The original St David’s Day procession in Aberaeron celebrates its 40th year next month with organisers claiming it to be the oldest in Wales.

Gorymdaith Gwyl Dewi Aberaeron (Aberaeron’s St David’s Day Procession) was founded by the late Alun Williams, the former headteacher of Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron in 1979 and is possibly the oldest procession of its kind in Wales which continues to this day.

The date of the 2020 Gorymdaith Gwyl Dewi in Aberaeron is Monday, 2 March, with the procession due to start at 9.30am.

The 2020 procession will be a little different to that of previous years as Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron pupils will join Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron pupils to walk around the town. The two schools will walk from their sites to Alban Square where both schools will join and walk together to Pwllcam where a short ceremony will bring the event to a close at 10am.

Leader of Ceredigion Council, Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, said: “St David’s processions have become more and more commonplace in recent years. There are now processions held in towns and cities across Wales such as Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Lampeter and Cardigan.

“Just as in these other locations the aim of Gorymdaith Gwyl Dewi Aberaeron is to draw as many local people together to celebrate the day of the Patron Saint of Wales, Welsh identity and the Welsh Language in a sea of song and colour in the town centre.”

As well as Aberaeron, there are four other parades in the county to celebrate St David’s Day.

• Tregaron, Friday, 28 February, 2pm.

• Cardigan, Saturday, 29 February, 10.30am.

• Lampeter, Saturday, 29 February, 11am.

• Aberystwyth, Saturday 29 February, 1pm.

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