THE “iconic” presence of Cardigan Castle could prove the crucial deciding factor in the battle to win the Ceredigion site for the 2020 National Eisteddfod.

That is the view of Aberaeron county councillor Elizabeth Evans who says Cardigan would narrowly get her vote ahead of the festival returning to the county.

Declaring her belief that the contest for a Ceredigion National Eisteddfod would ultimately be a two-horse race between Cardigan and Lampeter, Cllr Evans said she believed the re-opened town castle – birthplace of the National Eisteddfod in 1176 — made Cardigan slight favourites.

But, undeterred by her opinion, Lampeter were drawing up plans of their own this week, with town mayor Chris Thomas predicting they would put in a strong bid.

“Cardigan have already put their hat in the ring as a potential site and the iconic Cardigan Castle is now complete,” Cllr Evans told the Cambrian News.

“As home to the National Eisteddfod, the castle gives something unique to the bid, even though the main Maes would be located just outside Cardigan.”

Her comments will be a timely boost for Cardigan town councillors who back in October pledged to “pull out all the stops” in their efforts to bring the huge cultural festival back to Cardigan for the first time since 1976.

The most promising potential location is situated three miles south of Cardigan at Llantood – a short distance over the border into Pembrokeshire a fact which campaigners insist will not weaken their prospects.

Cllr Evans said she also understood that hopes of bringing the festival back to Lampeter were high.

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