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Pennod 78 – Jac Glan-y-Gors

In this episode we have fun discussing John Jones (1766-1821), a multi-faceted character who is better known today as Jac Glan-y-Gors. Originally from Cerrigydrudion, Denbighshire, Jac spent most of his life in London. He became the manager and perhaps the owner of several pubs in the city and he played a big part in two […]

Pennod 76 – Angharad James

Mentioning the connections between Angharad James and Marged Dafydd allows us to consider the fact that it is only during the past decades that Welsh academia has started giving women’s poetry the attention it deserves. We concentrate then on the work of Angharad James (1677- 1749), a multitalented Welsh woman from the Nantlle Valley who […]

Raaarrr

This content is in Welsh only     Here is a reading list of the volumes discussed in the chapter:   Strange weather in Tokyo – Hiromi Kawakami Anfarwol – Rebecca Roberts Raaarrr – Rolant Tomos Mor Hapus – Gwenllian Elis Marw Chwerthin – gol. Susan Roberts Nodiadlyfr Bach y Wawr – Najwan Darwish (cyfieithwyd […]

Pennod 74 – Hiraeth am Fôn: Goronwy Owen

Hiraeth for Anglesey: Goronwy OwenRichard Wyn Jones receives more of his native region’s literary history in this episode as we discuss, Goronwy Owen, Anglesey’s most famous poet. We suggest that the literary ideals of the Morris circle are seen most clearly in the poetry of ‘Dark-haired Goronwy’, for his mastery of the strict metres realized […]

DAC Equality and Diversity, Access and Inclusion Action Group Survey

To explore what inclusion looks and feels like for disabled artists from minority backgrounds, understand existing barriers, and co-create ideas to build more accessible arts environments. Please share your thoughts on our survey 07/11/25 here. The Action Group will take place on Zoom on 19/11/25. Register your interest here.

Pennod 73 – Morrisiaid Môn

The Morris Brothers of Anglesey Seeing as he’s from Anglesey, Richard Wyn Jones exclaims at the start of this episode that he didn’t hear so much as ‘a single syllable’ about these literary-minded Brothers from the Island when he was in school. This is an opportunity to correct that lack, as we discuss the four […]

A Fool without Bounds: The Anterliwt (part 3)

In this episode you’ll get an opportunity to meet Gwagsaw [‘Frivolous One’], Syr Caswir [‘Sir Harsh Truth’], Ffowcyn Gnuchlyd [‘Fucking Foulke’] and other fools from the anterliwtiau. As we examine the role of the fool, we note that he has many functions in a traditional anterliwt. First of all, he begins the play with his […]

Sgwennu 5 Mil O Eiriau Y Diwrnod

One of the crew has been busy writing 5 thousand words a day, while the rest have been busy reading loads of books, with the occasional Japanese book.   Lots of laughs, a few controversial things, some intense conversations, and a bit of editing to keep Aled busy!   Here is a reading list of […]

Pennod 70 – ‘Dynion dawnus yn dilyn chw’ryddiaeth’: Yr Anterliwt (rhan 2)

We concentrate in this episode on the actors who performed in anterliwtiau, examining a number of different literary texts which throw light on their work and their identity.   Like a theatre company today, an anterliwt company in the eighteenth century travelled from place to place and staged performances in different communities. The evidence shows […]

Pennod 69 – Maswedd a Moeswers: Yr Anterliwt ( rhan 1)

Dirty Jokes and Moral Lessons: The Anterliwt (part 1) This is the first in a series of episodes which examine various aspects of the anterliwt tradition. Jerry Hunter has just finished writing a book about the subject and “is on fire to discuss this stuff”, as his co-presented says, and by the end of this […]

PODCAST: In The Spotlight with Gruffydd Owen (Libertino)

Black and white photo of a man in a hat standing against a brick wall

For the latest In the Spotlight podcast, Bill Cummings is joined by Gruffydd Owen: who is the owner and label manager at Libertino. They discuss Swigod, the new compilation celebrating a decade of Libertino, the founding of the label, and the key compilations, including releases on Ankst that shaped Gruff’s formative music taste. Listen below. They also talk about the […]

Pennod 68 – Baledi’r Ddeunawfed Ganrif

In this episode you’ll get an introduction to the ballads of the eighteenth century, one of the most popular Welsh-language literary forms of the period. Indeed, considering the high number of them which have survived, it’s possible to argue that the ballad was the most popular form of the eighteenth century. After wrestling a little […]

