Culture

Broadcasters, musicians and sporting stars welcomed into Gorsedd Cymru

07 Aug 2026 4 minute read

Archdruid Mererid Hopwood at the Gorsedd Cymru 2026 investiture.

Nation.Cymru Staff

A popular TV presenter who recorded her battle against cancer, an international footballer, and a reggae singer have been honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at the National Eisteddfod.

Blue skies and warm sun were enjoyed by a large audience at the colourful ceremony on the Eisteddfod Maes in Llantwyd today, as presenter Mari Grug was invested in the blue or green robes of the Gorsedd by the Archdruid of Wales, Mererid Hopwood.

Before the ceremony, Mari said: “I feel the excitement and I’m very emotional but I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great honour and the whole family will be here.”

The Archdruid heard that Mari, from Mynachlog-ddu, had made a notable contribution to the cultural life of Wales as a popular broadcaster on S4C and Radio Cymru, and as an enthusiastic Eisteddfodwr since childhood.

Beyond her career, she has shown exceptional courage by sharing her experience of cancer, acting as an inspirational voice and ambassador for Cancer Research Wales.

Mari added that she was pleased that her mother, Ann Siriol Davies who is an adjudicator and author of children’s books, was being honoured at the same ceremony.

“Being inducted into the Gorsedd is one thing but doing so on the doorstep of my home is special. And doing that with Mari is even more special. We will celebrate after the ceremony,” Ann said.

Also honoured was former international footballer Joe Allen, who said he was more nervous about the ceremony than any World Cup game.

Joe started playing football professionally at the age of 16, won the UEFA Cup twice, captained his clubs, and represented Wales 77 times, being part of the historic World Cup team.

Beyond the pitch, he is a passionate ambassador for the Welsh language, promoting the language as something modern and relevant to young people.

“In a football match I know what to expect and what to do but this ceremony is completely new to me,” Joe said. “I didn’t expect to be invited [to the Gorsedd] and it was a bit of a shock but it’s a great honour and I’m very grateful.”

Aleighcia Scott from Cardiff, has made a remarkable contribution to Welsh culture as a Welsh-Jamaican reggae singer, presenter and cultural advocate.

Through her pioneering singles in the Welsh language – including the first Welsh reggae song to reach No. 1 on iTunes – she has built bridges between Wales and the Caribbean, and helped normalise the Welsh language.

Aleighcia started learning Welsh four years ago and is now fluent.

“When I started learning Welsh I didn’t think I would join the Gorsedd at all. I look around me and see well-known people who have done so much for Wales and I am very happy to be here,” Aleighcia explained.

Also honoured were Heledd Cynwal from Llandeilo, a leading broadcaster and presenter who has made an invaluable contribution to Welsh culture through the media, and Eluned Haf, who joined her mother and father in the Gorsedd.

Eluned has been an ambassador for Welsh culture from a young age, promoting Welsh arts locally, nationally and internationally.

“My mother (the harpist Elinor Bennett) was inaugurated back in 1961 and our father (former MP Dafydd Wigley) later. This is the greatest honour I have received in my life and it means so much to me,” she said.

Other inductees included a number of long-standing community volunteers such as Wyn Evans and his wife Meirwen, who have given a lifetime of uninterrupted service to their community. For 21 years, Wyn edited Y Cardi Bach showing a deep commitment to the Welsh language and community life.

As an Officer of the Urdd in Pembrokeshire, Eurfyl Lewis from Llanglydwen, Hendygwyn was an energetic ambassador for the language and the movement, and has since led and served a wide range of religious, cultural and community organisations.

Tegryn Jones is the Chief Executive of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, and has played a key role in developing Landscapes Wales and national initiatives on climate change.

The musician and actor Ryland Teifi was also invested. The previous Cân i Cymru and BAFTA Cymru winner is originally from Ffostrasol and has performed locally and internationally, acting as an ambassador for Welsh folk music since moving to Ireland.

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