A Welsh language weekend in Scotland

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Menter Iaith Conwy and Communities First in Pen Llyn have been running a Welsh Language Surfing Club on Ynys Mon and Pen Llyn for young people from both areas including Conwy.
This year we decided to venture into a different environment, which was the mountains and more importantly the beautiful white stuff that falls on them; snow! Through financial assistance from Awards for All, which is a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, and Community Chest from Sports Council Wales, we succeeded in adding snowboarding to the clubs list of activities. We also received practical help from Simon who works for the Outdoor Partnership. We received a lot of expert advice and help from “Menai Ski and Outdoor” shop in Menai Bridge, to get all the necessary equipment.
This week 14 young people from Ynys Mon and Conwy tried snowboarding for the first time. The session was held at John Nike Ski Slope, Llandudno.
Bedwyr ap Gwyn from Menter Iaith Conwy said;
“It’s important that these kind of opportunities are available through the medium of Welsh, along with all other outdoor adventure activities, as there is a great shortage of Welsh speaking staff in the outdoor industry. We hope that between the surfing and snowboarding we can sustain a vibrant club”
The club will be meeting consistently throughout the year. For more information phone or email Bedwyr ap Gwyn; . .

Mentrau Iaith Cymru
Annual General Meeting

Canolfan Merched y Wawr, Aberystwyth
11.00am, 29 January 2010

Don't let London kill S4C, cut services and jobs.

Mentrau Iaith and Cymru Ifanc Wrecsam and the Urdd are looking for are looking for young musicians who want to become part of the Welsh rock and pop scene in north east Wales!
On October 8th L’etage, Wrexham will host Y Ffin Fach gig, a free gig with headliners Masters in France. Nia Evans, CIW Officer, said, “Y Ffin Festival’s little sister will give local bands from Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham the opportunity to come together and take part in a Battle of the Bands. This will be an exciting evening, admission is free, and in addition the popular band, Masters in France, will be headlining the evening. The band from Caernarfon have garnered considerable praise after airplay on Radio 1, and they were huge crowd-pleasers when they played Gwyl Y Ffin 2010 in Holywell.”

Y Ffin Fach will also host the first round of Battle of the Bands BBC/C2 2011. The winners will go on to the regional rounds, and perhaps to represent north Wales in the finals! The most promising bands of the evening will be offered the opportunity to record and burn a CD in a recording studio, and to play at Y Ffin Festival 2011.
Rebecca Davies from Menter Iaith Sir y Fflint said, “Nobody from north Wales has won Battle of the Bands since Wrexham’s NO STAR in 2005. We want to change this! If you are between 16 – 21, can play in Welsh and think you have the talent to compete, come to L’etage on October 8th, and let’s see if we can get a band from the north crowned winners of Battle of the Bands 2011.”

For more information about the Ffin Fach gig, or to find out how to compete in Brwydr y Bandiau, e-mail

Menter Iaith Sir Y Fflint and Urdd Gobaith Cymru want to get Flintshire rocking at Y Ffin music festival! North east Wales’s answer to Glastonbury is coming to Holywell. On July 24th Tower Gardens will play host to some of the biggest names in Welsh music.
The Welsh Language Initiative and the country’s biggest youth movement are bringing a musical Mardi Gras to Holywell to promote Welsh rock, blues, pop and punk bands. Derwyddon Dr Gonzo, Racehorses, Masters in France, Yucatan and Brigyn are among the bands entertaining the crowds at the FREE festival. The full line up, along with other details, is available at www.yffin.co.uk.

The Welsh language Battle of the Bands organised by BBC Radio Cymru C2 and Mentrau Iaith Cymru will be held in Spring 2010.