Dafydd with Dylan Rees, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Plaid in Ynys Mon outside the Post Office at Gwalchmai, one of the many which could be threatened by the present closure programme, during their walk to the Anglesey Show, where they were met by Ieuan Wyn jones, Deputy first Minister.

RECENT & FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

MAY:

On the Monday Bank Holiday, Dafydd was the special guest of the WRU at the Millennium Stadium

Grand Slam Celebration, where he was asked to sing his anthem "Yma o Hyd" as a special tribute

to his friend Ray Gravell.

JUNE:

7: Maes, Maen Gwynedd, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant

20: Bedlinog, Merthyr Tudful

21: Llansawel, Carmarthenshire

JULY:

3: DI addresses first Wales Planning Conference, Cardiff on "Creative Planning for Rural Wales"

PLAID EVENT AT CWMAMAN, CYNON VALLEY, with Dafydd as main guest

4: Gwyl Bro Dinefwr, Cil-y-cwm

5: Plaid Social Event, Treletert / Letterston

6: Tabernacle, Haverfordwest

7: Bontnewydd Plaid Branch AGM

9: "One Wales" Government celebration dinner, Cardiff

15: "Celebrating our language" Conference, Cardiff

31: International Ballad Conference, Cardiff: Dafydd and Gwenan Gibbard as guest artists

JULY 28 - AUGUST 20: HUSTINGS WILL BE HELD FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF

PLAID CYMRU. DETAILS ON HOME PAGE

AUGUST:

4: National Eisteddfod of Wales, Cardiff

6: DI at Maes D with Welsh learners

7: President's Club, with guests Lisabeth Miles and Heather Jones (Ty Gwynfor, Schooner Way)

12: DAFYDD WALKS WITH DYLAN REES on his protest march against the closing of Post Offices

on Ynys Mon

14: Dafydd meets children from Belarus, Penmaenuchaf Hall , Dolgellau

30: Llanddarog Show Concert

SEPTEMBER :

12/13: Plaid Cymru Annual Conference

27: DI + Band, Wylfa Club, Cemaes, Anglesey

OCTOBER:

DAFYDD IWAN A'R BAND OCTOBER TOUR:

3: LYRIC, Carmarthen

4: Theatr Felinfach

9: Pavillion Theatre, Rhyl

11: Emlyn Arms, Newcastle Emlyn

17: Ty Siamas, Dolgellau

24: GALERI, Caernarfon

25: Theatr ELLI, Llanelli

November 7: Penygroes Rugby Club (Carmarthenshire)

FAMILY NEWS:

Caio Iwan, Dafydd and Bethan's 17 year old son, has been chosen to play for the national Welsh schoolboys football under-18 team.

Caio Iwan receiving his international under-18s cap after the Wales-England game at Haverfordwest, April 4th, 2008

Dafydd's latest CD, "MAN GWYN" was launched on December 15th, and is available in record shops or may be ordered on-line via the SAIN website:

(www.sainwales.com)

The songs explore the phenomenon which led so many Welsh people over the ages to seek a new life overseas, especially in the Welsh "colony" of Patagonia in Argentina. The title comes from the Welsh proverb "Man gwyn man draw" (" a perfect place over yonder").

The songs also explore various aspects of nationalism , and the dreams which have inspired Welsh people over the ages, and the necessity to create a new Wales here on our own soil, and not in some far distant land. Dreams, visions and inspiration, with tribute songs to two giants of Welsh nationalism as an extra - Michael D. Jones and Gwynfor Evans.

"MAN GWYN" : DAFYDD IWAN on the SAIN label : Cat. no. SAIN SCD 2576

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NO TO THE NEW TRIDENT!

Dafydd Iwan says:

"The year-long vigil at Faslane, the Trident base in Scotland, will be a defining occasion in the history of the British isles. We cannot sleep-walk into another period of spending billions of pounds on obsolete military technology. The world has moved on, and today's world calls for a new way of creating international understanding and peaceful co-existence. This money would be far better spent on international co-operation, removing the causes of terrorism, closing the gap between the rich and the poor, and on meeting the challenge of climate change.

"It was a privilege to be part of this vigil on November 13th and 14th, seeing the dedication of people from all parts of Wales, young and old, to the ways of peace, and their determination to change the culture of militarism and violence for one of peaceful coexistence and understanding.

"If international terrorism is the greatest threat facing us, a new Trident system is not the answer. The answer lies in working together through the United Nations to remove injustice and oppression wherever it exists".

PLAID CYMRU'S NEW HEADQUARTERS IN CARDIFF: TY GWYNFOR, MARINE CHAMBERS, ANSON COURT, ATLANTIC WHARF, CARDIFF. CF10 4AL / 029 20 472272.

Dafydd Iwan
01286.676004
07961098311
dafyddiwan@cymru1.net
dafydd@sain.wales.com

DAFYDD IWAN
THE PRACTICAL IDEALIST
Throughout his life, Dafydd Iwan has sought practical answers to the problems facing Wales.

=He was convinced from an early age of the need for self-government for Wales. He joined Plaid at 14, and he was elected as the first Chairman of Plaid's Youth Section in 1962.

=He saw that his compatriots often chose academic courses at the expense of vocational ones, so he studied architecture, graduating at Cardiff in 1968.

=In the 60s, the Welsh language had no official status in its own land, and he campaigned with the Welsh Language Society, becoming one of its most effective leaders.

=In the early 70s, the increase in holiday homes threatened the viability of rural communities. He founded an independent housing charity which still provides for the homeless.

=He saw that the new technology had to be introduced into the world of Welsh entertainment, and he founded SAIN which is now Wales' leading recording company, employing 30 people.

=He was one of the small band of people who helped Dr. Carl Clowes realise his dream of saving the village of Porth-y-Nant and creating the Nant Gwrtheyrn Language Centre.

=He was a member of the team who helped R. Gwynn Davies set up one of Europe's most innovative and pioneering centres for people with learning disabilities, Antur Waunfawr.

= His work with Sain and Gwynn has ensured that hundreds of Welsh composers and musicians are being properly paid and acknowledged for their work.

=Seeing so many local properties and businesses being bought up by companies from outside the local economy, he founded with others the company Arianrhod which buys properties to let to local businesses.

=He knew that Welsh had to be a vehicle for contemporary entertainment. He has led by example, encouraging hundreds of singers and performers to realise their potential.