Artist of the Month: Frances Bolley

Frances Abigail Bolley sits on a seaside cliff holding a guitar

Our Artist of the Month is Frances Bolley! A Multi-Instrumental Musician and Performer, Frances has an incredible range of work from her solo practice, to playing bass for Adjua and lead guitar for Fenix, to composition based work, music production, community focussed arts, and even more. Frances also recently released ‘i siarad’, a Welsh-language song […]

Pennod 65 – ‘Pererin Wyf’: Williams Pantycelyn (rhan 2)

‘I am a Pilgrim’: Williams Pantycelyn (2) We dive a little deeper into Pantycelyn’s hymns in this episode, concentrating on one theme. After discussing the popular hymn beginning ‘Pererin wyf mewn anial dir’ (‘I am a pilgrim in a desert’), we note that that was neither the only time nor the first time that Williams […]

Pennod 64 – ‘Williams biau’r Emyn’

‘The Hymn Belongs to Williams’ In this episode we begin discussing the Welsh Methodist movement’s chief poet, William Williams, Pantycelyn (1717-1791). Although we summarize some of the history of his life (including his conversion), we take more time in stressing the significance of his literary work as we agree with those we see Pantycelyn’s early […]

Sesiwn Gŵyl Tawe – HMS Morris

Menter Iaith Abertawe are launching a series of live sessions for Gŵyl Tawe, featuring artists from the festival at various locations around Swansea. Session 2 – HMS Morris from Kardomah

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Branwen ferch Llŷr

Branwen daughter of Llŷr We have a great time in this episode while discussing ‘The Second Branch of the Mabinogi’, namely the tale of ‘Branwen daughter of Llŷr’. We consider a number of things about this exciting story, asking interesting questions about its relationship with the medieval society to which it belonged. We note that […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch

The next episode focusses on the tale ‘Branwen daughter of Llŷr’ (or ‘The Second Branch of the Mabinogi’). We prepare for that discussion in this episode by looking at the earliest manuscript which contains a complete copy of the tale, namely the White Book of Rhydderch. This manuscript was created about the year 1350 by […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Trafferth mewn Tafarn

‘Trouble at an Inn’ We have fun in this episode while discussing Dafydd ap Gwilym’s famous self-satirical cywydd. This is a narrative poem which describes an unsuccessful attempt to meet a woman late at night, and by reciting this story Dafydd is satirizing the very bardic persona which is central to so many of his […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Mis Mai a Mis Tachwedd

‘May and November’ In this episode we discuss one of Dafydd ap Gwilym’s nature poems, namely the famous cywydd which contrasts the month of May with the ‘dark angry’ month. While considering two connected themes which are central to Dafydd’s work, love and nature, we note that the poem welcomes May as it signifies the […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Yr Wylan

‘The Seagull’ In this episode we look at one of Dafydd ap Gwilym’s cywyddau llatai and explain the meaning of that word – ‘llatai’ – and discuss the usual pattern followed by these kinds of cywyddau. This is a kind of poem which combines two of Dafydd’s favourite themes, love and nature, giving the poet’s […]

Llyfr Taliesin

Here we introduce the episodes which discuss two of Taliesin’s poems, and we do that by looking at the Book of Taliesin itself, one of the treasures kept in the National Library of Wales. This amazing manuscript was created during the first half of the fourteenth century, but it includes a collection of poems which […]

Gwaith Argoed Llwyfain

This episode discusses one of the poems attributed to the bard Taliesin. The word ‘gwaith’ means ‘battle’, and although we don’t know where exactly Argoed Llwyfain was, it’s certain that the location was in the Old North and that this battle took place sometime towards the end of the sixth century. It was a victory […]

Marwnad Owain ab Urien

In this episode we look at another of Taliesin’s poems. The praise tradition including paying tribute to dead leaders, and that’s what we have in this powerful poem. We note that this elegy for Owain refers to the victory celebrated in another of Taliesin’s poems, ‘The Battle of Argoed Llwyfain’; there is a sense that […]

Canu Aneirin, Awdl 1

We discuss the first of the Gododdin’s awdlau in this episode, namely an elegy for Ywain, a warrior described as ‘Marro’s only son’. We note that the style is very sparse yet also extremely powerful; here is a poet who does a lot with a few words. We learn a number of things about Ywain: […]

Llyfr Aneirin

This episode prefaces the episodes which discuss two of Canu Aneirin’s awdlau. Here we are in the National Library of Wales, looking at the Book of Aneirin itself! This manuscript was written between about 1250 and 1300. As it’s likely that it was written during the final years of ‘the independent Wales, we wonder if […]

