[Harry!]

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/

WELSH is cool and not a language confined to school and chapel, Big Brother runner-up Glyn Wise said yesterday.

He said: “It’s a living language that is spoken everywhere more and more. I want everyone to realise that speaking Welsh is really cool and young people should be doing more to speak the language.

“A few weeks ago Duffy was number one in the charts, she’s a Welsh speaker from Nefyn. Aaron Ramsey, of Cardiff City, played in the cup final, he speaks Welsh. I’ve met Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones from the Welsh rugby team, they both speak Welsh, as does Shane Williams.

“Welsh is an everyday language and we should do everything to make sure it is used as such. If Welsh is out there we should use it.”

Day president, BBC reporter Iolo ap Dafydd, said he uses Welsh as much as possible in everyday life.

“It is surprising how many people have been to Welsh lessons, had some Welsh at school and welcome the opportunity to speak the language when given the chance. I start many conversations in Welsh and if the person can’t speak Welsh then so be it but it raises the language’s profile,” he said.

Heritage minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas said he agreed with the comments made by Glyn and Mr ap Dafydd.

“We in the Assembly actively promote the use of the Welsh language as much as possible.”

Glyn Wise, who took part in Channel Four’s Big Brother 7 while still a pupil at Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, wants to start a campaign to bring the Urdd Eisteddfod back to the slate quarrying town. He said it last visited the town in 1936 and a return visit was “long overdue”.