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Hanes Y Gadair
History Of The Chair
Nol I Dudalen Cartref Cystadleuaeth Y Gadair
Back To The Chair Competition Home Page
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At each Cymdeithas Madog Cwrs Cymraeg since Cwrs Cymraeg Wisconsin in 1988,
Cymdeithas Madog has held a competition in Welsh language literature composition. The topic and form (e.g., poetry,
prose, etc) are announced during the cwrs, giving students only a few days to compose their entries. Despite the
short amount of time given to the students (and the heavy demand of attending classes), 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, as judged by the teaching staff, 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.
Each year, this beautiful miniature chair is awarded to the winning bard
in a formal chairing ceremony as part of the noson lawen ("talent evening"). The bard's name is engraved
on a plaque on the back.
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