Ceredigion Councillors Back £500k bid for Eisteddfod yr Urdd

Senior Ceredigion councillors have backed the potential spending of up to £0.5m for the Eisteddfod yr Urdd to come to the county in its centenary year of 2029.

At the May 19 meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet, members were asked to consider inviting Eisteddfod yr Urdd to Ceredigion in 2029, and to consider the resource and financial implications for the council if that is accepted.

The Urdd was established in 1922 by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards from Aberystwyth, with the Llangrannog Residential Centre was established in 1932, which was the Urdd’s first centre.

Eisteddfod yr Urdd will be celebrating its centenary in 2029, and it has been proposed that Ceredigion holds the Eisteddfod, having last hosted it in 2010 at Llanerchaeron, near Aberaeron.

In addition to the cultural aspects, there is a financial benefit to the county, a report for members said, citing the 2022 National Eisteddfod which had a calculated benefit of £10.9m into the local economy.

For the 2023 Urdd Eisteddfod, held in Carmarthenshire, the economic value was calculated to be £16m, generating £8.5m within the host authority area, the report said, adding that “for every £1 of income received by the Urdd, the Urdd Eisteddfod generated £6.96 of economic value to Wales”.

The report for members went on to say host council is expected to make a financial contribution of £200,000 towards the hosting of the Urdd Eisteddfod.

It also said, for the host local authority to have a presence on the Maes, an allocation of up to £300,000 would be required for a stand to promote Ceredigion and associated costs, along with any associated fees such as road closures and temporary speed limits being waived and a loss of income funded from the £300,000.

It added: “Therefore, a total of £500,000 will be required for hosting the Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2029.”

While members supported the 2029 call, a note of caution was sounded by Cllr Elizabeth Evans, who, while welcoming the call, felt the economic benefits of the Urdd Eisteddfod were “over-egged,” in comparison the with the National Eisteddfod, and visitor accommodation already being at a premium during the time it would take place.

Members supported the recommendations, the costs dependent on whether the Urdd Eisterddfod does come to Ceredigion in 2029.

The 2026 Urdd Eisteddfod takes place in Anglesey, running from May 23 to May 29.