A former county councillor in Dwyfor has rocketed to the top of the iTunes chart, beating the likes of Lewis Capaldi and Stormzy.

Yma o Hyd was released by Welsh folk singer Dafydd Iwan, 76, in 1983, but has recently beaten many well-known artists to take its place at the top of the chart.

But he has also enjoyed a political career, as the Gwynedd county councillor for Bontnewydd from 1995 to 2008 and the president of Plaid Cymru from 2003 to 2010.

Commenting on the song, Dafydd said: “Over the years, it’s gradually gained popularity. Especially in football and rugby matches; it’s played often and sang by choirs in the national stadiums.

“Yma o Hyd is about Welsh people celebrating the fact that we have been going for so long, and we’re still here. It’s for the survival of small nations and languages all around the world.”

Yma o Hyd has rocketed to the top of the iTunes chart due to a campaign launched by YesCymru, a group that hopes to achieve independence for Wales, due to its patriotic nature and championing of the Welsh language.

For Dafydd, inclusivity and unity remain an important message of the song.

“The great thing about this song is that it’s crossed the language divide,” he said.

“It’s been very popular with people who don’t speak Welsh.

“We’ve got to work together in whatever field we’re talking about; economics, politics, social and community life. We have to pull together.

“Wales is learning that lesson and realising that we won’t improve things without having unity.

“I think there is a very strong patriotic feeling in Wales these days. It’s not an anti-English thing, it’s a celebration of Wales.”

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