THE Monmouthshire and District National Eisteddfod local fund appeal have received £20,000 from Abergavenny Town Council towards the 2016 festival.

The National Eisteddfod is to be held at Castle Meadows, Abergavenny from July 29 to August 6. All the community fund groups in Monmouthshire together will have to raise £300,000 towards the Eisteddfod.

The Abergavenny committee will have to raise the most money with £100,000 through various fund raising events.

Mayor of Abergavenny, cllr Mrs Maureen Powell, presented the £20,000 at a town council meeting last week.

She said: “The council has allocated £10,000 each year for three years to make the contribution of £30,000, two thirds of which is handed over today. We look forward to a very successful Eisteddfod in 2016, where all who attend will be made very welcome.”

Up to 150,000 people will visit the site over the nine day festival, with the tourism and hospitality sectors locally reaping the benefits of their visit. The Eisteddfod will be working with local companies and businesses to help them to prepare for festival week and more details will be published over the coming months.

Chairman of the local executive committee, Frank Olding was at the meeting to receive the donation and said: “I would like to thank cllr Mrs Powell and the council for their very generous donation towards the National Eisteddfod in Monmouthshire. We have an ambitious fundraising target in the county and this donation will be a great boost to the fund.

“This money will be invested in the Eisteddfod project and will be used to ensure that the event is a great success with a wide range of events and activities which will appeal to people of all ages and this donation makes a real difference to our local fund.”

He added: “2016 is the first time for the Eisteddfod festival to be held in Monmouthshire since 1913, when the Eisteddfod was also held in Abergavenny. We are determined to make sure the event is a special occasion for the residents of Monmouthshire, and are working with communities across the region to make sure people feel involved and are part of the preparations for our national festival.”

For more information visit www.eisteddfod.wales, email gwyb@eisteddfod.org.uk or ring 0845 4090400.