Back

 Previous

Next

Meinir Gwilym
Meinir Gwilym (born 1983) is a Welsh-language pop and folk singer. Raised in Llangristiolus, Anglesey, she released her first EP, "Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad" (translates into English as "Smokes, Coffee and Cheap Vodka") in 2002. Her website claims that she is amongst the best-selling Welsh-speaking musicians in history.

Gwilym is currently a radio announcer on the afternoon request show for Radio Cymru, the BBC’s Welsh-language service, alongside Dylan Wyn.

Childhood
Meinir Gwilym was born in Wales in 1983, and educated at Ysgol Henblas in Llangristiolus, and later, Ysgol Gyfun in Llangefni. Gwilym comes from a musical family, with a grandfather who played the piano, her other grandfather who wrote lyrics, and a mother and sister who are fond of singing. She competed in the Urdd Eisteddfod as a child, and began writing songs around the age of fourteen.

Meinir completed a degree in Welsh Literature and Philosophy in July 2004 at Bangor University. She had begun her degree at Cardiff University, but the last twelve months were completed at Bangor.

Career
Gwilym released her first EP, "Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad" in 2002. In the following year, she signed on to the Welsh record label Gwynfryn Cymunedol, and won 'Composer of the Year' and 'Best Female Artist' at the BBC Radio Cymru Rock and Pop awards. She released her first album, Dim Ond Clwydda in November 2003, and following the success of this release, she came under the sponsorship of Yamaha in 2004.

Television and Radio
Gwilym is currently a radio announcer on the afternoon request show for Radio Cymru, the BBC’s Welsh-language service, alongside Dylan Wyn.

She has also made many television appearances, particularly on the Welsh-language channel S4C. In 2005, Blwyddyn Meinir Gwilym (Welsh: “Meinir Gwilym’s Year”), a one-hour documentary that followed Meinir’s steps for an entire year was broadcast. Most recently, she has been hosting a music programme on S4C, Noson Chis a Meinir (Welsh: “Chis and Meinir’s Night”) alongside Huw Chiswell.

Discography

• Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad (2002)
• Dim Ond Clwydda (2003)
• Sgandal Fain (2005)
• Tombola (2008)