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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Anglesey => Topic started by: Penmon on Friday 04 February 11 22:05 GMT (UK)

Title: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: Penmon on Friday 04 February 11 22:05 GMT (UK)

Can anyone help please?
Owen was a Welsh language bard and won an Eisteddfod Chair, but where or when is not known to the family. He was also known as 'The Red Cobbler', and lived at Glan Hwfa, Llangefni.
Interested to know anything about his history - we have all census details. He was born around 1868 in Holyhead (Caergybi) - hence the name 'Owen Cybi', and was a boot dealer / boot shopkeeper.
He is pictured here with his wife and family, around 1911.
Diolch yn fawr - Thank you very much.

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: The Mc on Saturday 05 February 11 00:30 GMT (UK)

Could this be him by any chance.......?

http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-WILL-OWE-1865.html

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: Morganllan on Saturday 05 February 11 03:07 GMT (UK)

Related thread:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,467261.0.html

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: Morganllan on Saturday 05 February 11 04:02 GMT (UK)

Hello

There's a reference on National Library of Wales to Cybi 1871-1956 (author)

and list of works includes "Odlau Eifion" and "Gwaith barddonol Cybi" published by Richard Jones in 1908 and 1912 respectively, but this poet seems to be Robert Evans.

Also there was Rev John Owen Williams (Pedrog) 1853-1932.

Still may be worth contacting NLW to see whether they have any of his work.  :)

Kind Regards
Morgan






Kind Regards
Morgan

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: Tall Al on Saturday 05 February 11 08:40 GMT (UK)

Hi,

If you look at the Archive section of the Eisteddfod web site, it has past winners of "The Chair".

A John Owen Williams won on 3 occasions -

1891 Abertawe "Yr Haul" (Pedrog)

1895 Llanelli "Dedwyddwch"(Pedrog)

1900 Lerpwl "Y Bugail" (Pedrog)

Is this your man?

Alan
 

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: Penmon on Saturday 05 February 11 09:17 GMT (UK)

Thank you all for your responses.
TheMC - unfortunately, this refers to a different Owen Williams
Morganllan - thread link very useful to National Eisteddfod winners
Morganllan & Tall Al - unfortunately, 'Padrog' is not our man either.
However you have all helped by confirming that the chair was not at the National Eisteddfod, therefore it must have been a local Eisteddfod, presumably on Anglesey.
Thanks again for your support.
Ken

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: GemMcMan on Monday 21 February 11 22:54 GMT (UK)

Does anybody know how to find the winners if the local eisteddfodds?

gemma

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: arharris on Wednesday 12 September 12 22:15 BST (UK)

Owen Williams was my grandfather: he had a shoeshop in Glanhwfa Road in Llangefni and lived in Llys Arthur in the same road.  The photograph displayed is one that I have a crumpled copy of.  My mother was not present as she was not born until 1912.  I know next to nothing about my grandfather's literary achievement unfortunately but would love to find out more.

Title: Re: Owen John Williams - Bard, 'Owen Cybi'
Post by: arharris on Wednesday 12 September 12 22:18 BST (UK)

I should have mentioned that he was a member of the Bardic Circle of Eisteddfod Mon, I believe.