27.7.09

Eisteddfod... neges(message) i ddysgwyr Cilgwri...

S'mae pawb,

Wel mae 'cyffro''r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn agoshau. (the excitement of the National Eisteddfod is getting closer) Dwi'n bwriadu bod yna ar y dydd mercher (I'm intending to be there on the wedenesday), felly os dachi'n mynd ar yr un ddiwrnod mi fasai'n braf cyfarfod, am sgwrs a phaned efallai (so if you're going on the same day it'd be nice to meet for a chat and a 'paned' perhaps).

Mae 'na lawer o bethau i weld a gwneud ar faes yr Eisteddfod, dyma rhai o'r pethau fy mod i'n ffindio'n ddiddorol (there are loads of things to see on the Eisteddfod 'Maes', here are some of the things I find interesting):

Uchafbwyntiau'r Eisteddfod (yn fy marn i!):

Maes D (pabell y dysgwyr/the learners tent)

It's more than a tent these days! Competitions for learners are held here (look at the board giving details of the times of the various activities each day) as well as 'acoustic' performances by various singers/bands. There's a coffee bar staffed by local learners usually. A good place to meet other learners, tutors and share experiences!

Y Pafiliwn Gwyddoniaeth a Thechnoleg /The Science and Technology Pavilion

There's plenty of interactive stuff usually, as well as demonstrations (expect flashes and bangs).

Y Lle Celf / The Art Place

Exhibition of the winners work in the Arts & Crafts competitions. Plenty of video installations etc. these days with the emphasis on contemporary work. Plenty of challenging stuff normally, though I've yet to see a pickled sheep...

Stondinau y BBC/S4C - S4C/BBC stands

The main broadcasters generally have big stands with plenty of freebies available so they're always worth a look (get some of your licence fee paid back in pens!)

Y Cyngor Llyfrau/The Welsh Book Council

Imagine a good size bookshop that sells mainly Welsh books. It doesn't exist in the real world, but at the Eisteddfod the Book Councils' stand is as close as you'll get. You'll find stuff for learners of course. Don't forget as well there are many other smaller local bookshop stands to browse through, plenty of 'used' bargains as well.

Y Llwyfanau Perfformio / Performance Stages

There are a couple of performance stages on the 'Maes' where various artists give informal performances during the course of the day. There's a list of who's performing next to the stages. A good spot to sit and eat your picnic!

Y Prif Pafiliwn / The Main Pavilion

That's the large pink tent which dominates the festival. It's hard to describe quite what goes on here as it's used for various things during the course of the week. In the evening there are a series of concerts there which are all ticket, but during the day various competitions are held, from choirs to clog dancing, brass bands to recitation. I pop in just to see whats going on, though many people happily spend a day at the Eisteddfod without bothering. It'll be full for the main ceremonies but half empty most of the time.

I hope this gives you some idea of what to expect, though I've missed loads I'm sure. There are literally hundreds of stands to browse and you'll find countless oppurtunities to say things like "P'nawn da, ga i baned o goffi os gwelwch yn dda" before adding quickly "dysgwr dwi" !! Don't worry though, the 'Maes' is signposted bilingually and many people at the Eisteddfod will be non Welsh speakers or learners.

Hwyl, Neil

8 comments:

Rhys Wynne said...

Cyflwyniad gwych a defnyddiol i'r Eisteddfod

This guide is only the tip of the iceberg and I won't list everyhting else I'd suggest here, apart from short films (including 'Horror'!) at Theatre y Maes. See poster.

Hefyd, lots of 'useful' (?) info on Stwnsh 'Steddfod.

James said...

Fe faswn i’n meddwl bod byddwch chi'n cael llawer o hwyl ar y eisteddfod tros y benwythnos

Anonymous said...

Neil

Anne ac i mynd y trio dod am dydd gwener. Dwi'n meddyl Nigel gwaithio. Ond dwi ddim yn gwbod.

Mike

neil wyn said...

S'mae Mike a Anne,

Gobeithio mi fydd yr haul allan i chi ddydd gwener, a dach chi'n mwynhau'r Eisteddfod.

Mae gwefan (website) yr Eisteddfod (eisteddfod.org) yn werth cipolwg arni hi (is worth a look at) cyn mynd (before going). Mae hi'n dwyieithog (it's bilingual) hefyd!

Hwyl, Neil

Anonymous said...

Neil,

Anne ac i mynd dydd mercher (Wednesday not Friday). Dwi ddim yn gwbod Dydd Mercher [Wednesday] ac Dydd Gwener [Friday]! One day I will be able to distinguish between these two words...

Mike

Wednesday not Friday...

neil wyn said...

Paid poeni Mike, dwi'n dal i ddrysu mercher a gwener am ryw rheswm! (don't worry, I still confuse Wed and Fri for some reason).

Mi fasai'n braf cyfarfod rhywbryd yn ystod y dydd ym 'Maes D'. (it'd be nice to meet up sometime during the day in Maes-D),

Hwyl, Neil

Anonymous said...

Neil,

I've translated your poem. It may be highly inaccurate. Point out any glaring errors, I'll correct them and give people copies next week?

Mike

REMEMBER THE LEARNERS OF WIRRAL

Across the acres of the Dee marshes,
There’s a peninsula unknown to some,
An area of banks and beaches
Which isn’t half so dear as Dubai.

We live, according to many, near Liverpool,
Though some insist near Chester.
But the capital is Birkenhead.
The best place for a bargain or two.

There are many who call us ‘scousers’,
Having been confused by the accent no doubt,
But it’s possible that more of those live
In North Wales on the sea coast.

In its heyday the Mersey attracted
Residents from the four corners of the earth.
In their midst were thousands of Welshmen,
And their communities grew rather strong.

Maybe today it’s hard to believe,
But in the year nineteen seventeen
Wirral welcomed the Eisteddfod
Without arguments to stop the trip!

You will scarcely hear Welsh at this point
On the streets of our little peninsula.
But in the middle of Wirral there are still voices
Fighting with endless words.

So remember the learners of Wirral,
And their battle to learn the tongue.
On the road there isn’t a great deal of distance,
But for the language there’s a heck of a journey.

neil wyn said...

Da iawn Mike!

I've made a couple of small changes, but 'iolch am wneud y gwaith galed!'

hwyl, Neil



Across the acres of the Dee marshes,
There’s a peninsula unknown to some,
An area of shores and beaches
Which isn’t half so expensive as Dubai.

We live, according to many, near Liverpool,
Though some insist near Chester.
But our capital is Birkenhead.
The best place for a bargain or two.

There are many who call us ‘scousers’,
Having been confused by the accent no doubt,
But it’s possible that more of those live
In North Wales, at the seaside.

In its heyday the Mersey attracted
Residents from the four corners of the earth.
In their midst were thousands of Welshmen,
And a rather strong community grew.

Maybe today it’s hard to believe,
But in the year nineteen seventeen
Wirral welcomed the Eisteddfod
Without arguments to stop the trip!

You will scarcely hear Welsh now,
On the streets of our little peninsula.
But in the middle of Wirral there are still voices
Battling with countless words,

So remember the learners of Wirral,
And their battle to learn the language,
By road it's not a great distance,
But linguistically it's a heck of a journey..