1. What’s your Llais y Lle project?
My project was about reinterpreting the history and folklore of Ysbyty Ifan, involving the local community and putting the Welsh language at the centre of the activities.
2. What’s happened so far?
The activities within the projects varied, but some of the highlights included – the construction of a shed on the former site of the ‘Tŷ Newydd Y Mynydd’ pub on the Migneint with artist Kristin Luke. The community were invited for a drink to discuss the land’s history and leave their mark on the building’s exterior walls. Following this, we held workshops where residents were recorded, sharing stories of three fairy tales from the area. Another time, the community joined in with an old tradition of lifting chord stones – which led to discussions about the meaning and relationship of people with rocks and language.
On the summer solstice, a group of us walked past three old dwellings in the depths of the Migneint. We shared fairy tales from the area, created art in the old dwellings, and sang to call on the fairies using an old piano that had appeared in one of the buildings. It was a fantastic experience for the community to sing and create in this special place with musician George Amor and artist Ffion Pritchard. We also hosted a walk and used recordings by the late Gruff Ellis, a Ysbyty Ifan native from Deillion (North Wales Society of the Blind). Hearing Gruff’s vast knowledge of his habitat in the Welsh language was a fantastic experience.
How did your project help the community?
The community came together where there was no usual meeting place (e.g. a pub or shop) in the village. The project was accessible to all community members, including fluent Welsh speakers, learners, non-Welsh speakers, and those keen to re-discover the language. It has been interesting to see what topics, words, and activities interested these different cohorts of people and the benefits they gained.
The project has given people the confidence to practice their Welsh and creativity, gaining confidence and allowing them to be involved with the wider community.
It’s been an excellent opportunity to work with my local community, strengthening my connection and their connection to the area’s history and legends. From Llais y Lle, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with creative organisations and individuals locally and nationally. The ‘Ty Newydd y Mynydd’ will be given a new lease of life after the project ends and will serve the community as a hut to fair books and tools.