An iconic international festival has been given a major boost by Europe's top trailer firm.

Ifor Williams Trailers have come on board to support the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod which is celebrating an important milestone this year.

The trailer makers, who have factories in Cynwyd, Corwen and Deeside, are sponsoring one of the outside stages.

This year's event will be the 70th since it was founded in 1947 in the aftermath of the Second World War to create peace and harmony.

The sponsorship of the popular Amphitheatre Stage by Ifor Williams Trailers was music to ears of Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies who's hoping this year's event will be among the best ever.

Dr Davies said: "We are very grateful to Ifor Williams Trailers and our other sponsors for their invaluable support which will enable us to put on a spectacular festival in what is an historic year for us.

“Things are going very well and tickets are selling well, much better than last year.

"We have a fantastic line up which includes some genuine singing superstars like Katherine Jenkins and Bryn Terfel, not to mention Kerry Ellis, the so-called Queen of the West End and the operatic boy band Collabro.

"We’ve also got an increased number of overseas competitors this year with around 37 groups.

"It is a truly magical event and what makes it special I think is the fact that it’s put on in a small town by a small band of people.

"The Eisteddfod itself is essentially a music and dance festival, a peace festival which must retain the eisteddfodic tradition otherwise we’re just another festival.

"We are a melting pot of colour and culture and Llangollen has become the town where Wales meets the world.

"Organising the event costs a lot of money and the sponsorship we receive is a huge benefit. It's fantastic.

"Ifor Williams Trailers is now a globally recognised brand - they're sold across Europe and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. There international reputation makes them a great fit for us."

Jason Edwards, who works in the stores department at Ifor Williams Trailers, lives in Llangollen, and is a regular visitor to the Eisteddfod.

He said: "I bring the kids and we spend the day here on the weekend. It's a very special event."

"I'm proud that both Ifor Williams Trailers and the Eisteddfod are putting Llangollen on the world map."

HR manager Richard Hughes also lives locally and worked as a programme seller at the Eisteddfod in his younger days.

He said: "The Llangollen Eisteddfod is a unique event and I believe we are a good match because we're both known worldwide."

It was a sentiment echoed by quality controller Emrys Vaughan, from Ruthin.

He said: "I’m very familiar with the Llangollen Eisteddfod and it’s excellent that Ifor Williams is sponsoring the event this year.

"Everyone knows about Ifor Williams Trailers because they’re all over the world and not just in this country. They sell as far as the UAE, New Zealand and Australia. There will many people from overseas who come to this event who are familiar with our trailers."

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Related Links:

www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/

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News » Top trailer firm puts festival out in front