The Eisteddfod shows that industrious, talented Welsh are capable of anything

Very well said. A pity the BBC does not say something similar.

Excellent - I hope this article reaches as wide an audience as possible ! Ardderchog Ifan.

But isn't the Eisteddfod, white, elitist and middle class? I understand fully why you would want to big it up in this way and I commend you for that with the language under attack from Sports Direct, the Guardian, the Times and BBC Newsnight et al. However my big beef with the Eisteddfod is that they never offer reductions or concessions to the Unemployed! It's as if there are no Welsh Speakers who are unemployed. What was it to get in this year? £20.00. How many people from the less well off Welsh Speaking Council Estates like Sgubor Goch or Maesgeirchen attended? Ymddiheuriadau for the dissent in the ranks! Despite the 'waxing lyrical' the Eisteddfod is still essentially about Competition! Who comes first, who comes second and who comes last! The Eisteddfod spirit all year round, great! But one week of the year is like re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic in my humble opinion.

It amazes me that we haven't tried to get UNESCO protection for our Eisteddfod. It's is as important and possibly even more influential than any of these on the list https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists

Cytuno a pob dim onibai y sylw am ein cyn-dadau - angen ychwanegu ein cyn-mamau hefyd. Agree with all except would add our fore-mothers too

Love the article, it is optimistic and encouraging as a positive statement about our culture. In response to a rather sad and bitter sounding (not saying you are, okay) RBT, I have been to many, it is not white elitist etc., etc., blah, blah, blah! Yes we do live in a country that due to weather conditions we are more towards the paler end of the colour spectrum than if we were raised in sunnier climes. However, the various communities that exist within Cymru are fairly well represented, all are welcome, but at the end of the day it is up to them if they want to join in this national event. As for it being a competition, well yes didn't you realise that?! I have family members from differing parts of our country that have taken part, most of which are from working class areas. They weren't born with some Anglo-British silver spoon in their mouths. They worked darn hard to appear at this event over the years and still do. The winning is nothing to actually taking part. When I hear adults and kids saying we performed at the Eisteddfod they don't care whether they came first, second or third, nor last - taking part in the whole thing from begining to end, over months, is all that matters. You raised a good point about poor areas being unable to go however, they can if they take part! There are means for funding such competitions from beginning to end. Those that cannot should approach the organisers and see how they can make it accessbile to those of lower incomes (where most of us are these days!). Don't just moan, put your mind to more constructive things. Dialogue is good, but the mind is like a parachute, useless unless it is open, to all manner of possibilities!

The article is 'remarkably' optimistic and encouraging as a positive statement about our culture but 20.00 quid is 20 quid. Sorry if that sounds like moaning!

Maes Tickets Price Adult £20.00 Pensioner £18.00 Children 5-15 yrs £8.00 Unless you are a well off member of the paler end of the colour spectrum you are going to find it quite hard to get the £18.00 together from the State Pension. Somebody less patronising than 'Dai Devon' please answer my question as to why there are no concessions for the unemployed?

I was hoping for a less patronising response than from Dai Devon but who knows 'Capitalist & Welshnash' might be one and the same. The problem with trying to remain anonymous I suppose.

The article encapsulates the vibrancy and dynamism of this year's Eisteddfod. The author is right to say these elements show what this nation is capable of. We truly could be the best small country in the world if we put our minds to it. However, RBT is also right to highlight the Eisteddfod's big blind spot: it's apparent unwillingness to acknowledge the realities of life for many ordinary Welsh speakers today. £20.00 IS a lot of money to be able to access your own culture. Ynys Mon is one of the poorest areas in Wales, but there was no effort made to try and make the Eisteddfod more accessible to those on low incomes here and unemployed people. Personally, i would like the Eisteddfod to become less driven by corporate interests, and a need to become bigger and grander each year. The fact that the nuclear company Horizon donated so much money to the Eisteddfod+ were allowed to fly their own banners, replicated the exact Eisteddfod colours was very worrying and sinister. Rather than pleasing such corporate interests, the Eisteddfod really has to think about concessionary rates to make the event more inclusive for all.

The Eisteddfod is once a year and a fabulous event. It is not cheap, but even when you've paid £20 to get in you still need to pay for travel, money to buy the lovely crafts on offer, food etc. It is similar in cost to The Royal Welsh, which is another fabulous event (and costly but possibly allowing concessions, I can't remember) Here are my tips to getting in. Save 50p per week in advance,(yes that only pays for 1 ticket plus a cuppa!), only go once every other year when it's closest to you, see if you can volunteer and thus get in free. (You can do so at the RW and I got into the Eisteddfod by helping out on a stand.) I cannot answer your question regarding lack of concessions but the cost of a family chinese takeaway is all it is for one ticket in reality and for such a great day get a jar and start saving 50p pieces.

STRONGLY AGREE...cytuno'n llwyr.................there MUST be concessions for the unemployed or less well off working families...WE MUST RECRUIT THEM INTO THE FOLD

Gwych! Fantastic article. The spirit of optmism and belonging was evident as soon as you walked onto the Maes and we should harness this spirit. It was a very emotional experience for me as it was something I have watched from a far all my life but it was the first time I'd ever been to the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol and it really didn't disappoint. The sense that this was my heritage and my culture was overwhelming. However I was very saddened to hear from more than one family and pensioner in the area that they would have loved to go but couldn't afford to go with their family. This is tragic when it is on your doorstep. The Eisteddfod does need to address this if they are to be fully inclusive. We are all pobl y werin. This is our shared culture and something that should be assessible for all.

The article is fantastic but I don't think it actually applies to non-Welsh speaking Wales. Apparently Welsh speakers voted Remain and non-Welsh speakers mostly didn't. I'm not saying that is the be all and end all, but Cymru Cymraeg is a different political and cultural entity now. I think it's definitely becoming more confident and industrious.

"All the entertainers need paying" Diolch, at last a representative of the Eisteddfod! "Which part would you want to see cut so you can have your ‘cheaper’ tickets?" Again this patronising attitude, oh diar! Perhaps you might also have a run down of all the salaries of the Eisteddfod staff while you are at it, starting at the top and trickling down?

Hey RBT thanks for the entertainment and although I can't really disagree with the cause, just your version of it, it is entertaining! Lol!