The response to vandalism of a Llanrhystud landmark earlier this year has sparked inspiration for a new book.

The Cofiwch Dryweryn mural on the A487 near Llanrhystud was damaged in February and led to a huge response with the wall being rebuilt and the history of Tryweryn being brought to the fore.

Since then, Cofiwch Dryweryn graffiti has appeared in towns all over Wales and even Chicago.

This response has led Mari Emlyn to write a new bilingual book – Cofiwch Dryweryn: Wales Awakening.

Mari said: “We are indebted to the group of young people who went and rebuilt and then repainted the wall.

“Perhaps the vandals did us a favour, as a mass patriotic awakening has snowballed as a result of their heinous act. Even when some of these new murals have been defaced, the Welsh people have returned quietly, and with dignity, to repaint their tributes.”

The book places the mural phenomenon in the context of Capel Celyn’s history, with contributions by three whose roots are firmly in the Tryweryn Valley: Eurgain Prysor Jones, Gwyn Roberts and Elwyn Edwards.

Their stories make up the early chapters of the book, as well as a chapter by Emyr Llywelyn who was imprisoned for a year for his part (with Owain Williams and John Albert Jones) in trying to stop the development of the dam in February 1963. There’s also a chapter by radio and television presenter, Huw Stephens, who is the son of the original mural painter.

See this week’s north and south editions for the full story