Emeritus Professor Tudur Hallam wins prestigious Eisteddfod Chair

Tudur Hallam, Emeritus Professor within the Department of Welsh at Swansea University, has been awarded the Chair on the 2025 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham.

The Chair is awarded for an awdl (a protracted poem in strict metre) or a group of poems in full cynghanedd, utilizing greater than one of many conventional Welsh metres, as much as 250 strains, on the theme “City.” The judges had been Peredur Lynch, Llŷr Gwyn Lewis, and Menna Elfyn.

The profitable awdl opens with a ladies’ soccer match in Carmarthenshire, coached by the poet, earlier than shifting to Glangwili Hospital, the place he receives a devastating most cancers prognosis.

In an emotional ceremony on Friday 8 July, the viewers rose to its ft to applaud the married father-of-three because the Archdruid, the pinnacle of the Gorsedd of the Bards, greeted him.

Professor Hallam’s brother, Gwion, additionally addressed the group with a heartfelt poem.

Speaking after the ceremony, Professor Hallam stated: “I imagine writing generally is a nice assist to individuals, and personally I wished to put in writing instantly after the prognosis, however I couldn’t.

“I feel I used to be in a state of shock, after which in January, after receiving dangerous information that the therapy meant to purchase me time hadn’t labored, immediately the phrases began to move.

“I really feel comfortable, proud that I competed as a result of I wasn’t positive whether or not I ought to submit the awdl or not. I’ve been fairly conflicted about it as a result of the content material of the awdl is so emotional, however at this time appears like a celebration. Now I’m glad I’ve created one thing optimistic out of a really tough scenario.”

Fifteen poets competed for the Chair this 12 months, the best quantity since 1989, and the judges stated the usual of entries was “exceptionally high”.

Judge Menna Elfyn stated: “Other Prifeirdd have written in regards to the loss of life of members of the family or the tragic lack of associates or acquaintances, however that is the primary time I’ve come throughout somebody writing about their very own situation and vulnerability—uncooked and with no hint of self-pity.

“This is a poem that will undoubtedly be widely read, especially by those who are in need and hungry for poetry as balm for the heart in harsh times. That is what poetry should do—remind us of ourselves. And this poem certainly sends shivers down the spine, but also joyfully echoes what it means to live, from the mouth of a poet singing from the taut strings of his fine muse.”

This is Professor Hallam’s second time profitable the Chair, the best honour in Welsh writing, having first received in 2010 on the Blaenau Gwent Eisteddfod.