Cofiwch Dryweryn – One hundred and counting!

Over the spring and summer months, ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ murals have appeared right across Wales after the famous mural outside Llanrhystud, Ceredigion was vandalized in February. The original ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ was painted by the author, Meic Stephens on the side of a ruin in reaction to the decision to create a reservoir to supply water to Liverpool in 1965, and in doing so, destroying the village of Capel Celyn. A number of ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ images were shared on social media, and these then formed this collection of murals which can be seen on the People’s Collection Wales website.

So thanks to people’s contributions from all over Wales we now have an archive for future generations.

The murals come from both rural and industrial areas – some in inaccessible and isolated locations – like the one on the side of a ruin high up in the Oakley Quarry and one on the slag heaps of the Glarnyrafon Coal Pit at Rhostyllen, Wrexham.

There are some at the heart of our communities, on the walls of pubs and shops, and on bus shelters, and one or to inside schools such as Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryntawe.

Whilst some of the murals have stood their ground, others have disappeared by now, or have themselves been vandalized. One appeared backstage at the Cardiff and Vale Urdd Eisteddfod and one or two ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ slogans could also be found on our beaches – in the Swansea area for example – and so being able to archive all of these has been a privilege for People’s Collection Wales.

Cofiwch Dryweryn account for more.

If you are travelling around Wales this summer holidays, keep a look out for some of the murals that feature on our website – and if there are any more potential contributions out there, we’d really like to hear from you!