Catrin Dafydd

Catrin Dafydd at the 2018 National Eisteddfod

Catrin Dafydd (born c. 1982)[1] is a Welsh author, scriptwriter and poet, who was awarded the Crown at the 2018 National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Background

Dafydd is of a Welsh language family from Gwaelod y Garth, near Cardiff and attended her local Welsh-medium school Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Rhydfelen (now Ysgol Garth Olwg) in the Pontypridd area. [1][2] She graduated with a degree in Welsh from the University of Aberystwyth.[3]

Work

Dafydd's first Welsh-language novel, Pili Pala, was published in 2006 and her first English-language novel, Random Deaths and Custard, in 2007.[3][4]

She co-wrote the television drama Ar y Tracs in 2009.[1] She later became one of the writers for the S4C soap opera, Pobol y Cwm.[5]

In August 2018, Dafydd won the Crown at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, in Cardiff Bay, for a poetry collection on the theme of Olion (Traces), exploring Welshness in the Grangetown area of Cardiff.[5][6] Archdruid Geraint Llifon caused argument at the award ceremony by claiming that Dafydd could not have achieved her win without men. He later apologised.[7]

Politics

Dafydd is an supporter of Welsh independence and has ratified her position in print:

"Someone close to me asked me recently what my obsession with Independence was. I was unequivocally clear. I'm not obsessed with the idea of being independent, but I am obsessed with what being independent would do to our people. All across Wales, from Pembroke Dock to Pontypridd, people are being failed. Paying the price that massive decisions that affect the way we live our lives are being made in London. In the imperialist capital! We are the people best able to make decisions about ourselves. Independence would give us agency, would give our communities sovereignty – would give us the freedom to choose how we want to live our short lives!"[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Ruth Jones and Catrin Dafydd are on the right track". Wales Online. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  2. ^ Catrin Dafydd (24 February 2015). "Catrin Dafydd on her path from random deaths to random births". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Catrin Dafydd". BBC Wales Arts. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Random Deaths and Custard, by Catrin Dafydd". Wales Online. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  5. ^ a b "'Exciting young poet' Catrin Dafydd wins Eisteddfod Crown". ITV News. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  6. ^ Eryl Crump (7 August 2018). "National Eisteddfod Cardiff 2018: Crown for 'exciting young poet' and S4C scriptwriter". Daily Post. North Wales. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  7. ^ Huw Thomas (7 August 2018). "National Eisteddfod: Archdruid apology for 'sexist' remark". BBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Catrin Dafydd". yes is more. Retrieved 1 April 2021.