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Dafydd ap Gwilym Society
Welsh student society of Oxford University From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Dafydd ap Gwilym Society is the Welsh society at the University of Oxford.[1] It is a Welsh language society, as opposed to a society of Welsh people like its sister-society in Cambridge, the Mabinogi Society.
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Front row (left to right) G. O. Williams, T.I. Ellis, P. Macaulay Owen, Evan J. Jones, Hywel Davies, Jeremiah Williams, B. B. Thomas, J. Lloyd-Jones, T. J. Rowlands, G. A. Edwards, D. J. Lewis, C. Wynne Griffith, J. Williams-Hughes, Griffith Rees, T. J. Jones
Second row (right to left): J. Edwards, R. H. Evans, D. J. Davies, J. H. Williams, R. I. Aaron, D. M. Jones, E. Pryce Jones, Dewi W. Powell, H. V. Morris-Jones, H. Williams, M. Elis-Williams, A. Tudno Williams, J. H. Griffith
Back row (left to right): Llewelyn Jones, D. J. Williams, T. Meurig Wynne, H. Winter Jones, D. J. Samuel, E. Goronwy Owen, M. Hughes-Thomas, J. E. Davies, H. D. Lewis, G. R. Evans, I. Oswy Davies
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History
The society was established in 1886, making it the oldest society in Oxford after the Union. It is known by its members as "Y Dafydd". In the 1990s, several of the society's magazine editions (Yr Aradr), feature articles on the creative work of its members, as well as some of its guest speakers.
Among its founding members were O. M. Edwards and John Morris-Jones. The society began accepting female members in the academic year 1966–1967.
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Traditions
The society is named after the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym, and it was the tradition for every meeting to begin with a reading of his work by the Chaplain, followed by discussion.
The Society had some formal rituals and prestigious-sounding positions, though they were intended to be ironic. Today the chairman keeps the title of Chaplain, and the prestigious job of Headquarters remains.
It is traditional for members and alumni of the society to meet annually at the National Eisteddfod.
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Constitution
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In 2025, an official constitution was drafted for Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym. It is not known whether there exists an original constitution, or if it was lost. The Co-Caplaniaid of Y Dafydd, however, felt a constitution was necessary for the continuance of the society.
The full Welsh text consists of seven articles, and is preceded by the following declaration:
Yn enw y rhai hynny a gollodd eu gwaed dros eu gwlad a’u hiaith, a’r rhai hynny sy’n dal i frwydro; yn enw y beirdd, y gwyddonwyr a’r gwleidyddion a ffurfiodd y Gymdeithas gant a hanner o flynyddoedd cyn y dwthwn hwn; ac yn enw y bardd hwnnw a gynganeddodd cyn y bu cynghanedd, a’i eiriau’n dal i lifo ynom, a’i ddysg ynghlwm wrth ein hangerdd ni; yn enwau y rhai hynny oll,
yr ydym ni, aelodau Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym,
y rhai hynny a fu a’r rhai hynny a fydd,
yn derbyn, deddfu, a datgan ein bod ni’n ffyddlon i’r Cyfansoddiad hwn.
Article 1 states that Welsh is the official and primary language of the society, and that all communications should be conducted through Welsh, all events held in Welsh, and all members of the committee being Welsh speakers. Where bilingual events and communications occur, the Welsh must precede the English.
Article 2 states that the official name of the society is Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym. Though it has many widely used nicknames (primarily Y Dafydd and Y Gymdeithas), this article explicitly states that the name Oxford Welsh Society should not be used in any context.
Article 3 allows every student at the University of Oxford to join the society, provided they endeavour to use the Welsh language and show respect to the Welsh culture and nation.
Article 4 details the roles of the society committee.
Article 5 details the society's annual Eisteddfod.
Article 6 states that the Welsh national anthem must be sung at the end of every meeting and event.
Article 7 states that the Constitution may only be amended by a society-wide vote.
Caplaniaid of Y Dafydd
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Presidents
Some former-Fellows of the university who have served, or now serve as honorary presidents of the society:
- Sir John Rhys (1886–1919)
- Goronwy Edwards, (1919–1948)
- Sir Idris Foster, (1948–1978)
- Sir Rees Davies
- Robert Evans
- Rosalind Temple
- David Willis
Alumni of the Society
- O. M. Edwards – educationalist and writer
- Ifan ab Owen Edwards – founder of the Urdd
- Elin Roberts - founder of Better Nature Tempeh
- Gwynfor Evans – politician
- Bruce Griffiths - lexicographer
- W. J. Gruffydd – scholar and politician
- Guto Harri – newsreader
- R. Tudur Jones – scholar
- D. Densil Morgan – theologian
- Rhodri Morgan – politician
- John Morris-Jones – writer
- Huw Thomas (Welsh politician) – Leader of Cardiff Council
- D. J. Williams – writer and nationalist
- Gwilym Owen Williams – archbishop
- J. E. Meredith – writer and minister
- Ben Lake – Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion
- Delyth Jewell – Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales East region, 2019-
- Rhys ab Owen - Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, 2021-
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References
External links
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