85-year-old Mary taught at Ysgol Glanrafon in the 1950s, the very first Welsh medium school in north Wales and only the third throughout the country. Now, over 60 years later, Mary’s 17-year-old granddaughter Megan is looking back at her work and that of other dedicated Welsh-language teachers like her.

The Taith yr Iaith (Journey of the Language) project forms part of an exhibition by Ysgol Maes Garmon being showcased at this year’s Urdd National Eisteddfod in Flint. Thanks to funding raised by National Lottery players, Megan and other young people from the area have been finding out how pioneering teaching in Welsh was – even just two generations ago.

She said: “It can be easy for us to take our language for granted, but it wasn’t so long ago that children were being punished for speaking it in school, let alone being taught through the medium of Welsh.

“Taking part in this project has made me realise that a small group of passionate people had to really fight to ensure this was the case.

“Our exhibition will not only celebrate my nain and others like her, and their dedication to reviving the language, but will also show how that language they fought so hard for is being used in Flintshire today.”

To complement the exhibition, a new book will be launched to chronicle the language’s development within the community, and a new song released, written and composed in partnership with the renowned Welsh singer, Arfon Wyn.

If you have an idea for a heritage project that could excite and engage young people, we would love to hear from you. Please contact our Welsh team to get started.