Bardd Plant Cymru – Children’s Poet Laureate

Ifor ap Glyn named Bardd Plant Cymru 2008-9

In a ceremony on the main stage at the Eisteddfod yr Urdd in Llandudno on Tuesday 27 May, Ifor ap Glyn was named as the Children’s Poet Laureate - Bardd Plant Cymru - for 2008-09.  Following Caryl Parry Jones’ incredibly succesful year in the post, Ifor will take over the task of inspiring children across Wales to write poetry.

Ifor is a well-known poet and performer on the Welsh poetry scene.  He was born and brought up in London, and he now lives in Caernarfon.  A great believer in the oral tradition of poetry, Ifor has taken part in many popular literary tours across Wales, including Fel yr Hed y Frân (1986), Cicio’r Ciwcymbars (1988), Dal Clêr (1993), Bol a Chyfri Banc (1995-6) and Taith y Saith Sant (2002).  His work has also been published in the following collections: Holl Garthion Pen Cymro Ynghyd (Y Lolfa, 1991); Bol a Chyfri Banc (with Myrddin ap Dafydd and Iwan Llwyd, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1995) and Cerddi Map yr Underground (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 2001).

Ifor will be visiting schools and youth groups across Wales during the year.  If your school is interested in inviting Ifor for a poetry workshop, contact barddplant@academi.org as soon as possible.  Workshops, which are held in Welsh, are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The Bardd Plant Cymru project is a collaboration between the Urdd, S4C, the Welsh Books Council and Academi.  As well as Ifor and Caryl, the poets who have accepted the role in the past are Gwyneth Glyn, Mererid Hopwood, Tudur Dylan Jones, Ceri Wyn Jones, Menna Elfyn, Mei Mac a Myrddin ap Dafydd.