A S4C programme about Llandudno that aired last night (March 26) has sparked an online debate about how the town’s name is pronounced.
Cynefin, a history and landscape documentary series, visited the Conwy town to find out more about its theatrical heritage, the importance of the Great Orme and the characters and families who have helped shape it.
One of those families is the Mostyn family, who own much of the land that town was built on, and were influential in the town’s growth into a Victorian holiday resort.
MORE: Repairs underway as Llandudno residents experience power cut
Gregory Philip Roger Mostyn, the seventh Baron Mostyn, appeared on the show, to discuss his family’s history and the role his great-great-great grandmother Lady Augusta Mostyn played in the town’s development.
But his pronunciation of Llandudno as LAN-DID-NO, caused a stir online, with one person saying “I can't believe Lord Mostyn can't speak Welsh, nor pronounce Llandudno correctly.”
Some residents backed this sentiment, with one questioning “Why are people so surprised ? Cymru or language means nothing to the aristocracy”, while another stated they were “disgusted with him”.
Others pointed out that Welsh speakers in the town are a minority and that “most residents of Llandudno mispronounce the local towns and areas”, with another adding it was “not the end of the world”.
One resident said “Llandudno is the people who live there, not some wealthy family who saw an opportunity to cash in over 100 years ago. My family were living on the Great Orme then, we don’t converse in Welsh either!”
Someone asked “Can everyone who lives in Llandudno speak Welsh? So why should he?”, but one resident stipulated “Pronounced LlanDUDNO not DIDNO”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel