Campaigners say Ffestiniog’s heritage and culture can create a brighter future

Ffestiniog’s rich heritage can help boost the local economy and culture.

That’s the message from Nabod Ffestiniog, which is being organised by YesCymru Bro Ffestiniog, to promote the cause of Welsh independence.

The free event, which will take place at the end of this month, is part of the Nabod Cymru series being organised by the pro-independence group YesCymru, across Wales, will feature live music, guided tours, speeches and panel discussions.

According to one of the event organisers, Hefin Jones, the example of the enthusiastic adoption of the social enterprise model in the area can act as an “inspiration” to other communities in Wales.

The event will kick off on Friday, September 27 at 7 pm with the Noson Caban, which is being held at Cellb in the centre of Blaenau Ffestiniog and will feature a talk with Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts and a performance by the  local singer-songwriter Gai Toms.

Saturday, September 28, the following morning will begin with a breakfast at Caffi Llyn (Lakeside Café) in Tanygrisiau, which will run from 8:30 am to 10:00 am.

Eventgoers will then have two guided tours to choose from, each of which will start from the café at 10:00 am.

One is a walking tour that will take participants to Llyn Cwmorthin and the remains of the Cwmorthin slate quarry.

The other tour, for which there are 15 spaces, will take participants in 3 cars to the popular Antur Stiniog bike park, a non-profit social enterprise which has a number of sites throughout the area.

At 2 pm a discussion between local writers will be held at the Siop Lyfrau’r Hen Bost bookshop in Blaenau Ffestiniog where Dewi Prysor and an other writer to be confirmed will discuss their work.

Then at 4 pm a panel discussion on independence chaired by Cadi Dafydd, a journalist with the Welsh language news organisation Golwg360 will take place at the Tŷ Coffi Antur Stiniog cafe in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The discussion will feature Mererid Boswell, from the Melin Drafod think tank, Plaid Cymru MS Mabon ap Gwynfor, Cllr Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn and former YesCymru Director Gaynor Jones.

In the evening from 8:30 pm, an open mic night led by the Accordions for Independence group will be held at Gwesty Pengwern a community-owned hotel in Llan Ffestiniog.

Hefin Jones of YesCymru Bro Ffestiniog said: “YesCymru Bro Ffestiniog’s members are looking forward to welcoming people from across the country to the Nabod Cymru weekend.

“We have several exciting events planned which include guided tours, panel discussions, and live music.

“As we do this we will be drawing upon Ffestiniog’s rich heritage for inspiration. For example, on the Friday night, we’re hosting the Noson Caban, which will include a talk by Liz Saville Roberts MP and music from Gai Toms.

“The word caban is significant because back in the day, the slate workers who worked in this area would meet  for dinner in a hut that they called the caban.

“This is something that would happen in all of the quarries in the surrounding area. They would have an hour off for lunch where they would discuss politics and there would be singing.

“As well as a break and something social it was also a political and cultural forum. That’s why we’re calling the Friday night the caban.

“So we get someone to talk about politics and we get someone to sing. This is a new way of carrying on an old tradition.”

He added: “We’re hoping that people from all across Wales will come to Ffestiniog and it’s an opportunity for us all to discuss the independence movement and where we go in the future.

“This event is about honouring our heritage but it’s also about showing how what we’ve done in Ffestiniog to boost the local economy and promote our culture can act as an inspiration to others.

“Antur Stiniog is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by people in the local community coming together to create a social enterprise. It’s a hugely popular attraction.

“It brings money into the area and ensures that it is kept circulating in the local economy. It also plays an important role in supporting and promoting the Welsh language.

“Those who come on the guided tour will get to hear about how it started out as well as its ambitious plans for the future.

“We believe that this is a model that can used across Wales for the betterment of our communities.

“Nabod Ffestiniog is an opportunity for us to discuss the kind of Wales we want in the future and how we can get there.”

YesCymru Director Rob Hughes, added: “The response we had to our Nabod Cymru event recently in Merthyr was fantastic and we had exactly the atmosphere and experience that we were aiming for in Ffestiniog.

“I’m looking forward to visiting Blaenau in September a great deal to discuss independence and have a great time.

“On behalf of the board, I would to give to give a heartfelt thanks to all of those involved with YesCymru Bro Ffestiniog for agreeing to host the event in their area and I hope to see lots of people there.”