The History of Wales

On 29th May 2006 a concert was held in Pontypridd to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the Welsh national anthem.

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was originally known as Glan Rhondda (Banks of the Rhondda) and was written in January 1856 by Evan James from Pontypridd, with the music composed by his son, James. It was first performed later in the year at Capel Tabor, Maesteg by Elizabeth John, also from Pontypridd.

The song became well known nationally after Thomas Llewelyn of Aberdare included it in his competition winning collection of unpublished Welsh airs at the 1858 Llangollen festival and then allowed the adjudicator John Owen to include it in his publication Gems of Welsh Melody under its now famous title, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

In 1905, the touring New Zealand rugby team started to perform the Haka before every match, and as a response, the Welsh Rugby Union administrator Tom Williams suggested that the Welsh player Teddy Morgan sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. When Morgan began to sing, the crowd joined in and this is credited as being the first time a national anthem was sung at the start of a sporting event. At the time, the official national anthem was 'God Save the Prince of Wales', but from then on, 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' was also sung, until 1975, when it was decided that only 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' would be sung.

Versions of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau are also used as anthems in Cornwall, Brittany and Patagonia.

Lyrics

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.

Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i'm golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.

Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad dan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.

Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.