Dafydd Iwan

Dafydd Iwan (born August 24, 1943) is the president of Plaid Cymru -- The Party of Wales.

Related Topics:
August 24 - 1943 - Plaid Cymru - Wales

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Born in Brynaman, Wales, he spent most of his youth in Bala before attending the University of Wales, Cardiff. Dafydd Iwan initially rose to fame as a singer-songwriter, writing and playing folk music in the Welsh language. By the late 1960s he was receiving television coverage both for his music and for his political activities, including being imprisoned in 1970 as part of the fight for Welsh language rights, an event commemorated in his song Pam fod eira'n wyn? ("Why is snow white?") His satirical song, Carlo ("Charlie"), was written on the occasion of the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.

Related Topics:
Brynaman - Wales - Bala - University of Wales, Cardiff - Singer-songwriter - Folk music - Welsh language - 1960s - Satirical - Investiture - Prince of Wales - 1969

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In the same year, Dafydd Iwan was one of the founders of Sain Recordiau Cyf (Sain Records Ltd), one of the main Welsh music labels, a business he still manages today. Dafydd Iwan is also a county councillor in Gwynedd, where certain of his policies, particularly calls for cheap housing for locals only, not newcomers, have caused some controversy.

Related Topics:
Sain Recordiau Cyf - County councillor - Gwynedd

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Although a county councillor, school governor, lay preacher, board member of several companies and societies, and president of Plaid Cymru, Dafydd Iwan still writes and performs music, including a long standing partnership with the folk group Ar Log ("for hire"). His extensive repertoire includes everything from political satires that have been banned by the BBC through to songs such as Yma o hyd ("Still here") which have attained anthemic status throughout Welsh-speaking Wales.

Related Topics:
Lay preacher - Plaid Cymru - Ar Log - BBC - Anthem

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Dafydd Iwan's long service to the Welsh language led to him being made an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Bards.

Related Topics:
Gorsedd - Bard

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He has been convicted many times for motoring offences, escaping a ban in October 2003 on the basis that he needed to drive for his musical and political duties.

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As leader of Plaid Cymru he was seen as a return to the values of the Welsh-speaking heartland and a move away from the party's attempts to court left wing voters in South Wales who, while not necessarily speaking Welsh, were seeking an alternative to Labour. (It would be wrong, though, to see Iwan as a conservative - rather he is more in the tradition of Welsh radical liberalism).

Related Topics:
Labour - Liberalism

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Most significantly, Iwan swept aside the party's - much mocked - formula of claiming they supported full national status but not independence. Under his leadership the party is now clearly in support of an independent Welsh state within the European Union.

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Although remaining popular with the membership, Iwan has failed to halt the slide in the party's fortunes - and in the 2005 general election Plaid Cymru were reduced to three MPs after losing Ceredigion to the Liberal Democrats.

Related Topics:
2005 - Ceredigion - Liberal Democrats

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