Blog: Sally Eaves at the 2026 Eisteddfod

Reflections on my first time at the National Eisteddfod

Sally Eaves, Preseli Meeting

It would be entirely impossible to sum up in a few words the experience of my first Eisteddfod. People in the rest of the UK or even in certain areas of Wales may well think the Welsh language is dying out. Well the answer to that is a resounding, no, it isn’t. To be surrounded by Welsh language, go to musical, choral, dramatic, poetic events of the highest standard, to sit in the Tŷ Gwerin (folk music venue) and hear the best of both historic and contemporary Welsh music, to listen to talks on topics such as biodiversity by real experts, who are first language Welsh speakers, was absolute confirmation that the Welsh language and culture is vibrantly alive.

Apart from the fact that as a festival it was astoundingly well organised, on the most perfect flat site, with wide views of the Preseli mountains, wonderful sunsets and almost uninterrupted sunshine, there was another magic at work. Our very own Mererid Hopwood, poet, academic and peace activist, was the Arch Druid, her final year in the role. She spoke movingly about the need for peace. During the various ceremonies she declaimed with real feeling the age old question “A oes Heddwch?” (“Is there Peace?”) to which the resounding answer from the large gathering chorused: “Heddwch”.

Then there was the fact that it was the 850th anniversary of the very first Eisteddfod which took place only a few miles away in Cardigan Castle, brought together by Arglwydd Rhys (Lord Rhys), also present at this year’s event in the form of a giant and impressive puppet. However above all it was the lingering presence of Waldo Williams, peace activist, teacher, best beloved poet of the local and wider Welsh community, member of the fight against post war use of the whole Preseli area by the War Office, and member of Milford Haven Quaker Meeting in the last decades of his life (1953 to 1971) - one of the Peace Tax refusers, who spent repeated spells in prison on account of his stance on peace and military service.

All in all it was a week to remember. There were some 20 Quakers who played their role across the week, either by their simple presence at the two talks in the Societies’ Tent: Tangnefeddwyr (Peacemakers) on the Monday, taken from the title of a very famous poem by Waldo; or the Moment of Quiet, an introduction to Quaker Worship at the end of the week. We also supported the rota in the Peace Tent holding responsibility there on the Monday, or else Friends helped in the Cytûn/Churches Together in Wales tent, just opposite, helping with the set up, or serving drinks and Welsh cakes. Most of us were wearing our distinctive red T-shirts with the slogans Syml, Radical, Ysbrydol (Simple, Radical, Spiritual) on the front, and Boed i’ch bywyd lefaru (Let your life speak) on the back.

In addition a Quaker fund was used to support the award of the Composer’s medal, which called for the composition of two choral pieces for each of the 3 finalists, one from a poem entitled Ci Coch (aka Mr Fox I suspect!!) sung by a younger choir drawn from the 4 secondary schools of the area, and a piece for adults, sung unaccompanied by a mixed voice choir to the words of the poem Plentyn y Ddaear (Child of the Earth), both by Waldo. He is always known around here as simply Waldo - if you say Waldo everyone knows who you mean! 

The final highlight of the week for me was the moving orchestral performance by the 3 counties youth orchestra of a piece which so fully expressed the challenges and energy of our times. I hope that will find its way to the Albert Hall one day, though the youth and commitment of the players and choir standing behind was part of the energy conveyed. The Eisteddfod with all its joy and excellence, rolled on against the back drop of the drought in the area, with farmers struggling to keep their cattle watered and fed, dipping into their winter supplies, wildfires raging at home and abroad. Despite that the wonder of that music added to my overall feeling from the Eisteddfod that, yes, there is hope in this challenging world of ours