reynolds21989, 1992Tudur Dylan Jones21995, 2005Ceri Wyn Jones21997, 2014T James Jones22007, 2019