Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association

The Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, also know as WNGGA, was founded in 1929, after the first Cymanfa Ganu in North America was held on a field on Goat Island, located in the Niagara Reservation State Park in Niagara Falls, New York. The Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association is responsible for overseeing the Cymanfaoedd Ganu held in North America.

History

The Gymanfa Ganu at Niagara Falls was the first National Gymanfa Ganu (Guh-mahn'-va Gahn'-ee) to be held in the United States. Although exact estimates are unknown, it is believed that 3,000 were in attendance. [History of North American Gymanfa Ganu's, [http://www.wngga.org/History.html History] ] The Welsh-Americans of Youngstown, Ohio are generally given the majority of credit for helping to perpetuate this movement. However, there were many others involved in the planning for the event. Delegations from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan, traveling by train and auto to Niagara Falls, were joined there by equally enthusiastic Welsh from Ontario.After the success of the first Gymanfa Ganu, plans were already being made for another Gymanfa at Niagara Falls the following year. An organizational structure was put into place with Will Lewis (Youngstown, Ohio) as President; Ellis Hughes (Niagara Falls, New York) as Vice President; Dave Lewis (Youngstown, Ohio) as Secretary; and W. B. Jones (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) as Treasurer. This was the beginning of what is today the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association.

With the exception of three years during World War II (1943-1945), a Gymanfa Ganu (commonly just referred to as a "National") has been held in North America every year since 1929. In 1969 the Gymanfa was held in Cardiff, and in 1974 in Swansea, both in Wales (there were two Nationals held in North America in each of those two years, but both are not included in the official count).

External links

* [http://www.wngga.org/ Official Website]
* [http://www.wngga.org/Venues.html List of Venues and Directors by Date]
* [http://www.wngga.org/Officers.html Current Officers]
* [http://www.wngga.org/PastPres.html Past Presidents]

References