Welsh poet's Sardinian honour

Award-winning Welsh poet and playwright Menna Elfyn is to receive a top honour from the people of Sardinia, Italy.

Ms Elfyn, director of the MA Creative Writing Programme at Trinity University College, Carmarthen, will fly out to pick up the award on October 21.

"News of the award came as a bit of a shock, but it is warmly welcomed as a great honour from the people of Sardinia,” the Llandysul-based author said.

"It is being given as part of a festival called Amistade [friendship in the Sardinian language] and, even though I have yet to discover the exact nature of the prize, it is very exciting to be honoured in such a way."

Festival spokesman Giuseppe 'Pino' Serpillo said the award would recognise Ms Elfyn’s work to defend and promote the Welsh language and also be a reward for the quality of her poetry.

Ms Elfyn, 56, was one of a number of writers who held workshops and readings in Sardinia last year.

Signore Serpillo said last year provided a chance for Welsh writers to get to know something more about Sardinia which he said is, "a country with a great cultural tradition which risks being swept away by Italian in a similar way to Welsh and English."

Signore Serpillo said the award to Ms Elfyn was in the gift of members of a Sardinian association which is interested in promoting the Sardinian language and literature.

He added:”Every other year, this association, called Amistade, organises a festival with poetry reading, music and other activities, during which prizes are awarded to poets, writers, intellectuals, scientists, who have given a contribution to the knowledge and prestige of Sardinia or have promoted so-called 'minority languages' in their own countries, which, like Sardinia, have had a history of bilingualism.

"Two years ago one of these prizes was given to the Irish poet Nuala N í Dhomhnaill.”

Ms Elfyn said: "To receive international recognition for my work is indeed a great honour and I greatly appreciate the award from the people of Sardinia.”

You can visit Menna Elfyn's website here.