THE community of Frongoch came together over the weekend to commemorate the centenary of a significant event in its history when over 1,800 prisoners from Ireland were brought to Meirionnydd.

A camp at Frongoch, near Bala, had already been used for German prisoners, and on 11 June 1916 Irish prisoners arrived following the Easter Rising. They remained in Frongoch until December that year.

The community event, which was held on Saturday, involved the local school which is built on part of the camps site, and it aimed to build awareness and understanding locally about the area’s history during this time.

The day also included an exhibition at Ysgol Bro Tryweryn, walking tours of the site and a series of speakers including the Ambassador of Ireland, Daniel Mulhall.

The event, facilitated by Snowdonia National Park Authority, is part of the Cymru’n Cofio/ Wales Remembers 1914-1918 programme of events which commemorates key global events which took place during this period and their impact on communities in Wales.

Mr Mulhall said: “I am pleased to support the work of the Welsh Government and the local community in north Wales in remembering the history of Frongoch.

“Some 1,800 Irish men were interned at Frongoch after the Easter Rising of 1916 and Frongoch is a significant place in both Irish and Welsh history."

See the full story and more pictures from the day in this Thursday’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News