A festival of activities to celebrate football and culture

Following the Wales football team’s spirit in the World Cup, Theatr Felinfach and Cered: Menter Iaith Ceredigion, together with other partners, held a series of events across Ceredigion to celebrate Wales, the language, the culture and the Red Wall.

Steffan Rees, Cered: Menter Iaith Ceredigion Team Leader, said: “The aim of the festival and the various activities was to be accessible to everyone in suitable, warm locations, and where possible and appropriate, within walking distance to members of the local community or on public transport routes.”

The first event held was the ‘Ffotos Ffwti’ workshops on the 20 November in Llanddewi Brefi with the photographer Owen Pedr Edwards. The training taught the members how to capture the spirit of the community in a football game on camera. The attendees then had the opportunity to take pictures of the Dewi Stars football game against Ffostrasol.

‘Ffotos Fwti’ will be held again before the Aberystwyth women’s match against The New Saints on the 04 December. It is also planned to hold two sessions with an artist and members of two communities to contribute ideas to create a mural to interpret the spirit of playing together.

To celebrate Wales’ opening game in the World Cup against the United States, a live episode of ‘Cefn y Rhwyd’ (Back of the Net) was recorded from Tafarn y Vale in Felinfach by presenters Rhodri Francis and Steffan Rees. Desperate to give their opinion were three football experts in the area, which were Rhodri Jones and Eilir Evans from Felinfach Football Club and Arwel Jones from Tregaron Turfs Football Club. There was a lot of fun and interesting discussions during the programme and it’s possible to listen back on Aeron360.

A bus full of enthusiastic members of Ysgol Berfformio Theatr Felinfach travelled to the astro turf in Lampeter to scrutinise the movements and skills of Felinfach football team. After this a dance was created from the movements that will be part of their show during the Easter holidays.

A brilliant night of singing and rejoicing was had at the Halfway Inn in Pisgah with Meibion y Mynydd and Steffan Rees entertaining the audience on 25 November. Another night was then held with Steffan Rees, his guitar and his companions at the Ship and Castle, Aberystwyth before the Wales v England game.

A fun evening of ‘Y Vale, y bêl a’r beirdd’ was held in Tafarn y Vale, Felinfach with the poets Ceri Wyn Jones, Idris Reynolds, Hywel Griffiths and Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan.

Dwynwen Lloyd Llywelyn, Head of Theatr Felinfach, said: “Holding such a festival was an opportunity to celebrate the Wales football team’s achievement, but also celebrate the community, playing together and to promote a sense of belonging and well-being for participants, audiences and artists.”

Catrin M. S. Davies, Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, said: “I hope everyone has enjoyed the events organised and experienced a bit of the thrill of following football, of socialising in Welsh, and taking on the cultural activities of the Cardis.

Our football team’s campaign has been one that has motivated and inspired us as a whole nation and all the various activities organised in Ceredigion are a reflection of our joy at sharing the journey of the squad. But more important is the legacy of that journey as the team raised our confidence as a nation, strengthened in us pride in our Welshness, and gained respect for our language and diverse cultures.”

You can find more information on upcoming events by following Cered: Menter Iaith Ceredigion and Theatr Felinfach on social media.