WRITING A POLITICAL LIFE / YSGRIFENNU BYWYD GWLEIDYDDOL
WEDNESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2025
7 for 7.30pm
Siop Llyfrau Senedd-dy Owain Glyndwr, Machynlleth
Book Launch:
‘Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Nation Builder’
(University of Wales Press, 2025)
Author, Dr Aled Eirug, in conversation with Cyril Jones
We’ll be exploring the writing process and the challenges met by a professional journalist as a political biographer; of telling the story of a person’s life in one volume and how the relationship of biographer and subject develops over the period of research and writing. The choices a biographer must make.
And ask the question ‘is biography politics by other means?’
NOS FERCHER, 19 TACHWEDD 2025
19.00 ar gyfer 19.30
Siop Llyfrau Senedd-dy Owain Glyndwr, Machynlleth
Cyflwyno’r gyfrol
Dafydd Elis-Thomas: ‘Nation Builder’
(Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 2025)
Bydd yr awdur, Dr Aled Eurig, yn sgwrsio â Cyril Jones
Trafodir sut yr aeth gohebydd proffesiynol ati i lunio cofiant gwleidyddol; yr her o adrodd hanes bywyd cyfan mewn un gyfrol a sut y datblygodd y berthynas rhwng y cofiannydd a’i destun yn ystod yr ymchwilio a’r ysgrifennu. Pa ddewisiadau y bu’n rhaid iddo’u gwneud?
A gofynnir y cwestiwn ‘ai gwleidyddiaeth trwy gyfrwng dulliau eraill yw cofiannu?
The subject of this biography, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, is regarded as a ‘founding father’ as the first Presiding Officer of the then National Assembly for Wales, stabilising the new institution and embedding devolution during its first tentative decade, and was described as a ‘true giant’ of Welsh devolution following his death in 2025.
Caiff gwrthrych y gyfrol hon, Dafydd Elis Thomas, ei ystyried fel sefydlydd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol (fel y’i gelwid gynt) ar sail ei waith fel ei Lywydd cyntaf, a’i ymdrechion i’w sefydlogi fel sefydliad newydd a gwreiddio datganoli yn ystod ei ddegawd petrus cyntaf. Cafodd ei ddisgrifio fel ‘cawr go iawn’ datganoli yn dilyn ei farwolaeth yn 2025.
Dr Aled Eirug was a journalist for 25 years, and served as Head of News and Current Affairs (1992-2003) for BBC Wales. Between 2006 and 2011, he worked as constitutional adviser to the Presiding Officer in the National Assembly He was chair of the British Council in Wales (2010-2016), and chair of the Welsh Refugee Council (2007-2012). At present he is a member of Ofcom’s Content Board and is
a senior lecturer at Swansea University, and published two books on the Opposition to the Great War in Wales.
Cyril Jones has worked for the University of South Wales since 2001, teaching creative writing courses and contributing to various Learn Welsh courses for adults. At the 2024, Eisteddfod, Cyril received the award is given by the National Centre for Learning Welsh to a tutor who has made a notable contribution to the Learn Welsh sector.
Bu’r Dr Aled Eurig yn ohebydd am bum mlynedd ar hugain ac yn Bennaeth Newyddion a Materion Cyfoes BBC Cymru(1992-2003). Rhwng 2006 a 2011, bu’n gynghorydd cyfansoddiadol i’r Llywydd yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Feoedd cadeirydd y Gymdeithas Brydeinig yng Nghymru (2010 – 2016), a chadeirydd Cyngor Ffoaduriaid Cymru (2007 – 2012). Ar hyn o bryd mae’n aelod o Fwrdd Cynnwys Ofcom ac yn uwch-ddarlithydd ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Cyhoeddodd ddau lyfr ar y Gwrthwynebiad i’r Rhyfel Mawr yng Nghymru.
Bu Cyril Jones yn gweithio ym Mhrifysgol De Cymru ers 2001, gan ddysgu ysgrifennu creadigol a chyfrannu i faes Dysgu Cymraeg i Oedolion yn y gymuned. Ym Mhrifwyl 2004 enillodd wobr Tlws y Tiwtor am gyfraniad nodedig i faes Dysgu Cymraeg i Oedolion.