TREGARON has beaten six other sites in Ceredigion in the race to host the 2020 National Eisteddfod, it emerged on Friday.

The old market town held off opposition from the more fancied bids of Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Lampeter to land the cultural festival for the very first time.

The surprise news means that the National Eisteddfod will be returning to Ceredigion for the first time since 1992, when it was held on the outskirts of Aberystwyth.

Ceredigion County Council leader Ellen ap Gwynn expressed delight at the announcement and added that the people of Tregaron were looking forward to welcoming Eisteddfod-goers from all over Wales.

“Eventually, after months of searching for suitable sites up and down the county, the news that every one of Eisteddfod’s friends in Ceredigion were waiting for - the Eisteddfod Council have chosen that Tregaron, in the centre of the county, will be the home of the Ceredigion National Eisteddfod 2020,” she said.

“We look forward to welcoming Eisteddfod-goers from all over Wales here in August 2020.”

Tregaron county councillor Catherine Hughes described it as ‘great news’ both for the town and the surrounding area, adding that festivalgoers were already seeking accommodation in the locality.

“We’re obviously grateful to all landowners who have made it possible and are looking forward to Tregaron welcoming the National Eisteddfod to Ceredigion,” she added.

“Of course, we must remember that this is Ceredigion’s Eisteddfod and I look forward to working as a county to ensure a successful Eisteddfod.”

Eisteddfod chiefs confirmed that the festival’s Maes would be on the northern side of the town towards Aberystwyth.

Chief executive Elfed Roberts said: “This will be the festival’s first visit to Tregaron, and I’m sure we’ll attract a strong team of supporters and volunteers at grassroots level to work with us over the next two years.”

More details will be revealed at a public meeting at Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron on 20 September.

Back in March it emerged that Ceredigion County Council would use an ‘unexpected’ funding surplus to set up a special fund to pay toward the cost of hosting the 2020 National Eisteddfod.

The council agreed to divert £200,000 into a special earmarked reserve to provide funding for the prestigious event.