Remember Elvis? Cofiwch Dryweryn memorial defaced by vandals

The Cofiwch Dryweryn memorial between Aberystwyth and Llanrhystud has been defaced by vandals.

The famous words – ‘Remember Tryweryn’ – have been painted over by the words ‘Elvis’, perhaps as a reference to the less famous Elvis rock on the A44 near Eisteddfa Gurig outside Aberystwyth.

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 wall has been vandalised many times before, with a smiley face in 2014 and graffiti in 2010. It had also been amended more recently to add the words ‘Cofiwch Aberfan’ – Remember Aberfan.

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 original Elvis rock, which was painted in May 1962, has also been painted over and repainted several times.

It originally said ‘Elis’ in reference to Islwyn Ffowc Elis, the Plaid Cymru candidate in the Montgomeryshire by-election held on 15 May 1962, but was later amended to Elvis.

Ceredigion Assembly Member Elin Jones said that it was “disappointing” that “someone had spent their Saturday night thinking they were clever painting Elvis as on the A44”.

“Someone will be along will a paintbrush again to paint Cofiwch Deryweryn. And whatever is on the wall, we won’t forget!”

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