Sunday 17 July 2011

This house belongs to you and I

The song on the opening night (8th July 2011) was written and sung by Iwan Morgan. It was performed in the style of ‘cerdd dant’ which is the presentation of poetry, usually to the accompaniment of the harp, where the harpist plays an air and the singer presents the words on a counter melody. The harpist plays before the singer strikes in, and the object is for both singer and harpist to end each verse together. This tradition is unique to Wales and has been part of our rich culture for centuries, possibly dating back to the Middle Ages.  

On this occasion the tune was 'Llwyn Onn' or 'The Ash Grove' and the harp was played by Dylan Rowlands known by many as Dylan Delyn (Dylan the harp).

The title of the song is 'This house belongs to you and I' and roughly translates as follows:

'Before the slate mines of Blaenau Ffestiniog were ever heard of,
and before quarrymen from north or south made for the place;
indeed, before its houses and streets were built
and before its climate was connected with mists and rain,
cattle drovers and their stock came over peat bog and moor
to spend the night in the shelter and warmth of Ffestiniog.'

'On fair and market days, 
many teemed to the 'Smithy' inn beside the 'llan' (church),
and Martha (Owens), the innkeeper, 
poured pints of her best ale for the merry drinkers.
She also provided relish and accommodation for all
who called at the inn to shorten their journey at the village.’

'Over the course of the years, 
the 'Smithy' became the 'Pengwern Arms.' 
That is how it was before its doors closed (in February 2009). 
But by today, the 'community' of the village 
have persevered to re-open the place,
hence 'this house belongs to you & I.' 

‘MAE’R TŶ HWN YN EIDDO I TI AC I MI’

Cyn sôn am geudyllau y Blaenau, na thre
Lle cyrchai chwarelwyr o’r gogledd a’r de;
Cyn codi ei strydoedd a’i thai di-ben-draw
Na chysylltu ei hinsawdd â niwloedd a glaw,
Dôi porthmyn a gwartheg dros fawnog a rhos
I glydwch Ffestiniog i orffwyso’r nos.

I dafarn ‘Yr Efail’ oedd gerllaw’r llan
Ar ddydd ffair a marchnad - bu heidio i’r fan,
A Martha’r perchennog, tywalltai hi
Ei chwrw gorau i’r drachtwyr ffri;
Rhoes enllyn a llety dros gyfnod maith
I bobun a alwai i fyrhau’r daith.
  
Dros gwrs y blynyddoedd, daeth newid i’w rhan,
Daeth ‘Yr Efail’ yn ‘Bengwern’ yma’n y Llan,
Ac felly y bu, nes i’w drysau gau ...
Ond wele’r ‘gymuned’ fu’n dyfalbarhau
I’w hagor eto .... a dyma eu cri:
‘Mae’r tŷ hwn yn eiddo i ti ac i mi!’





Saturday 9 July 2011

Official Opening - Agoriad Swyddogol

Friday 8th July was the official opening of The Pengwern with S4C broadcasting live on the programme Wedi 7 and a slate plaque unveiled by Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas. Earlier in the day the pub was featured on Radio Wales (Jamie and Louise) with customers and volunteers talking about what it felt like to have the pub open once more. Here’s what it was like on the night:

Friday 1 July 2011

Agoriad Swyddogol

Ar nos Wener, Gorffennaf yr 8ed, cynhelir agoriad swyddogol Y Pengwern yn Llan Ffestiniog.

Ar ôl i’r Pengwern Arms Hotel gau ym mis Chwefror 2009 sefydlwyd Pengwern Cymunedol fel menter gymunedol i brynu, ail agor a datblygu Tafarn a Gwesty’r Pengwern ac ers diwedd mis Mawrth 2011 y gymuned sy’n berchen ac yn rheoli Y Pengwern. Trwy ymdrechion gwirfoddol llwyddwyd i gymoni a gwella rhannau o adeilad Y Pengwern a bellach ail agorwyd y dafarn a’r ystafell gweithgareddau.

Mae gwahoddiad cynnes i gynrychiolwyr y wasg a’r cyfryngau i fynychu’r agoriad swyddogol. Eisoes mae rhaglen Wedi 7 S4C wedi trefnu i ddarlledu’n fyw o’r Pengwern ar y noson.

Bydd rhaglen noson yr agoriad yn rhedeg o 6.00 p.m. ymlaen. Perfformir yr agoriad swyddogol gan yr Aelod Cynulliad lleol, Dafydd Elis Thomas.Bydd cynrychiolwyr Cyngor Gwynedd, Cyngor Tref Ffestiniog a nifer o’r cyrff fu’n gefnogol i’r Pengwern yn bresennol yn ogystal ag aelodau a chefnogwyr lleol Pengwern Cymunedol.

Hefyd bydd nifer o artistiaid a doniau lleol yn cyfrannu mewn gair a chân i’r noson.

Am fanylion ynglyn â’r Pengwern gweler Taflen Wybodaeth Pengwern Cymunedol.

CYSWLLT  Sel Williams  sel@bangor.ac.uk   Ffôn:  0776 049 0081

Y Pengwern, Sgwar yr Eglwys, Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. LL41 4PB
E bost:                     pengwerncymunedol@googlemail.com
Gwefan:                   www.pengwerncymunedol.btik.com
Gwefan y Tafarn:     www.pengwern.org.uk
Ffôn y Pengwern:    01766 762200

Official Opening of The Pengwern


Friday, July the 8th, sees the official reopening of The Pengwern in Llan Ffestiniog.

After the Pengwern Arms Hotel closed its doors, in February 2009, Pengwern Cymunedol was set up as a community enterprise to buy, reopen and develop the pub and hotel. Since the end of March 2011 the community owns and runs The Pengwern. A large number of volunteers have worked to renovate and improve parts of the building so that by now the pub and function room have been reopened.

Representatives of the press and media are welcome to attend the official opening. The S4C programme, Wedi 7, has confirmed that it will broadcast live from the Pengwern on the opening night.

The programme for the evening will start shortly after 6.00pm. The local Welsh Assembly Member, Dafydd Elis Thomas, will perform the opening ceremony at around 7.00pm. Representatives will be present from Gwynedd and Ffestiniog councils and from other agencies which have been supportive of the venture as well as local shareholders, volunteers and supporters of Pengwern Cymunedol.

A variety of local talents will perform during the evening followed by a jamming session with local musicians.

For further details about the Pengwern social enterprise see the Pengwern Cymunedol Information Sheet.

CONTACT Sel Williams sel@bangor.ac.uk   Ffôn:  0776 049 0081

Y Pengwern, Sgwar yr Eglwys, Llan Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. LL41 4PB
E mail:                      pengwerncymunedol@googlemail.com
Website:                   www.pengwerncymunedol.btik.com
Pub Website:            www.pengwern.org.uk
Pengwern Tel:          01766 762200