Canu Aneirin, Awdl 24

Here we discuss an elegy to another of the Gododdin’s dead warriors, Buddfan fab Bleiddfan. We note that ‘arwr’ (‘hero’) is the first word, summarizing effectively the picture we get in the following lines. We also note that the last word, ‘dihafarch’ (‘brave’) encapsulates this elegy’s main message. Like the first awdl, death in battle […]

Sesiwn Gŵyl Tawe – Mali Hâf

Menter Iaith Abertawe are launching a series of live sessions for Gŵyl Tawe, featuring artists from the festival at various locations around Swansea. Session 2 – Mali Hâf from Swansea Arena

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Aneirin gan Iwan Llwyd

In this episode we look at the poem ‘Aneirin’ by Iwan Llwyd, scrutinizing the way in which he compares – or assimilates – the poet’s job with the journalist’s. We also discuss the way in which the poem assimilates wars from different historical periods and note that Iwan Llwyd has very definite ideas about the […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Gwenllian gan Myrddin ap Dafydd

Ystyriwn y cywydd ‘Gwenllian’ gan Myrddin ap Dafydd yn y bennod hon, gan egluro’r ddau gyd-destun hanesyddol perthnasol – diwedd llinach tywysogion Cymru yn 1282 a hanes ymgyrch yn y 1990au i greu cofeb i ferch Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Gwenllian. Awgrymwn fod y gerdd hon yn gofeb hynod drawiadol yn ei hawl ei hun. Wrth […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Y Gŵr sydd ar y Gorwel gan Gerallt Lloyd Owen

This episode focusses on Gerallt Lloyd Owen’s poem, ‘Y Gŵr sydd ar y Gorwel’. As well as scrutinising the poet’s craft, we explain the political context and consider why Gerallt Lloyd Owen approached Saunders Lewis in this way. We note the significance of the word ‘horizon’ itself and suggest that this modern poem highlights some […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Sul y Mamau yn Greenham, 1984 gan Menna Elfyn

We discuss Menna Elfen’s ‘Mother’s Day at Greenham, 1984’ in this episode. Jerry Hunter scrutinizes the structure and style of the poem, noting how the poet takes advantage of the flexibility of free measure. She also discusses the images that are central to her. Richard Wyn Jones explains the historical and political context, explaining the […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Our series for Welsh A Level Students

This is a special series of Yr Hen Iaith – one that has been created specifically for people studying Welsh A Level. Each episode in the series relates to an aspect of the syllabus. You can listen to two old friends discussing Welsh literature, one an expert in the field and the other eager to […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Un Nos Ola Leuad

We discuss Un Nos Ola Leuad in this episode while filming at the National Library of Wales, with Caradog Prichard’s own notebook with one of his original plans for the novel and a draft of a chapter in front of us. We consider the style of this remarkable work and the way it moves between […]

Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Martha, Jac, a Sianco

We discuss Martha, Jac a Sianco in this episode, scrutinizing how the novel depicts the dark side of rural life.   We find that even the most shocking aspects of the novel reflect reality and that this courageous work goes against a stream of Welsh literature that elevates, romanticises and idealises the life of the […]

Hynt Yr Hen Iaith: neges ar gyfer ein dilynwyr

As you know if you have been following Yr Hen Iaith, the last episode was the final episode of Series 2. There will be a little break before we start Series 3, but the Yr Hen Iaith team will not be idle! In fact, we have started recording a special series for A-level pupils. This […]

Pennod 62 – Hanesyddiaeth a Hunaniaeth: Drych y Prif Oesoedd

Historiography and Identity: Drych y Prif Oesoedd With this episode we bring the second series of Yr Hen Iaith to an end, and we do that by discussing an incredibly influential book which Theophilus Evans published in 1740. Drych y Prif Oesoedd [The Mirror of the Earliest Centuries] was first published in 1716, but the […]

Cerdd Tafod Arall | Music of Another Tongue

Cerdd Tafod Arall | Music of Another Tongue is a project led by Hanan Issa, National Poet of Wales, where she challenged herself and six poets known for their experimental use of language to learn about and use Cynghanedd in their work. Following an online crash course on cynghanedd and Welsh verse delivered by Mererid […]

Gift Guide: Books for music lovers

Looking for Christmas gifts? Here are 5 books that would make perfect gifts for music lovers. Wales: 100 Records – Huw Stephens (Y Lolfa) Welsh music obsessive and BBC 6 Music DJ Huw Stephens has sifted through the archives and his own record collection to bring his selection of 100 records – both notable and […]

Syched Cas – Dewin

Fideo i sengl Dewin ‘Syched Cas’ Cyfarwyddo a golygu gan Lleucu Elisa. Ariannwyd gan gronfa fideos PYST x Lŵp © Fflach Cymunedol 2025