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What Is An Eisteddfod?

The Wikipedia defines it thus:- "An eisteddfod (Welsh: [ə(i)ˈstɛðvɔd]; plural eisteddfodau [ə(i)stɛðˈvɔdaɨ]) is a Welsh festival of literature, music and performance. The tradition of such a meeting of Welsh artists dates back to at least the 12th century, when a festival of poetry and music was held by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth at his court in Cardigan in 1176 but, with the decline of the bardic tradition, it fell into abeyance. The present-day format owes much to an eighteenth-century revival arising out of a number of informal eisteddfodau. The word eisteddfod is derived from the Welsh word eistedd, meaning "to sit", and bod meaning "to be" and therefore means "to be sitting" or "to be sitting together" ("bod" is softly mutated into "fod")." It could also be considered quite simply as a talent competition.

There are two major annual Eisteddfodau in Wales today; the National and Llangollen. Read an interview with Liz Whitaker author of "A Court In Splendour", a fictional account of the first Eisteddfod in 1176 here

What Is The West Coast Online Eisteddfod?

The West Coast Online Eisteddfod is an online competition which invites submissions in various categories. This years online contests include Poetry and Short Story writing. The deadline for submissions is September 15th and the results are announced both on this site and at a 'live' event held on the US West Coast. The 'live' WCE was held in Portland , OR in 2009 and again in 2010. In 2011 it was held, for the first time, in Los Angeles.

How Does It Work?

Simply go to this page and study the rules of submission and decide how you wish to enter. There are NO entry fees.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the West Coast Eisteddfod Poetry Competition ( English language category ) will be featured in the prestigious international poetry magazine - The Seventh Quarry Peter Thabit Jones, the editor of the magazine which is based in Swansea, will feature the winning submission together with an appreciation and a picture of the author. The winner will also receive a free annual subscription to the magazine for one year plus the cash prize of $150 ( 100 GBP approx ).

( N.B. Final submission date may vary to allow at least one week for judges to assess entries before the 'live' event. Assuming the 'live' event is on or after Sept 22nd next year the above date will apply. If the 'live' event is earlier the final submission date may change. It will NOT change for any other reason. We reserve the right to increase prize money without warning. The above quoted figure is the minimum that will be paid. We may also, funding permitting, introduce prizes for runners up. Watch this space for further announcements. )

Other Poetry Competitions we recommend:- The Welsh Poetry Competition