SNATCHING an interview with Mark Drakeford on his annual visit to the National Eisteddfod was always going to be tricky. The people of Wales were keen to chat to their First Minister.

And chat is the operative word. The relationship has become a close one. They were wanting to voice their worries but also give their thanks for his leadership and grab selfies with the man as he wandered the field calling in on stalls and organisations of the country in his care.

But he’d promised to spare time for the Morning Star before his various official appearances.

“The National Eisteddfod is an opportunity to attend a unique event. We are a small language and surrounded by a global language and so this is our chance to use Welsh amongst ourselves in a total and thoroughgoing way for a week. But it is also a place where we reach out to others, share our experiences with the world... and of course, have a great day out.”

I asked if the labour movement needed more representation on the field.

“We need to reflect the breadth and depth of Welsh life and that must include the experience of the organised labour movement. There is work to be done on both sides by both the Eisteddfod and the labour and trade union movement itself.

“Next year the National will be in Rhondda-Cynon-Taf in the very cauldron of the Labour and trade union tradition in Wales. We need to recognise that and prepare to celebrate that history and present-day work next August in Pontypridd.”

Drakeford was dragged off by more selfie-seekers and a press officer worried about the time. But here was a politician happy amongst his people — and in Llyn, a Plaid Cymru stronghold.

A famous Welsh politician who has a more complicated relationship with Wales and history is David Lloyd George. And this British prime minister has his grave and a museum nearby here at Llanystumdwy.

One excellent experience at Boduan was a one-man show by the actor Carwyn Jones of Mewn Cymeriad written by the acclaimed dramatist Manon Steffan Ros. In period costume the “Welsh wizard” declaims his story, from poverty to a key place on the world stage.

As it progresses, despite his hubris, he becomes forced to skirt around his own actions in the cash-for-honours scandals, the Middle East, Ireland and the meeting with and praise for Adolf Hitler. A brilliant piece of work.

Lloyd George kicked off his legal and political career defending quarry workers in the courts, and the National Museum of Wales has a good representation here of the slate industry which is such a feature of the landscape and history here in Gwynedd.

Elaborately carved slate, fans produced by the workers, a slate plaque from the offices of the Quarrymen’s Union of North Wales and a slate sculpture by the artist Kyffin Williams are among the delights on show. Let’s hope Drakeford caught that exhibition.

In a historic event, the radical Welsh Language Society and Wales TUC signed a partnership agreement on the Eisteddfod field. Sian Gale on behalf of TUC Wales and Robert Idris for Cymdeithas yr Iaith pledged to fight together to strengthen workers’ linguistic rights in the workplace as well as “good local jobs with decent conditions in all parts of Wales.” And indeed the old cry from the 1831 Merthyr Rising was sounded: “Caws gyda bara” (“not just bread but cheese”). This ceremony was followed by a well-attended public meeting with representation from a range of unions.

Under the banner of cymunedoli, some 28 community enterprises have come together in Gwynedd to create a unique organisation. Effectively they jointly represent nearly 400 full-time jobs in the county, operating in celebration of the co-operative ideal.

These include the tourism, educational, community, energy and cultural areas — there’s even a Welsh Language opera group. They had massive tentage and numerous events to fill it.

And one of those enterprises a few miles from the Eisteddfod Field is the community pub with accommodation “Tafarn Yr Heliwr” at Nefyn. It was here that Morning Star supporters called in for a swift pint after the excellent Star event on Thursday night on Independence v Progressive Federalism
(more on that in another issue). And a long day giving out papers around Y Maes to a great reception.

And of course, no Eisteddfod is complete without ad-hoc fringe events — and it was in Yr Heliwr on Wednesday night that an incredible folk session with musicians from around the world broke out, with uilleann pipes, massed fiddles, mandolins, double bass, whistles and a saxophone. Plus, of course, songs in Welsh! Drakeford would have been well chuffed.