- Pen-y-Groes
Pen-y-Groes (alternatively spelt as Penygroes) is a large
village in north-westWales .Located to the south of
Caernarfon .Population : 1,680. 88% of the population are Welsh-speaking, making it one of the most predominately Welsh-speaking in the country.History & Amenities
It is located in the former
slate quarrying area of Dyffryn Nantlle, although most of the quarries are now closed down, close toLlanllyfni . It lies in the parish of Llanllyfni,and other nearby villages areCarmel , Talysarn, Nantlle, Tanrallt, Nebo, Pont Lloc andGroeslon . It is the site of the area's comprehensiveschool "Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle" (opera starBryn Terfel 's old school) and the once-legendary football team "Nantlle Vale" which used to be managed by professional wrestler and promoterOrig Williams , better known by his ring name ofEl Bandito .The
cyclepath "Lôn Eifion " passes through the village, following the bed of the former Bangor to Afonwen branch railway line, which was closed in 1964.Pen-y-Groes lies by the edge of Lord Newborough's former estate at Glynllifon, from which several
medieval legends have emanated. The character Lleu Llaw Gyffes, who features in the ages-old legends of theMabinogi (sometimes inaccurately referred to as the Mabinogion), was said to have lived in the area. TheIron Age hillfort at Dinas Dinlleu and the village of Nantlle - originally spelt as Nantlleu - are said to have been named after him.Other famous persons from these parts were the poets
R. Williams Parry and Mathonwy Hughes, popular contemporary actor and singerBryn Fon , politician and Labour MP Betty Williams and academicDafydd Glyn Jones .External links
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=3494603 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Pen-y-groes and surrounding area]
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