In 1968, the National Eisteddfod was held in Barry for the first time since 1920. It was based in the Brynhill part of the town and for the opening ceremony, Gladstone Gardens were used. The Archdruid E. Gwyndaf Evans ("Gwyndaf") presided over the eisteddfod, and the winner of the bardic chair was the Reverend R. Bryn Williams on the theme Awdl Foliant i'r Morwr ("An Ode in Praise of the Sailor").