Y Fro Gymraeg

Y Fro Gymraeg (literally 'The Welsh Language Area', pronounced [ə vroː ˈɡəmrɑːɨɡ]) is a name often used to refer to the linguistic area in Wales where the Welsh language is used by the majority or a large part of the population;^[1] it is the heartland of the Welsh language and comparable in that respect to the Gàidhealtachd of Scotland and Gaeltacht of Ireland. It has no official government recognition.

The importance of Y Fro Gymraeg

The importance of Y Fro Gymraeg to the rest of Wales was formulated over a few months by a Bangor college lecturer, Owain Owain, in January 1964, when he published in his Tafod y Ddraig magazine a map outlining Y Fro.^[2] In an article dated 12 November 1964, he wrote: Enillwn y Fro Gymraeg, ac fe enillir Cymru, ac oni enillir Y Fro Gymraeg, nid Cymru a enillir ('We win Y Fro Gymraeg, and Wales will be won, and unless Y Fro Gymraeg is won, it is not Wales that will be won').

Areas within Y Fro Gymraeg

The Welsh-speaking, Welsh identifying group is perhaps most distinctive and largely centred upon the north and west of Wales. This area is designated y Fro Gymraeg. The Welsh-identifying, non-Welsh-speaking group is most prevalent in the traditional south Wales area and labelled Welsh Wales. The British identifying non-Welsh speaking group dominates the remainder of Wales, described therefore as British Wales. – David Balsom (1985)^[3]

A generation or two ago one could say that almost all of western Wales, from Anglesey to parts of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, lay in the Bro, and that it also included significant parts of western Powys and of the former county of Clwyd,^{[citation needed]} but today the territory of the language as a majority language has shrunk. A substantial portion of four Welsh counties lies within Y Fro Gymraeg, which also includes other communities in surrounding counties. The four main counties with a majority of Welsh-speaking inhabitants are Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin in Welsh), Ceredigion and Anglesey (Ynys Môn), although even in these counties one cannot say that every town and village is a Welsh stronghold. Surrounding areas often included in the Bro, with a significant percentage of Welsh speakers, include parts of Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot), parts of western Powys, northern Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro), the uplands of Conwy, the uplands and countryside of Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych), Flintshire (Sir y Fflint) and parts of the district of Swansea (Abertawe).^{[citation needed]}

Part of a series on the
Culture of Wales
History Timeline Bibliography Prehistory Roman Era Anglo-Welsh Wars Early Middle Ages Kingdom of Gwynedd Kingdom of Powys Deheubarth Medieval Welsh law Norman invasion Edwardian conquest Late Middle Ages Statute of Rhuddlan Glyndŵr rebellion Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 Colonies
People
Languages Welsh (Y Fro Gymraeg History Welsh placenames Welsh surnames Welsh medium education) Welsh English Welsh Romani
Traditions Traditional Welsh costume Welsh law Land division (Commote Cantref Historic counties)
Mythology and Folklore Arthurian legend Matter of Britain Mabinogion
Cuisine Bara brith Bara Lafwr Cawl Cawl Cennin Crempog Gower cuisine Selsig Morgannwg Tatws Pum Munud Welsh breakfast Welsh cake Welsh rarebit Welsh dishes Restaurants Food festivals
Festivals Calennig Dydd Santes Dwynwen Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau Saint David's Day Calan Mai Calan Awst Calan Gaeaf Gŵyl Mabsant Gŵyl San Steffan Eisteddfod List of festivals in Wales
Religion Religion in Wales Christianity in Roman Britain Catholic Church of England and Wales Celtic Christianity Celtic Rite Saint David Dubricius Teilo Welsh Bible William Salesbury William Morgan Welsh Methodist revival 1904–1905 Welsh Revival Disestablishment of Church in Wales
Art
Literature in Welsh in English Medieval Authors Poets Theatre Welsh historical documents Welsh-language comics
Music and Performing arts Theatre Welsh folk music Welsh dance Welsh stepdance Cerdd Dant Crwth Cymanfa Ganu Cynghanedd Noson Lawen Pibgorn Tabwrdd Triple harp Twmpath Welsh bagpipes
Media Radio Television Cinema
Sport Bando Boxing Cnapan Cricket Football Golf Horse Racing Pel-Fas Pêl-Law Rugby League Rugby Union
Monuments World Heritage Sites
Symbols Flag Coat of arms National anthem Flag of Saint David Other flags Welsh Dragon Welsh heraldry Celtic cross Celtic knot Inventions and discoveries
Wales portal
v t e

Education in Y Fro Gymraeg

Education in Y Fro Gymraeg is generally through the medium of Welsh, which accounts for about 70% of the school timetable, on average.

See also

• List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language
• Arfor

References

External links

• Map by the Welsh Language Board of percentage of people who said they could speak Welsh (2001)