Excitement As Eisteddfod Opener Draws Near

The National Eisteddfod in Wrexham launches this Friday with a performance from Wales' Three Tenors.

With only four days left till the start of the 2011 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham, the excitement around town is palpable.

The town centre and surrounding villages are clad with bunting and the giant pink tents at Lower Berse Farm, just off Ruthin Road, which will stage the annual event, are an impressive sight.

Opening the festival are Wales’ Three Tenors Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Alun Rhys-Jenkins who will perform on Friday evening at 8.00pm in the Pavilion.

The trio are also set to release their new album at the eisteddfod and will be performing a few numbers from the album on the opening night. A limited number of tickets are still available, and can be ordered online via www.eisteddfod.org.uk or by calling the ticket line on 0845 4090 800.

This year, as part of its hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations, the Eisteddfod will be collecting people’s memories of the event, and Alun Rhys-Jenkins is one man who has many to share, he said: “Winning the Towyn Roberts Scholarship was one of my Eisteddfod highlights and the three of us have all won this prize in turn. I’ve also got some less official memories as well, like camping on Maes B in my younger days, a real eye opener, but loads of fun!”.

Also at the event will be the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who is there to present an award to the winner of the People’s Choice on Saturday 6th August. The award celebrates the visual arts of fine art, craft, design and architecture.

The 2011 Wrexham and District National Eisteddfod Crown includes many local cultural such as the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the coal miner and steel worker statues as seen in the town centre. Also represented on the crown are places of education, churches, a commemoration of the Gresford Colliery disaster, the canal system and the Yew at Penley.

Eisteddfod organiser Hwyl Wyn Edwards said: “This is an important year for the National Eisteddfod as we celebrate 150 years in our current form. There’ll be elements of our celebrations running throughout the week, and we very much hope that everyone attending our concerts will enjoy themselves.”

For more information about the festival including how to buy tickets and how to get there please visit http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/content.php?nID=346