Had a grand day out at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Llantwd, near Cardigan, on Friday. Here is Inger perched next to one of the standing stones in the Gorsedd Circle -- in the maes or large open area where assorted ceremonials are conducted.
The Gorsedd Circle is a profound disappointment! I am greatly saddened. I had expected something grandly spectacular, but what we found was a rather feeble circle of 12 stones, each one just over a metre tall, all made of fibreglass and some sort of modern resin -- and all given a garish blue colour. Well, the Eisteddfod was branded as "Eisteddfod y Garreg Las" -- the bluestone eisteddfod. On doing a bit of research, I discovered that the pseudo "stones" are used every year at the eisteddfod, in the centre of whatever location might have been chosen.
The artificial stones are expected to have a life of about 50 years, and they were first used in 2004. This was done initially to reduce the cost of installation (and removal, if the stones are put up on farmland) but of course it is argued that it would not be a good idea to plunder the natural stone resources of protected areas such as Mynydd Preseli........ and that is fair enough. So there are no modern bluestone quarries, much to the disappointment of the bluestone quarry hunters...... and if it comes to that, no pieces of terrain from which bluestone erratics have been collected up and carted away by the eisteddfod faithful.
To make matters more confusing, there is actually a modern stone circle associated with the Llantwd Eisteddfod, but that is in Narberth, many miles away in mid-Pembrokeshire. That was built in 2025, for the proclamation of the eisteddfod -- which has to be done, according to an invented tradition, at least a year and a day prior to the esteddfod itself.
And to make matters even more confusing, there is a Gorsedd Circle in Cardigan, close to the Netpool, which comes up accidentally on Google searches -- but that circle relates to the Cardigan eisteddfod of 1976 -- and it has nothing at all to do with 2026.
By the way, the stones are supposed to be "unhewn" -- ie unquarried, but collected up in their natural state from the litter of erratic rocks occuring in the landscape. Where did that rule come from? Was there maybe a geomorphologist in some early Eisteddfodd Gorsedd of Bards who insisted on respect for natural processes?
The symbolism of the Gorsedd Circle? Well, there are supposed to be 11 equally spaced stones in the circle, and one additional outlier or inlier creating an alignment to the midsummer solstice. In the centre of the circle there has to be a larger recumbent stone referred to as the Altar Stone. It can be seen near the right hand edge of the photo, with handy handrail. As far as I can gather, the practice of sacrificing virgins was given up some years ago, out of deference to local sensibilities.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your day out. I was tempted to come, being currently inspired by having a relation who was once Archdruid. The decision to have fake bluestones should be applauded. Imagine when everybody is encouraged to visit the hills with a digger and collect their own stones!
ReplyDeleteFrom what I hear it is a splendid event. I hope your contribution was well received?
We were very impressed by the atmosphere of the whole event, and the organization was immaculate. My article on the BBC web site has had some kind comments. My talk on Cnapan was not very well attended, but it did coincide with the Chairing of the bard at the eisteddfod, a jazz concert in Newport and a longboat rowing regatta out in the bay. But we had a fun evening anyway....
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