Mererid Hopwood is Professor in the Department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University. She has won the Chair, the Crown and the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod. Her most recent publication is a volume of poems, Mae (Barddas Publications, 2025). She has been Bardd Plant Cymru and has published poems and novels for children. She has enjoyed numerous opportunities to discuss literature in societies and classes throughout Wales, sometimes venturing to take part in literary festivals abroad. She takes part in the Welsh-language poetry competition Y Talwrn and is a member of the Carmarthen School of Poetry. She was also a Bardic Professor for Literature Wales’ Pencerdd programme to nurture new voices in the world of the ancient art of cynganeddu. She received the Glyndŵr Medal, the Prime Minister's Saint David Medal and the Hay Festival Medal for her contribution to literature. She is the current Archdruid and Secretary of the Welsh Peace Academy.
Welsh-language Course: Cynganeddu
This course is now fully booked. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list for any cancellations, please contact us on 01766 522 811 / tynewydd@literaturewales.org
This is a Welsh-language course looking at the ancient craft of the cynghanedd. Click through to the Welsh side of the website for more details. We encourage those who are learning Welsh to a higher level, or those who have lost confidence in their Welsh skills but are looking to get back into it, to join us on these Welsh-language courses – where you will be met by encouragement and support. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss the suitability of these courses for you.
Tutors
Mererid Hopwood
Ceri Wyn Jones
Ceri Wyn Jones is from Cardigan and has won the Chair of the National Eisteddfod twice, along with the Crown, and is the esteemed Meuryn, presenter and judge of BBC Radio Cymru's popular Y Talwrn series. He has been Bardd Plant Cymru (Welsh-language Children’s Laureate) and has published volumes of poetry for children and adults. Having pursued a career as an English teacher and subsequently as a book editor, he now freelances as a writer, broadcaster, editor and creative writing tutor. He has held cyngangeddu classes in Cardigan for over fifteen years and has tutored courses at Tŷ Newydd many times in the past.
Guest Reader
Carwyn Eckley
Carwyn Eckley hails from Pen-y-groes, Dyffryn Nantlle. He lives in Cardiff where he works as a journalist with ITV Cymru's Welsh Department, which produces Y Byd ar Bedwar and Y Byd y ei Le. His interest in literature was ignited when his mother gave him a copy of Harry Potter as a very young boy, before becoming interested in Welsh poetry at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle. He studied Professional Welsh at Aberystwyth University and learnt cynghanedd with Eurig Salisbury. He won the Eisteddfod Rhyng-golegol Chair during his third year, before winning the Urdd Chair in 2020-21. He is a member of the Caernarfon Talwrn y Beirdd team, Dros yr Aber and they’ve won the series four times. Carwyn won the Bardid Chair at Eisteddfod Rhondda Cynon Taf 2024.