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Alun Cairns: Eisteddfod a ‘landmark event in Wales’s cultural calendar’

Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns will join the thousands of visitors heading to Montgomeryshire this week to celebrate the Welsh language, culture and the arts at the National Eisteddfod of Wales (1-8 August 2015).

Mr Cairns - who is a fluent Welsh speaker - has today visited the festival where he has visited a range of exhibitors.

He met the Welsh Language Commissioner, Meri Huws and tour the S4C and BBC Wales areas on the Eisteddfod Maes in Meifod. He also visited the Swansea University stand to mark the UK Government’s £3.09million investment in the Digital Economy research hub in Swansea as announced by the Chancellor in the Summer Budget.

With more than 300 trade stands and more than 150,000 visitors annually the festival itself is said to generate between six and eight millions pounds annually over a nine-day period to the local economy.

Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns said:

The National Eisteddfod is a landmark event on the Welsh cultural calendar. It is one of the world’s greatest festivals and provides a prime opportunity for us to promote our language, our arts and the talents of our people to the rest of the UK and beyond.

Its economic impact on the local area cannot be underestimated. Not only do the businesses, hoteliers and campsites in the host town benefit, it also puts the spotlight on neighbouring areas, and the additional cultural attractions on offer to those planning on visiting Wales this summer.

I am looking forward to joining those heading to Montgomeryshire to take part in the celebrations, and I hope the organisers and all those competing during the week have a very successful Eisteddfod.

Notes to Editors

• The Montgomeryshire and the Marches National Eisteddfod will be held from 1-8 August 2015.