Wales Office Minister visits Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
Lord Bourne hailed the enormous cultural and economic contribution of the International Musical Eisteddfod.
During a day at the festival, which has hosted some of the biggest names in international classical music over the years, he praised the organisers for their hard work and commitment to using the festival to promote Wales to the world. Lord Bourne also welcomed the efforts being made to broaden the appeal of the Eisteddfod and attract visitors from cities in the North West England.
As well as touring the festival site and seeing some of the entertainment on the outside stages, Lord Bourne attended a performance of ‘As One’ - part of the International Eisteddfod’s Inclusion Project - and the children’s Folk Song Choir competition. This included competitors from England, Wales, Australian, Trinidad & Tobago, Germany and Indonesia.
Lord Bourne said:
For seventy years, Llangollen has hosted one of the most exciting and ambitious international music festivals in the UK. Artists including Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti and Montserrat Caballé have all helped to put North Wales on the map and market our country to the world.
I am delighted that the Eisteddfod continues to grow and hope that the organisers’ ambition to attract visitors from the Northern English cities helps to reinforce the close links between Liverpool, Manchester and North Wales.
I am confident that this year’s event will build on the Eisteddfod’s international reputation and we can continue to use it, and similar events, to promote Wales across the globe.
Lord Bourne also visited Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to meet Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales to hear about their excellent work attracting tourists from across the world to the waterways in Wales.