Cymraeg - English

Prestigious Daniel Owen prize in the national Eisteddfod

We are very proud of our former Manager, Meinir Pierce Jones who won the prestigious Daniel Owen prize in the national Eisteddfod at Tregaron. Her masterpiece is a historical novel packed with maritime history and located firmly here in Llyn. Worth learning Welsh to readit! Llongyfarchiadau, Meinir.

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International links

Not for the first time, staff from the Museum found themselves on Nefyn beach in adverse weather - this time to hold a sandcastle competition !. The request came from the Wales/Argentina Society who keep alive the heroic efforts by Welsh people to form a a Welsh speaking colony in Patagonia back in 1865. (google Y Wladfa for the full story). The very same competition is held annually over on Argentinian beaches to commemorate the Landing (Gwyl y Glaniad).

Here are some pictures of our event, showing the architectural planning and skilful construction skills of our winners, Caleb and Ianto. Da iawn, hogia ! (We hope this will become an annual event...). These photos have already crossed the ocean to our fellow compatriots!

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Fest Madrun

In olden days people would congregate in churchyards to hold fairs and festivities...this tradition was revived in our recent Madrun Festival. We also received permission to use a nearby field from Nefyn Town Council, as modern Health and Safety regulations would not favour dancing and circus skills in the uneven land of the churchyard !

We held this, our first outdoor festival, to draw attention and celebrate our wonderful new permanent exhibition, the ‘Madrun Mystery’. Madrun is the name given by local school children to our 12th century female skeleton. Also to be seen is her grave, made of local stone slabs which has been skilfully reconstructed, a late example of stone ‘cist’ burial. (Have you seen this exhibition yet? Not to be missed !)

A specially built stage by Mr Emrys Griffiths was the focal point of the Fest. Opening the day in high style were  Nefyn Primary School children. A fine re-enactment of ‘Madrun’ by Janet Hughes and legendary tales by Manon Prysor were followed by renowned baled singer Gwilym Bowen Rhys, who finished off the afternoon with his usual spirited rendering, including the atmospheric Garthcelyn and rousing sea shanty favourites.  There were many attractions dotted around the churchyard – cakes, locally produced goods, mediaeval craft workshops including spinning and weaving , children’s activities, and a very special beer stall : Cwrw Madrun, a special new brew by local brewery Cwrw Llŷn. And in the nearby field Cimera provided circus skills for all, and Anti Neta got visitors to join in the folk dance session. ‘And a jolly good time was had by all’ !

The Museum was open of course , and proved a welcome  cool refuge from the blazing sun and heat ! We had a steady flow of visitors coming in for refreshments, to buy raffle tickets and to look at our items on display including our temporary exhibition on the Blue Funnel Shipping Company.
The general verdict was that Fest Madrun was successful, judging by happy faces on the day and comments received afterwards. To the organisers, Ceiri, Janice and Jina, the most important thing was bringing local people together, and giving us all a glimpse of one of the school childrens’ songs : ‘ Nefyn yw ein nefoedd ni’ (Nefyn is like heaven).

With our heartfelt thanks to all who helped in any way to making this a happy, Welsh community event which showed your support for our Museum here in Nefyn.

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Raise your glasses !

This museum is proud to announce that Cwrw Llyn, our renowned local brewery 'have produced a new beer named Madrun in honour of our skeleton! It will be available on tap at the Madrun Festival this weekend. Try it! Iechyd da!

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The Museum is proud to acknowledge Snowdonia Fire and Security, Waen-fawr as sponsors. We really appreciate this support.

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Proud to work together with our neighbours, Nant Gwrtheyrn Language Centre

We are very happy and proud to work together with our neighbours, Nant Gwrtheyrn Language Centre, in providing a Croeso Cymraeg' for learners of our language here at the museum. Individual learners will also be able to access our resources as they develop, so don't be shy, 'Give Welsh a go' . We always have a Welsh speaker on duty here.

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New Sponsers 2022

Llŷn Museum is proud to announce that we have a new sponsor for 2022-23: local Afonwen Laundry (which is officially known as Johnson's Hotel Linen nowadays). Many thanks to the local manager Cedri for his support. We will be using the company's logo on our Summer Programme and on this website.
If anyone else is interested in sponsoring our museum, please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!

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Walk to Garn Fadrun.

Here is the group of intrepid walkers that went up Garn Fadrun under the guidance of Dawi Griffiths their knowledable leader. 'A good time was had by all' and the question is now, 'Which Garn will we visit next year?'
Diolch Dawi for giving his service to the Museum.

