Alun Cairns congratulates the Urdd National Eisteddfod on another successful event
Alun Cairns: "Urdd is nurturing the talents of our young people"
Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns today congratulated the Urdd National Eisteddfod on another successful event and emphasised the organisation’s role in nurturing young talent in Wales and putting Welsh culture on the map.
The Urdd Eisteddfod, which was this year held in Llancaiach Fawr, Caerphilly and draws to a close today, is among Europe’s largest youth touring festivals. Over 15,000 children and young people compete in it annually with many thousands more coming as visitors.
Mr Cairns said:
We are a nation known for our singing, dancing, performing and poetry and the Urdd plays no small part in nurturing the talents of our young people. Many of our performers started out treading the boards at the Urdd.
The Urdd Eisteddfod offers a vibrant and natural opportunity for young people to enjoy using their Welsh in a fun environment. It is particularly hear-warming when this celebration of Welsh culture thrives in a traditionally non-Welsh-speaking area like Caerphilly.
What’s more, the local economy will have received a boost from holding the event so its advantages are economic as well as cultural.
Congratulations to all this year’s competitors. We will in time be seeing many of them performing on the world stage.