Wales YFC News

What a week! It’s fair to say that Wales YFC had an amazing week at Eisteddfod Y Garreg Las in Llantwd. From beginning to end, there was a warm, friendly and lively atmosphere on the maes, and it was fantastic to see so many YFC members from all over Wales coming together to celebrate, compete and have fun.

Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire were very busy throughout the week with their stand on the maes. The stand was a great opportunity to showcase the movement’s presence across the three counties, meet our members and Eisteddfod visitors, share information about our work and show everything that YFC has to offer. From giving out stickers to playing darts, and even milking our cow! – there was something for everyone!

The week got off to a very special start as Fflur James from Eglwyswrw YFC was inducted as a member of the Gorsedd, after winning the Wales YFC Crown at our Eisteddfod last year. Thanks to the hard work of our Chief Executive, Mared Rand Jones, every member who wins the chair or crown at our Eisteddfod will now be made a member of the Gorsedd in the future – a huge honour and certainly a special accolade for our talented members!

Mared Jones from Ynys Môn YFC, winner of the Chair at the 2025 Wales YFC Eisteddfod, is already a member of the Gorsedd.

The honours continued on Monday, when members of Fishguard YFC had the incredible privilege of being part of the Gorsedd ceremony. What a special experience for our members, and one they will certainly remember for years to come.

Our members certainly didn’t sit back for long! On Monday afternoon, there was a special session at Y Stiwdio, as YFC members from all three counties came together to entertain the audience with over an hour of entertainment. From singing and dancing to jokes and a variety of performances, the place was packed to the brim! It was fantastic to see our members taking to the stage, sharing their talents and showing the audience just how much talent there is within YFC. A fantastic afternoon was had by all – with plenty of fun too!

Throughout the week, YFC members from all over Wales were competing at the Eisteddfod, and it was a pleasure to see our members’ talents being showcased once again. There was also a special reunion in the Eisteddfod New Choir competition, as Caerwedros YFC Choir reunited especially for the local Eisteddfod – and what a result, proudly taking third place in the competition! Huge congratulations to everyone who took part.

And the musical talent of YFC didn’t stop there! Owain Lewis, Pembrokeshire YFC County Organiser, who is a talented pianist, had his chance to shine in ‘Battle of the Accompanists’ alongside his fellow accompanists from Pembrokeshire, in the Encore Tent. What a treat the audience had watching these talented accompanists put on a fantastic show – the crowd certainly got a performance to remember!

Wednesday brought another highlight as we launched the brand-new Wales YFC podcast on the field. It was fantastic to see members from all over Wales coming together with the podcast presenters, Daniel O’Callaghan, Siôn Wyn and Tomos Evans, to celebrate the launch of the new podcast.

And what a way to start! We have some fantastic guests in the first episodes, including presenter Meinir Howells and international referee Nigel Owens. The first two episodes are definitely worth a listen, as our guests share what YFC means to them.  We would also like to say a huge thank you to Marc Griffiths from Stiwdio Box for all his hard work with the podcast – from recording the episodes to helping prepare them and making sure everything was ready for the launch. We are incredibly grateful for his time, & expertise bringing this exciting new project to life! Go and have a listen – they’re great!

Of course, we couldn’t finish without mentioning some of the fantastic successes achieved by our members during the Eisteddfod. Huge congratulations to Ffion Mair Thomas from Eglwyswrw YFC, who won the Osbourne Roberts Memorial Prize – Blue Ribbon 19–25.

Also, huge congratulations to Sophie Jones from Pontsenni YFC, who won the Aled Lloyd Davies Memorial Prize in the Open Cerdd Dant competition. Two fantastic achievements – and great accolades for both! Congratulations, Ffion and Sophie.

Huge congratulations also to Lliwen Jones, a member of Bro Ddyfi YFC, on the news—shared during Eisteddfod week that she has been appointed as a new presenter for Cyw on S4C! Lliwen will be singing, dancing, entertaining, and bringing so much fun to the young children of Wales. Good luck, Lliwen! We are really looking forward to seeing you on Cyw!

From the busy stand and the Gorsedd, to the performances at Y Stiwdio, the competitions, the talent, the new podcast and all the fun and laughter across the field – what a week for Wales YFC!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Garreg Las Eisteddfod such a special and successful week – our members, volunteers, staff, officers, competitors, supporters and everyone who stopped by our stand. Without your enthusiasm, energy and support, the week simply wouldn’t have been the same.

What a week full of friendship, talent, fun and YFC spirit – a week that will stay in the heart forever!