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Ymweliad arbennig

English to follow.Bu’r Arddangosfa ‘Blue Funnel’ sydd yn yr Amgueddfa Forwrol yn Nefyn ar hyn o bryd (tan 17 o Orffennaf) yn boblogaidd iawn, ond roedd ymweliad á hi yn ddiweddar gan Carys Davies o Chwilog yn achlysur arbennig. Daeth hi yna’n unswydd i weld yr ‘Olympus Cup’ a roddwyd i’r Amgueddfa gan ei thad, y diweddar Capten Hugh Davies.

Mae hanes y cwpan yn ddiddorol iawn. Enillwyd y tlws gan griw llong Capten Hugh Davies , yr ‘Agapenor’ yn ystod caethiwed 15 llong yng nghamlas Suez yn ystod y ‘Six Day War’ yn 1967. Trefnwyd amrywiaeth o weithgareddau i griwiau’r llongau yn ystod y cyfnod anodd ac ansicr hwn er mwyn cadw’u hysbryd yn gadarn, gan gynnwys twrnament pél-droed pump-bob- ochr rhwng criwiau’r llongau. Tím yr ‘Agapenor’ fu’n fuddugol a chyflwynwyd yr ‘Olympus Cup’ i’w Capten, Hugh Davies.

Diolch i’n Gwirfoddolwyr arbenigol, Elinor, Carys, Margaret, Gwerfyl a Diane am roi’r Arddangosfa at ei gilydd, ac yn arbennig i Elinor a drefnodd ymweliad Carys.

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The Museum is proud to announce the recruitment of a Mate to join our crew.

Janice Evans will take over the smooth navigation of the shop and cafe and be the vital link with our valued volunteers. Welcome on board, Janice ! (We gratefully acknowledge AHNE Llŷn's contribution in creating this job).

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Blue Funnel Exhibition

During the opening weeks of this long awaited exhibition we have been astounded with the interest and appreciation shown in this exhibition (available until the end of July). The Exhibition is open to all at our normal opening hours, but we also welcome group visits by prior arrangement. We can arrange a talk, film, refreshments as part of your tailored visit.
We welcomed a group from Holyhead recently.

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Madrun souvenirs.

As the interest in our lady skeleton, Madrun, increases, we have commissioned some Madrun merchandise, eg. Mugs, coasters, and a medieval game. Come and choose your favourite!

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Nefyn Scavenger Hunt

On Tuesday, April the 12th, a Scavenger Hunt around the town of Nefyn was held. Teams had to look for clues to be able to answer the 15 questions. 'Bob Ross' and 'Jackson Five' won prizes when they were drawn from a hat, having answered all questions correct. The profit went to the Museum.

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Happy Easter!

Many thanks to mums, nain, auntie and dad for helping today as we held a successful and busy session of Easter activities here. Looking at Palm Sunday to Easter celebrations, we learned about traditional Welsh customs. The children coloured, painted, glued, sang and hunted for eggs.

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Yes, we are now open for visits!

With new items in the shop and refreshment area, but also with important additions to our artefacts on display, including our 12th century skeleton and stone cist grave, painting of a WW2 convoy ship, Russian bravery medal and more- you simply must call in!

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Half Term Activities

Hurray ! At last our children's activities are back ! The half term has been busy with the laughter and enjoyment that is always present with youngsters, a welcome tonic for us all!

Here are some photos of the week. We held the first of many sessions on our latest permanent exhibition the mystery of Madrun our skeleton from the Age of the Welsh Princes. Children enjoyed meeting a real skeleton, learning about her life with Janet, doing some fieldwork in the churchyard and making craft activities.

On the best morning of the week, mild and sunny, a smaller group ventured down to the beach for a nature and history session under the experienced Anita (Antur Natur). The adults present enjoyed themselves (almost) as much as the youngsters, this is an event you must not miss next time!

The Museum would like to thank the Federation of Welsh Museums and our Government for funding these activities as part of the Museum Festival and the Winter of Wellbeing schemes

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Bardsey Island Treasure Hunt

Thank you to everyone who took part in the treasure hunt to celebrate Bardsey lighthouse’s 200th birthday. Eleven teams took part in all, and from those, five achieved full marks. The winner of the main prize was decided at random, and ‘Bulbs Bryn Hafod’ were victorious, with the other four teams who got every question right; ‘Tîm Llewyrch Enlli’, ‘Wil ac Eurwen’, ‘Teulu Hughes’ a ‘Cewri Boduan’, also receiving prizes. During the route, teams got the chance to learn more about the history of the lighthouse, starting at the Museum and ending up at Porth Y Swnt, Aberdaron, where the optic is kept. Thanks to the National Trust for their co-operation in this event too. The profits will be split between the Museum and the Trust.

