Pobl sy'n gwneud Eisteddfod

• Posted by Eryl Crump at 7:24 AM | add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dywedodd Elfed Roberts, prif weithredwr y Eisteddfod, fod angen arian, safle a pobl i sicrhau Eisteddfod lwyddiannus.

Heb safle, meddai, does dim posib cynnal yr wyl. Does dim diben chwilio am Faes heb arian ond yn fwy na dim rhaid cael pobl. I drefnu ac i ymweld.

Hyd yn hyn mae Eisteddfod Caerdydd wedi bod yn hynod llwyddianus, yn denu dros 50,000 o ymwelwyr i'r Maes, llawer ohonynt yn Gymry di-Gymraeg lleol. Mae na rai sydd wedi dod draw i weld be sy'n digwydd ond mae na fwy yn dod draw am reswm. Maent wedi mynd ati i ddysgu'r iaith neu mae ganddynt berthyn neu gyfaill sy'n cystadlu neu cymeryd rhan.

Rydym wedi dod dipyn o ffordd mewn byr amser. Dwi'n cofio gofio i lanc ifanc yn ardal Bute be oedd yn mynd ymlaen yng Nghanolfan y Mileniwm yn ystod Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn 2005. "Dunno," meddai, yn cymeryd drag ar ei smoc, "symmin Welsh innit."

Er fod elfen o hynny'n parhau mae'r bobl rwyf wedi siared a hwy yng nghanol y ddinas yn gwybod mwy am yr Wyl hon.

Ond mae na fobl ddiddorol eraill hefyd.Dyna chi Gabriel Restucha. Maer tref y Gaiman. Tref Gymreica y Wladfa. Daw ei enw o dras Eidalaidd ond mae gwreiddiau ei deulu yn ddwn yng nghymoedd y De ac yn ysblander Meirionydd. Er nad oedd Cymraeg ar ei aelwyd cymerodd ddiddordeb yn yr iaith ac bellach mae'n rhugl. Mae'n codi cywilydd ar nifer o gynghorwyr sy'n credu mai ond yn Seasneg gallent gyflwyno pwyntiau pwysig yn y siambr. Yn wir mae Gabriel yn codi cywilydd ar nifer fawr of Gymry Cymraeg gyda glowder ei iaith.

Mae draw yng Ngaerdydd i annerch cydeithas Cymru-Ariannin dydd Iau. Gwerth fynd draw i babell y cymdeithasau i'w glywed.

Cymeriad arall yw T Elwyn Griffiths, Caernarfon. Mae ganddo record anhygoel. Ers 60 o flynyddoedd dydio ddim wedi colli'r un Eisteddfod. Yn fwy na hynny mae wedi bod ar Faes y Brifwyl bod dydd. Ewadd.

Ac yn dilyn y stori ddoe bod banc lleol wedi anghofio rhoi pres yn y peiriant twll yn y wal cefais wybod fod rhywn wedi anghofio sicrhau cyflenwad dwr i babell Eglwys y Bedyddwyr mewn prifwyl flaenorol ac yn fwy diweddar bod y cyflenwad trydan wedi methu ym mhabell cwmni sy'n cynhyrchu trydan gyda melinau gwyn.

Teething problems

• Posted by Eryl Crump at 7:25 AM | add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It wouldn't be an Eisteddfod without some teething problems at the start of the week and the 2008 festival was no exception.

But Elfed Roberts and his group of officials have not faced the same barrage - or should that be flood - of problems that have befallen them in the past.

Although it rained in the few days leading up to the Eisteddfod the Maes has held up remarkably well. Being so close to the River Taff, which is also prone to flood, must have been a worry at the back of Elfed and Hywel's minds bearing in mind last year's difficulties in Mold.

Traffic problems won't be a problem this year either. Parking is on a park and ride basis and many of those enjoying the sunshine this weekend will have been able to walk to the Maes from the city centre anyway. Some people, being typical Eisteddfod types, did complain about the distance from the city centre itself. Its a 20-minute walk to the nearest department store Mrs Jones - you'll save money once you get there so get the bus or a taxi!

Golf buggys are available to take people to the main gate anyway. But apparently these buggys, provided by S4C, are personalities themselves and children in particular are keen to ride them. So on Saturday there was a shortage of buggy places available for the more needy due to their popularity among the young. I don't think Elfed is going to insist on a doctor's note but only the more deserving will be carried in now by buggy.

Then there was the entrance itself. New fangled turnstile have been installed where you have to scan your ticket to get in. Gone are the days of the ticket being ripped in half. Well almost. Gate 2's electronic systme didn't work on Saturday so a solution was found. Although the IT man was spotted carrying a large hammer earlier it is believed he used a more subtle approach to solving the problem.

And then there's the media room. Bristling with satellite interweb technology none of the hacks and photographers could get to grips with its hyperfast use of the information super highway. We're not back to the old style of pencil and paper yet but I'm using the back-up to the back-up system at the moment.

And there was the biggest teething problem of all. The Eisteddfod, responding to previous criticism about the lack of financial facilities on the Maes, did something about it. In olden days you could cash a cheque, chat the tellers up and have a cup of tea on the Maes. But that went out years ago in the banks relentless drive for cash. Elfed and his team persuaded a leading local bank to install cash machines this year. But someone at the bank forgot that cash machines work best when there is cash in them. It was midday Sunday before that little teething problem was sorted out.

Oh and before I forget there was a musical group from somewhere in North Wales that set off for Cardiff on Saturday. Then had to turn back because one of the musicians had forgotten his instrument. Alls well that ends well - they got onto the stage and secured a prize.

Eisteddfod Genedlaeth Caerdydd a'r Cylch 2008

• Posted by Eryl Crump at 3:28 PM | add or read comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dydi amser yn gwibio. Fedrai ddim coelio fod na 30 o flynyddoedd wedi mynd heibio ers i Brifwyl Cymru ymweld a'r Brifddinas. Ond mae'n wir ac mae'r hwyl wedi dechrau.

Ar ddiwrnod braf o haf mae strydoedd y ddinas yn orlawn o fobl a burlwm y ddinas tu allan i fy ffenestr. Mae gwesty'r Daily Post eleni cyn agosed a sydd posib i fod i'r Maes felly fe fyddwn yn rhan o'r bwrlwm hwnnw.

Yn ystod yr wythnos nesaf fe fydd yr ebillion hyn yn ogystal a'r papur newydd a'r wefan - www.dailypost.co.uk - yn dod a newyddion prif ddigwyddiadau'r Eisteddfod - a chyn gymaint o'r digwyddiadau eraill sy'n bosibl sgwennu amdanynt - i chi'r darllenwr.

Cofiwch ddanfon neges os ydych yn dymuno - ond plis, dim yr hysbysebion a ffisig a thablets!