News column

27th Jan 10

Dafydd Iwan

Tomorrow night, Friday 28th January, there will be a bus leaving Merthyr Tydfil to see legendary Welsh language folk singer and politician Dafydd Iwan in Elliot’s, Wind Street, Aberdare. The night starts at 7.30pm. The price is £10 including ticket. Anyone interested should contact Greg Snelgrove on 01685 722176 or email greg@merthyrtudful.org. Dafydd Iwan was born in Brynaman in Carmarthenshire. He rose to fame as a singer-songwriter, writing and playing folk music in the Welsh language. By the late 1960s he was receiving television coverage both for his music and for his political activities, including being imprisoned in 1970 as part of the fight for Welsh language rights. During the 1970s, Dafydd Iwan's songs took in such themes as Pinochet's Chile; Welsh Devolution; the Vietnam War and the Northern Ireland troubles. His inherent internationalism continued in following decades, as his songs mention events such as the Tiananmen Square massacre (1989), the Gulf War (1990) and opencast mining in the south Wales valleys (1995). His biggest hit to date, "Yma O Hyd" ("Still Here"), released in 1981, has become a favourite of most Welsh folk music fans.

Garden For Wildlife
A series of gardening classes at Cyfarthfa Park Wildlife Garden (accessed via the top gate, off Gwaelodygarth Road) will be running this spring, all from 10am until 12pm, beginning with Garden Ponds and Rainwater Harvesting on Monday, 7th February. There will be a session on Rockeries and Amphibians on Monday, 7th March. The sessions conclude with Layering the Garden on Monday, 4th April. All classes are free entry with no need to book, simply turn up prepared with your wellies and take part! For further information please contact carys.solman@merthyr.gov.uk or 01685 726251

Hedge-laying Course
Anyone interested in hedgelaying has the opportunity to receive a hedgelaying qualification, during a course on 31st January until 4th February. People able to attend for the full five days will receive a Level 1 Agored Cymru (formerly Open College Network) qualification. The Agored Cymru unit covers different hedgelaying styles and how to use and look after the tools correctly. For further information and to book a place, contact 01685 726251 or carys.solman@merthyr.gov.uk
Welsh Folk Music
On Saturday, 12th February at 10.30am until 12.30pm, Y Ganolfan Gymraeg (The Welsh Centre), Merthyr Tydfil, will be hosting a Welsh bagpiping workshop, through the medium of Welsh. The workshop will cost £5 per person and will focus on Welsh repertoire for pipes, basic piping techniques, how to articulate and ornament the music, learning by ear, playing as a group and having a lot of fun! Some instruments are available for those who don’t have their own pipes, or for pipers currently playing different types of bagpipes. The workshops will use bagpipes in the key of C. If you are a beginner you should be able to play another wind instrument such as flute, whistle or clarinet, to a reasonable level. Please contact to confirm attendance and also whether you would like to use teaching sets of pipes, which will need to be reserved. For information about this and other dates, please contact Bagad Pibau Morgannwg at bagadmorgannwg@gmail.com or the Office at Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful on 01685 722176.