CLICK HERE to view the Evening Leader's Llangollen Eisteddfod slideshow

This message, delivered by children to children, is for many the epitome of the whole festival, and brought tears to many an eye.

The schools performing the peace message yesterday were Madras VA Primary School, Penley, Borderbrook School, Talwrn Green and Higher Wych, St Mary's Church in Wales Primary School, Overton-on-Dee, St Paul's Voluntary Aided Primary School, Isycoed, Ysgol Sant Dunawd Primary School, Bangor-on-Dee, Ysgol Deiniol CP School, Marchwiel, Eyton Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, Bronington Church in Wales VAP School, and St Chad's Church in Wales Aided School, Hanmer.

Within the Peace Message presentation, songs included Patsy Ford Simms' 'Let us walk in peace and Alan Simmons' We are the youth of the world from Olympics.

Decked out in yellow, purple, turquoise, red and black shirts, sporting the logo 'Peace' in different languages, the children sang, danced and played their way into the hearts of the audience, and left at least one cynical old hack with a tear in his eye.

'Let us walk in peace', they sang, 'loving one another, helping out our brother – this is our dream'.

A message of peace and goodwill has been delivered from young people at the Llangollen Eisteddfod since way back in 1952, and yesterday's effort must rank with the very best.

It was co-ordinated by Peter Budd, with musical direction by Mervyn Cousins, dance routines and choreography by Alison Jarvis, and Welsh translation by Mari Tudor.

Mr Cousins said: "The children were all wonderful and it was a pleasure working with them through the rehearsals and performances. I also thank the teachers who co-operated so readily, and whose help went a long way to ensuring this performance was a success."

Molly Edwards of Eyton, a member of the Ysgol Deiniol Marchwiel choir, who performed yesterday, said: "I felt proud and honoured to take part. We practiced very hard, both by ourselves and with other schools – we'd all like to be singers one day."

Today is International Song and Dance Day at the Eisteddfod, in which authentic performers from around the world join in with a magnificent day of music and dance. There are also choirs, soloists, dance groups and more in the pavilion, with workshops and performances around the field.

This evening's Window on the World extravaganza sees folk dancers and choirs from across the world entertain at the official welcoming ceremony concert, introduced by Eisteddfod president, Terry Waite.

Tomorrow is International Youth Day in Llangollen, with stunning young talent from the world over – young people from around the world united by artistic endeavour, and gigs and live music on the field.

Tomorrow evening's concert features Onke Ose, direct from Africa. It promises to be a remarkable evening, with 17 singers and dancers from Africa tracing the history of the continent's black music, from Zulu dancing via township music to the dancing of the mining communities and acappella singing.

There is plenty of parking nearby for Eisteddfod-goers. A weekly pass from Tuesday to Saturday, July 8-12 costs £15 per car. A full day pass from 8.30am to 11pm costs £4 a day, but just £3 a day for an evening pass from 4pm to 11pm.


CLICK HERE to view the Evening Leader's Llangollen Eisteddfod slideshow


Were you at the opening of the Llangollen Eisteddfod?

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