Eisteddfod what a load of shit ?

[Paul Durden]

Why does the bloke in the white dress pull out his sword, then ask the audience is there peace in Wales, then without listening to a soul or even the mood of the moment pushes it back in it's sheath....will somebody please tell the deaf old git there is not peace in Wales. He must also be blind the poor out of touch bugger. How much longer do we have to put up with these brown noseing jobsworth's, please give us a break, wake up, get real, stop living in a dream pagent, You got a chance of being totaly honest for once in your lives before you just sink into that great ocean of meadeocraty...sorry about the spelling, I put it down to my Welsh education, still never mind egh.

[Gareth Williams]

Isn't being Welsh seen as equal to being from any other country already?
On Wikipedia
The English name "Wales" originates from the Germanic word Walh or Waelisc, which referred to foreigners who had been "Romanised". Waelisc also provides the source of English word Welsh. As the terms Walh or Waelisc were not used by Germanic speakers to describe their eastern neighbours, it would have had a meaning that was more than just "foreigner".

[Gareth Williams]

But Cymru/Cymry
On Wikipedia
The word Cymry is believed to be derived from the Brythonic combrogi, meaning fellow-countrymen,[26] and thus Cymru carries a sense of "land of fellow-countrymen", "our country"- and, of course, notions of fraternity.

[susanne mcguire schultz]

I may be a dum or unenlightened American but what is Left Coast?

[Ceri Shaw]

I take the phrase to refer to the West Coast of North America. It's on the left hand side as you look at the map ( unless of course the map is upside down )

[Anne and Geoff]

So..it's "pretty, shitty eisteddfodi" now which makes a change from Paul Durden's previous take on the Dylan Thomas phrase "ugly, lovely town" (Twin Towns - an unfortunate but funny tale of the real Swansea - worth watching).

Good to see such a wealth of comments but most miss the point that Paul was making and only Ian Price seems to have grasped that the jobsworths in white robes is a made up Welsh tradition.

If you want something that celebrates Welsh culture at street level with no swords but plenty of fun then come along to Dylan Down the Ups - a celebration of Dylan Thomas' 95th birthday anniversary in the Uplands, Swansea on 27th October.

More information on the website and for hotel offers come and stay at Swansea's own White House

[Ceri Shaw]

May be over there next year around about October time....in which case I'll check it out. Meanwhile is it on the events page for this year? If not send us some details and we'll put it on and feature it.

[Paul Durden]

Pretty, Shitty, City, was not my take on a Dylan Thomas phrase. It was my winning entry to the Marks and Spencer competition during Swanseas year of literiture about 14 years ago thank you very much...A phrase that I think Dylan Thomas would have wished he had dreamt up...Oh how I love the smell of pencil lead drifting over the horizon ?

[mona everett]

Is that what that smell is? And here I thought it was coming from the direction of The Three-Word Story Forum.....

Eisteddfodau am byth! Yn Nghymraeg, gyda y dderwydd!

[Paul Durden]

The Three Word Story Forum, takes up two words to many for the likes of little old me, please try from the bottom of your heart, or the heart of your bottom to be a bit more brief in the word dept. i.e Three Words.
As Samuel Becket once said " All we Have left is Words" anyrate "Nos Tar" "Ta Tar" "Yachie Dar"
" Viva La Nokia" " I Was Born Under a Wondering Star" "Point Me in the Direction of the Free Bar" ..............

[Howard Evans]

I was privileged to attend the National Eisteddfod this year and came away feeling proud to be Welsh. I don't speak a word of the language, but I came to understand the culture that separates the Welsh from the other inhabitants of the island. The ceremony is just that, not the essence of the Eisteddfod. The ceremonies are conducted to honor those who contribute significantly to the preservation of a heritage thought lost.

I was especially awed by the denial of the Chair. In today's world we honor mediocrity which lowers standards and expectations. I again feel proud to be Welsh.

I met many native Welsh who were so anxious to share and explain the experience. I was completely blown away by this as my recollection was of a people who were pretty difficult to know. We met some "life-long" friends there and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

[David W Thomas]

and, your point is Paul?

[Ceri Shaw]

Song, let them take it,
For there's more enterprise
In walking naked. ?