Mererid Hopwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mererid Hopwood FLSW
Hopwood in Dyfodol i'r Iaith meeting in 2019
Born	February 1964 (age 61) Cardiff, Wales
Nationality	Welsh
Occupation	Writer, bard, television presenter and academic
Title	Archdderwydd of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
Children	3

Mererid Hopwood was born in February 1964. She is a Welsh poet and writer. She is also the Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. This is a very important role in Welsh culture.

Mererid Hopwood's Education and Teaching Career

Mererid Hopwood grew up in Cardiff, Wales. She studied Spanish and German at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She earned top grades in both subjects.

Early Teaching Roles

After university, she became a lecturer. She taught German at the University of Wales, Swansea. Since 2001, she has also taught Creative Writing. This was in the Welsh Department at the university. She also taught Spanish at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen. She worked there until January 2010.

Current Academic Position

Today, Mererid Hopwood is a lecturer at Trinity University of Carmarthen. In October 2020, she was given a special role. She became a Professor of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University.

Achievements at the National Eisteddfod

The National Eisteddfod is a big festival in Wales. It celebrates Welsh culture, music, and poetry. Mererid Hopwood has won many top awards there.

Making History at the Eisteddfod

In 2001, she made history. She was the first woman ever to win the Chair award. This happened at the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh. In 2003, she won another major award, the Crown. This was at the Eisteddfod in Meifod.

Winning the Prose Medal

In 2008, she won the Eisteddfod's Prose Medal. She received it for her book called O Ran. She is also a presenter for S4C, a Welsh TV channel. In 2012, she received the Glyndwr Award. This award celebrates excellence in the arts in Wales.

Becoming Archdruid

The Archdruid is the leader of the Gorsedd of Bards. This is a group of poets and musicians at the Eisteddfod. In August 2009, Mererid Hopwood was suggested for the Archdruid role. This was after the previous Archdruid, Dic Jones, passed away. It was the first time a woman had been nominated for this position. She later decided not to go for the role that year.

However, in 2023, Mererid Hopwood was chosen as the Archdruid. She started this important role in 2024 and will serve until 2027. She is the second woman to hold this position. The first was Christine James. In June 2024, she spoke at a rally in Carmarthen. The rally supported Welsh Independence.

Awards and Recognition

In 2018, Mererid Hopwood received another honor. She was chosen as a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. This means she is recognized as an expert in her field.

Mererid Hopwood's Published Works

Mererid Hopwood has written many books and creative works. Here are some of them:

• Sarah Kirsch (1997)
• Singing in Chains: Listening to Welsh Verse (2004)
• Seren Lowri (2005)
• Plentyn (2005)
• Ar Bwys (2007)
• O Ran (2008)
• Nes Draw (2015)
• Cantata Memoria (libretto) (2016)
• Wythnos yng Nghymru Fydd (libretto) (2017)