HUNDREDS gathered in Caldicot for the Proclamation of the 2016 National Eisteddfod on Saturday.

Schools, choirs and dancers were among those to perform on two stages in the centre of the town to give people a taste of what’s in store at next year’s Eisteddfod, which takes place on the outskirts of Abergavenny.

The highlight of the day was the Proclamation Ceremony itself, held at Caldicot Castle. The Gorsedd of the Bards joined a procession of local dignitaries, societies and organisations, to walk from the town to the Castle, and hundreds of local people also joined the procession to reach the Castle in time to see Chair of the local executive committee, Frank Olding, present the first copy of the list of competitions to Archdruid Christine.

Mr Olding said: “The atmosphere in the town was amazing all day.

“There is so much local support for the Eisteddfod. It would have been impossible to imagine a day like this in Monmouthshire thirty or even twenty years ago, but things have changed.”

“It’s an exciting time for us to be here working for the Welsh language and our culture, and the response locally to the Proclamation is a great boost to our work over the next year.”

Elfed Roberts, Eisteddfod chief executive, added: “I’d like to pay tribute to Frank and his team in Monmouthshire and the local area for the work they’ve already done raising awareness for next year’s Eisteddfod.”

“The atmosphere in Caldicot was fantastic and I cannot remember such enthusiasm for the Proclamation for a number of years."

“I believe that the Proclamation of the 2016 Eisteddfod showed us again how important it is that the Eisteddfod travels around Wales. This corner of Wales has not hosted the Eisteddfod for over a century. After a year of working locally, with yesterday as the pinnacle of the project so far, we thank local people, the Council and our volunteers and officers for the opportunity to come to such a welcoming and friendly area, which is so enthusiastic for the Eisteddfod and the language.”

The Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod will be held between July 29 and August 6, 2016.