Selwyn Griffith
Encyclopedia
Selwyn Griffith was a Welsh language poet and the Archdruid
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
, known by the bardic name Selwyn Iolen.
Selwyn Iolen was born in Bethel
, near Caernarfon
in 1928 and lived in the area throughout his life. He was educated at Bethel Primary School and Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
, Caernarfon.
He worked as a local government officer for Gwyrfai Rural District Council for 18 years before pursuing a teacher training course at the Bangor Normal College
. After compleating his teacher training course he went on to teach in Ysgol Cadnant Conwy, Ysgol Penybryn Bethesda, Ysgol Llanberis, Ysgol Dolbadarn and as headteacher of Rhiwlas Primary School.
Selwyn Iolen won numerous local eisteddfod chairs across Wales and published seven volumes of poetic recitations for children, a collection of general poetic works C'narfon a Cherddi Eraill and an autobiography O Barc y Wern i Barc y Faenol He was elected a member of the Gorsedd
in 1973. He won the Dyffryn Conwy National Eisteddfod Crown in 1989 and served as Archdruid between 2005 and 2008, he also officiated as Archdruid at the 2009 Eisteddfod due to the illness of Archdruid Dic Jones
.
Archdruid
The Archdruid is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd.The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, The Award of the Prose Medal and Chairing of the Bard. From 1932 only former winners of the...
of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
, known by the bardic name Selwyn Iolen.
Selwyn Iolen was born in Bethel
Bethel, Gwynedd
Bethel is a village in Gwynedd, Wales. It lies east of Caernarfon on the B4366 road. Bethel Primary School is located in the village. The population of the village is roughly around 1,000 people.- Ysgol Gynradd Bethel :...
, near Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
in 1928 and lived in the area throughout his life. He was educated at Bethel Primary School and Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen is a secondary school located in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, North Wales. The school was opened in 1894 and is named after the educator Sir Hugh Owen....
, Caernarfon.
He worked as a local government officer for Gwyrfai Rural District Council for 18 years before pursuing a teacher training course at the Bangor Normal College
Bangor Normal College
The Normal College, Bangor was an independent teacher training college, founded in 1861 until 1996, when the College became part of University of Wales Bangor...
. After compleating his teacher training course he went on to teach in Ysgol Cadnant Conwy, Ysgol Penybryn Bethesda, Ysgol Llanberis, Ysgol Dolbadarn and as headteacher of Rhiwlas Primary School.
Selwyn Iolen won numerous local eisteddfod chairs across Wales and published seven volumes of poetic recitations for children, a collection of general poetic works C'narfon a Cherddi Eraill and an autobiography O Barc y Wern i Barc y Faenol He was elected a member of the Gorsedd
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
in 1973. He won the Dyffryn Conwy National Eisteddfod Crown in 1989 and served as Archdruid between 2005 and 2008, he also officiated as Archdruid at the 2009 Eisteddfod due to the illness of Archdruid Dic Jones
Dic Jones
Dic Jones , was a Welsh language poet and the Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.He was born Richard Lewis Jones at Tre'r-ddôl in Ceredigion. The son of a farmer, Jones himself farmed on at Fferm yr Hendre at Blaenannerch in Aberporth...
.
Works
- 2007: O Barc y Wern i Barc y Faenol
- 2000: Nesa i Adrodd...
- 1995: A Dyma'r Ola
- 1995: Mae Gen i Gân (with Leah Owen)
- 1992: Dewch i Adrodd Eto
- 1992: Dewch i Adrodd
- 1990: Pawb yn Barod?
- 1986: Llwyfan y Plant
- 1979: C'nafron a Cherddi Eraill
Reference
- Obituary from BBC WalesBBC WalesBBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
(in Welsh) - Obituary Golwg360Golwg360Golwg360 is a Welsh language news website. It aims to provide a rolling news service from Wales and abroad, as well as sport and cultural news...