GoFund me set up to rebuild Cofiwch Dryweryn mural as police investigate criminal damage

Campaigners are fundraising to rebuild the Cofiwch Dryweryn mural after police said that they were investigating possible criminal damage at the site.

A GoFundMe page was set up by Elfed Wyn Jones, one of those who had repainted the mural after recent vandalism. It had raised almost £2000 in a few hours.

Some have already been at the site repairing part of the top of the wall that seemed to have been knocked down in a deliberate attack overnight.

“This Mural is an important landmark in Welsh history which symbolized the hurt and pain that the drowning of the village of Tryweryn caused in the 1960s,” the fundraising page says.

“After the mural was desecrated numerous times in the last few years, we want to make sure it’s secure and protected for future generations.

“Please donate to our cause!”

Dyfed-Powys Police said they were investigating criminal damage to the Cofiwch Dryweryn memorial on the A487 near Llanrhystud.

Officers are aware that the memorial has been repeatedly damaged with graffiti over the last few months and that this is causing significant distress both locally and nationally.

Officers are currently at the scene gathering evidence. Inspector Chris Fraser is leading the response and has said: “I understand the strength of feeling about the Cofiwch Dryweryn memorial, and that repeated damage to it has caused significant upset in the community.

“I want to give reassurance that we are taking this matter seriously, and will carry out a full investigation in to this mindless damage.

“I’d also like to appeal for anyone with information about the criminal damage to come forward and speak to us by calling 101.”

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Quote reference 55 of April 13.

“This is a disgraceful affront to our history,” Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said.

“I don’t know about others but I wouldn’t like to see a fence around the wall. What is the answer then? A hidden camera?”

There have been calls for a permanent Tryweryn monument as well as calls on the Welsh Government to take steps to safeguard the Tryweryn mural.

Cofiwch Dryweryn has been painted on the wall since the early 1960s in a reference to the Welsh village near Bala that was flooded to provide water for Liverpool.

The ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ slogan was originally painted by the academic Meic Stephens, who died last year at the age of 79, and Rodric Evans.

Actor Rhys ap Hywel is also known to have re-painted the wall as a schoolboy.

The wall was painted again in February by members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Aberystwyth cell.

Following yesterday’s repainting Elfed Wyn Jones who was involved in the repainting told Hiraeth films that it was something “he had hoped he wouldn’t have to do again” .

“I’ve had enough of the Welsh Government being supine and unwilling to protect this mural. They jumped at the chance to save that Banksy in Port Talbot.

“This means so much more to our nation than Bansky.”

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