History of the Cymdeithas Madog Chair

At each Cymdeithas Madog Cwrs Cymraeg since Cwrs Cymraeg Wisconsin in 1988, Cymdeithas Madog has held a competition in Welsh language literature composition among the students attending the cwrs. The topic and form (e.g., poetry, prose, etc) are announced before the cwrs in order to give participants in the upper levels time to compose their entries. The entries are of an extremely high standard. In order to preserve fairness, each competitor signs her/his entry with a "ffug enw" or "bardic name". The best entry each year that meets Cymdeithas Madog's high standards (as judged by the Cwrs tutors) is awarded the prized Cymdeithas Madog chair.

One of the most important and eagerly anticipated moments at every National Eisteddfod in Wales in the awarding of the chair to the winning bard in the strict meter competition. The chair is always crafted by a local artisan and reflects local tradition. The Cymdeithas Madog chair, commissioned by Mrs. Cassie Hughes of Bridgend, Wales, was carved by her brother, Huw Selwyn Owen. Mr. Owen, a master carver from North Wales (and a poet of distinction in his own right) was commissioned to make the official chair for the 1989 Llanrwst National Eisteddfod. The Cymdeithas Madog miniature chair was carved from the same wood, an oaken beam taken from a building dating from about 1400, as the Llanrwst National Eisteddfod chair. And like the Llanrwst chair, the back of the Cymdeithas Madog chair has a beautiful representation of the Llanrwst bridge.

Iif there is a worthy entry, this beautiful miniature chair is awarded to the winning bard in a formal chairing ceremony. The bard's name is engraved on a plaque on the back.