 

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Christmas Fair

Our first ever Christmas Fair with Cabaret was held this year, as we couldn't hold our usual Candlelit Carol Evening. But guests enjoyed carols galore with Geraint, Janet, Laura Wyn a Jina taking turns at the keyboard! Covid meant limiting numbers of guests and all were advised not to remove their coats and scarves as our museum keeps fresh air flowing by opening windows, even in December ! So the warm mince pies and hot drinks were very much appreciated by our supporters. The Christmas Hamper raffle was won by Laura Wyn Roberts. Staff would like to thank all who contributed in any way to the success of this event: we raised over £250 - a welcome 'Christmas box' for the museum's funds at the end of what has been a very challenging year.

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Noson G'langaea

Although we had to cancel the planned 'spooky walk through Nefyn', we were very pleased to see the museum filled to '(covid) capacity for the session of local ghostly stories told by Meinir Pierce Jones. Brave youngsters also had a go at old traditional customs, and the prize for the lantern was given to Jacob. This eveinig could well become a 'standard' on the museum's calender.
Many thanks to all that supported the venture, and especially to Meinir for entertaining us - without scaring to excess!

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Ein Hanes ni (welsh only..)

Daeth criw da at ei gilydd o bob oed i fynychu gweithdy Rhys Mwyn ar hanes Nefyn. Wedi cyflwyniad byr aethpwyd â ni ar daith trwy'r dref yn darganfod cliwiau am ein hanes... y twmpath, yr enw, y darn o dir, y dyddiad ... ia, mae hanes ymhobman - yn enwedig yn ein tref hanesyddol ni. Diolch i Rhys, i Ifan (Hunaniaith) ac i bawb am gefnogi'r fenter.

Bydd Rhys o gwmpas Llŷn yn arwain nifer o deithiau cerdded i fryngaerau'r fro fel rhan o Wŷl Archeolegol y mae'r EcoamgueddfaLIVE yn ei chynnal 23-30ain.
Am fwy o fanylion : LLŶN ARCHAEOLOGICAL FESTIVAL | LIVE Ecomuseums

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A Good Afternoon

Many thanks to all who made our 'Afternoon Tea' last Saturday a success - we raised £432, over half of which has been sent to MacMillan Cancer Support. The winners of the raffle were:
Mary Evans (Chemist's Voucher), Jean Coker (bottle of wine), Janet Wyn (Box of items), William Trenholme (Kilner Jar), Eirwen Hulmston (Lemon Drizzle Cake), Megan Williams (Chocolate), Laura Wyn (chocolate), Delyth Trenholme (Scented Balls), Dilys Williams (Set of small decorated notebooks), Iwan Evans (chocolates).
A big thank you to all who contributed in any way, to Janice Evans for arranging the event and especially to Tom for initiating us in the way to erect the Gazebo !

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Hydref 14 1881 - Llongdrylliad y Cyprian (welsh only..)

Heddiw, mae'n union140 o flynyddau ers llongddrylliad y Cyprian enwog. Cofiwch gofrestru i glywed yr hanes yn llawn a gweld y casgliad o luniau yn ymwneud â'r llong - a chyda ddau Gyprian arall gyda diweddau trychinebus ! Geraint Jones bydd yn ein tywys trwy'r stori, ac y mae holl arian a godir o'r noson yn cael ei rannu rhwng ein Bad Achub lleol (Porthdinllaen) a'r Amgueddfa.

Cliciwch yma i ddarllen mwy am yr llongdrylliad

Cofrestrwch Yma

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Newyddion da o lawenydd mawr! (welsh only..)

Mae "Hen brocer bach gloew fy Nain" yn dychwelyd i Nefyn yr wythnos hon (Medi 30, 2021), ac bydd yn cael ei arddangos yn yr Amgueddfa! Gyda diolch i Storiel, Bangor am fenthyg yr artiffact i ni, ac yn arbennig i Elinor Ellis am ei hymdrechion i gael y darn bach yma o'n hanes (a hanes personol teulu Elinor) yn ôl i Nefyn!

