Cardigan’s 900th anniversary has got off to a cracking start with the announcement of a £30k grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The news came just as the town’s 2010 committee was preparing for a New Year’s Eve function at Cardigan’s Guildhall.

“This is absolutely fantastic news and will ensure that our celebrations will go with a bang,” said 2010 chair Llwyd Edwards.

The grant will fund several projects celebrating Cardigan’s long and colourful history including:

• A re-enactment by Cardigan Youth Theatre of the town’s emigration history;
• The creation of a chapel trail;
• A musical and poetic event spearheaded by the late Archdruid Dic Jones’ son Brychan which will re-create the first eisteddfod held in Cardigan Castle in 1176;
• The creation of a giant record-breaking Aberteifi cardigan overseen by artist Lisa Hellier and made with the help of local schools and community groups;
• The recording of oral histories which will be used to form the basis of a local history exhibition.

Jennifer Stewart, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Wales said: "People love learning about their local heritage and trails, oral histories and re-enactments are a great way to uncover hidden histories.  This is a fantastic project which will bring people, young and old, together to learn something new and gain a deeper understanding of where they live."