Chairing of the Bard
Encyclopedia
The Chairing of the Bard is one of the most important events in the Welsh
eisteddfod tradition. The most famous chairing ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales
, and is always on the Friday afternoon of Eisteddfod week.
A new bardic chair is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod, and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for poetry written in a strict metre.
The National Eisteddfod ceremony is presided over by the Archdruid
, who reads the judges' comments before announcing the identity of the bard, using only the bardic name
of the winner. Up to this point, no one knows the true identity of the bard, who is asked to stand and is then escorted to the stage. Local children perform a dance to honour the new bard.
Winning the "double" of bardic chair and crown
at the same eisteddfod is a feat that has only been performed a handful of times in the history of the eisteddfod. Alan Llwyd
and Donald Evans
have each performed the double twice.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
eisteddfod tradition. The most famous chairing ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
, and is always on the Friday afternoon of Eisteddfod week.
A new bardic chair is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod, and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for poetry written in a strict metre.
The National Eisteddfod ceremony is presided over by the Archdruid
Archdruid
The Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
, who reads the judges' comments before announcing the identity of the bard, using only the bardic name
Bardic name
A bardic name is a pseudonym, used in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement....
of the winner. Up to this point, no one knows the true identity of the bard, who is asked to stand and is then escorted to the stage. Local children perform a dance to honour the new bard.
Winning the "double" of bardic chair and crown
Crowning of the Bard
The Crowning of the Bard is one of the most important events in an eisteddfod. The most famous such ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is always on the Tuesday afternoon of Eisteddfod week....
at the same eisteddfod is a feat that has only been performed a handful of times in the history of the eisteddfod. Alan Llwyd
Alan Llwyd
Alan Llwyd , original name Alan Lloyd Roberts, is a Welsh poet, literary critic and editor, one of the most prolific Welsh-language poets in the last quarter of the 20th century....
and Donald Evans
Donald Evans (Welsh poet)
Donald Evans is a Welsh poet, who writes in the Welsh language.Evans comes from Talgarreg in Ceredigion. Between 1966 and 1972 he produced the periodical Y Cardi. He won the "double" of crown and chair twice, once at the 1977 National Eisteddfod of Wales and again in 1980. In 2006 he was awarded...
have each performed the double twice.