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To wander... a pilgrim's perspective

Every year many people undertake to walk the (northern) Path of the Pilgrims to Bardsey Isle, starting at Basingwerk. This year our Heritage Officer, Jina, joined with a group for part of their journey, from Trefor to Nefyn. It was a pleasant if somewhat strenuous experience, with breathtaking views (see photos). (Good company and fine weather are bonuses!). It's an experience not to be missed.

We encourage all prilgrims and walkers on the Coastal Path ( the two do overlap at times) to make arrangements to call in at the Museum for refreshments, and to collect their special Nefyn Stamp . We also have a selection of Pilgrim's Path goods available here.

 

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The first 'Gwylbro' (local fest) was held on 4th September T Heliwr and the museum.

We had a busy afternoon of varied activities : films, name hunt, crafts, knot ties and a walk through history. The star of the show was the angel shark, with an excellent underwater film by Jake Davies inspiring the children to make their own angel shark! Many thanks also to Meic Massarelli and Rodney Jones for their help. We're looking forward to Gwylbro 2022 already! Don'tmiss it!
The pictures show children making an angel shark from sandpaper and shell.

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Local Nefyn Fest

The museum is holding events as part of this weekend, on Saturday 4th September., 1-4.30 pm. Please note we will NOT be open on Sunday 5th.

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The Insect Hunt (Helfa Trychfilod)

This event was in Welsh, but I'm sure you'd like to see the pictures of the fun. Diolch yn fawr to Hunaniaith and Antur Natur for helping the Museum to hold this event for our youngsters (and the grown ups enjoyed themselves too!).

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#summer of fun

All good things come to an end, and the last session of Summer Fun (funded by the Welsh Government) has just finished. A good crew came on board to help Captain Mel finish the sea picture, make jelly fishes, hunt treasure, play games and more in the fine weather.

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Postponing our Archaeology day

We have cancelled out planned Session on Nefyn's history in the Age of the Princes until the autumn. More details soon

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#summer of fun

We succeeded in holding the first of these sessions yesterday- despite the wind and rain that forced us to move most of the activities into the museum! Modelmaking, artwork, story, treasure hunt and a song soon filled up the time, and everyone left with a smile of their faces !
There are a few places still available for the next session - Monday 16th, 10-12pm...what will the weather be like then?
We gratefully acknowledge the financial aid of the Welsh Government in this venture.
NB : a very welcome addition to the activities was an impromptu visit by Iestyn Tyne who played his fiddle for the enthralled youngsters ! Diolch yn fawr, Iestyn.

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Collage Competition Winner

We are proud to announce that the winner of our collage competition is Jack of Edern. He called into the Museum to collect his prize with Mam and Nain. Please come and see both his and other collages; our grounds are indeed beautiful places for nature to thrive.

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Outdoor Activities begin

A crew of youngsters came to the museum grounds to enjoy a day of outdoor activities put together by Wild Elements in cooperation with Gwynedd Council. The grounds were filled with activity and laughter, a tonic for all !
Watch this website for more summer activities that we will be holding next month as part of the #Summer of Fun project!

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A (hot) walk to Garn Boduan hill fort.

Saturday morning July 17th, the temperature 24 degrees in the shade- not really the best conditions for a strenuous hill walk to the summit of Garn Boduan (279m/915ft.) above Nefyn. But our brave walkers ventured and were rewarded with stunning views- a 360 panorama at the summit! Our careful and knowledgeable guide, (Dawi Griffiths). kep to a sensible pace and provided ample information on both Welsh hillforts in general and specifically Garn Boduan .
A big thank you to all who supported the event, including four very well behaved dogs, who must have sweated even more than I did !

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Prizes For Naming Madrun

These are the two pupils who won prizes as part of our skeleton-naming process, with the chosen name being ‘Madrun’. Congratulations to Guto Bryn Williams, 11 years old and Mabon Arwel Williams, 9 years old! Thank you to Ysgol Pentreuchaf and Ysgol Tudweiliog for letting us visit to present the awards.

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A good start to our summer activities.

The first event to be held this summer was a guided geological walk around Cilan, led by our expert Daniel Evans. The sun shone for us and the views were stunning ! We will be holding another walk soon, this time to the top of Garn Boduan. Anyone interested in our early history and hillforts - this is one for you!

(pictures : Cilan Geological Walk, by courtesy of Sion Owen).