Resident poets have visited the county’s seven secondary schools to encourage and inspire a group of pupils to compete at a youth poetry competition.

The culmination of that was the Talwrn y Beirdd Ifanc competition, which was held in Cardigan Castle on Friday, 30 June on the weekend of Gŵyl Fawr Aberteifi, with Ceri Wyn Jones as the judge.

Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron were congratulated on winning the competition.

Anwen Eleri Bowen, Ceredigion County Council’s Welsh in education support officer organised the competition.

She said: “We are proud that our seven secondary schools are so keen to be part of the Talwrn and thank you very much to the poets for agreeing to mentor and work with the crew.

“The Talwrn offers valuable experiences to our pupils. It’s a golden opportunity for a small group of pupils to have the company of a poet for a day to create creative work for a competition.

“It’s a chance to create creative writing individually and as a group, discuss and share opinions on other people’s work, refine the work together, and the culmination of this was seeing the work being developed into finished pieces, which we heard on Friday evening.

“Such an experience develops the pupils’ confidence to share their work publicly and be ready for criticism and hopefully encourage them to offer their works to literary competitions at our local eisteddfodau.

“Many thanks to the schools and poets for their co-operation.”

Councillor Wyn Thomas, Ceredigion cabinet member for schools, lifelong learning and skills, said: “Many congratulations to all the pupils who took part in the Talwn y Beirdd Ifanc competition. This is a great opportunity for them to show their talents and sharpen their creative skills.

“It’s great to see the legacy of the Ceredigion National Eisteddfod in action here as this competition continues, offering invaluable opportunities to prospective and talented poets.

“It was a pleasure to support Gŵyl Fawr Aberteifi and listen to the brilliant poetic pieces.”

Prior to the competition, poet Gwennan Evans visited Ysgol Bro Pedr, Endaf Griffiths went to Ysgol Bro Teifi, Aneirin Karadog visited Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron, Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan visited Ysgol Henry Richard, Arwel Rocet Jones went to Ysgol Penglais, Megan Lewis went to Ysgol Penweddig and Hywel Griffiths went to Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi.

Whilst at the schools, the poets worked with students to create, discuss and improve poetry.