PLAID CYMRU PLEDGE TO ENSURE EISTEDDFOD CAN BE ENJOYED BY ALL

Plaid Cymru have today (Friday 30 May 2025) pledged to ensure that free access to low-income families continues to Urdd Gobaith Cymru’s annual cultural festival, Eisteddfod yr Urdd. 

This year’s Eisteddfod yr Urdd has seen a record-breaking 119,593 registrations and a 42% rise in the number of competitors that are Welsh learners. 

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on the Welsh language and culture, Heledd Fychan MS, said that the number of competitors in the festival shows the importance of the Urdd in supporting the use of Welsh outside of the classroom and developing the confidence of new speakers of the language. 

The Plaid Cymru MS said that her party are fully committed to supporting Urdd Gobaith Cymru in the work that they do, and that a Plaid Cymru government in 2026 would do exactly that.  

Heledd Fychan continued by saying that Plaid Cymru’s pledge to ensure free access to low-income families continues means that everyone will have access to the Welsh language and Welsh culture. 

Plaid Cymru spokesperson on the Welsh language and culture, Heledd Fychan MS said: 

“The importance of Eisteddfod yr Urdd to the Welsh language and culture cannot be understated. The festival supports young people from across Wales to immerse themselves in the Welsh language and develop their language skills. 

“Eisteddfod yr Urdd has always, and continues to, play a prominent role in increasing not only the numbers of Welsh speakers but increasing the daily use of Welsh. That is why a Plaid Cymru Government will ensure that the Eisteddfod can be enjoyed by all, by supporting free access to families from low-income backgrounds. 

“Plaid Cymru remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting and growing the Welsh language, and the work undertaken by the Urdd is central to that vision. Free entry for low-income families to Eisteddfod yr Urdd is something we have long campaigned for and would be funded by a future Plaid Cymru government.”