As an organisation passionate about offering Welsh-medium education to every child in Wales, Mudiad Meithrin hosted a procession on Sunday 4th August at the National Eisteddfod field in Pontypridd to celebrate Welsh-medium education at Cylchoedd Meithrin (Welsh-medium playgroups) in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, Mudiad Meithrin’s Chief Executive said:
“We were delighted to announce that Martyn Geraint would be leading the Ponty Parade which was a special procession by children and their families who attend our local Cylchoedd Meithrin to celebrate the growth of Welsh-medium education in Rhondda Cynon Taf.”
A special competition was held for the area’s Cylchoedd Meithrin to create large banners to promote their individual childcare settings (thanks to money donated to the Mudiad’s work in memory of the late Carol Williams, Pentyrch). Eighteen colourful banners arrived at Mudiad Meithrin’s Cardiff office recently and were judged by Helen Prosser, Chair of the Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod Executive Committee and Osian Rowlands, Chief Executive of Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The judges announced the winners as the Parade arrived at the main open-air stage at the National Eisteddfod field on Sunday and Penri Williams (widow of Carol Williams) presented the prizes to the top 3 Cylchoedd Meithrin. Congratulations to the Cylchoedd who reached the final. In first place was Cylch Meithrin Evan James, Cylch Meithrin Ferndale in second and in third place was Cylch Meithrin Cwm Elai.
Ann Angell, Regional Manager for South-east Wales said:
“Staff at Mudiad Meithrin and the Cylchoedd Meithrin in Rhondda Cynon Taf have been working hard to create banners for this special competition. We would like to say a huge thank you to the cylchoedd for their hard work preparing the banners and to everyone who came to be part of the Parade, this was months of work promoting and delivering timely messages about the importance of Welsh language education and our culture to the parents.”
Ann added:
“There was around 200 children and their families taking part to celebrate Welsh-medium education in the area in the parade and we had an amazing time celebrating Welsh Education in the county with the Cymraeg for Kids Group, Cylch Ti a Fi, Cylch Meithrin and day nurseries joining us.”
The parade culminated at the Maes Stage where popular children’s entertainer Martyn Geraint presented a live children’s show to entertain the children and their families.
