AN ENGLISH-BORN Gwent woman who took it upon herself to learn Welsh so she could teach her children has reached the final of Welsh Learner of the Year.

Cat Dafydd, 33, from Maesycwmmer, was born in Manchester but moved to Cardiff to go to university. She began learning Welsh six years ago after meeting her husband, Iestyn ap Dafydd, 40.

“It was a foregone conclusion the kids would grow up speaking Welsh, so it was so I could teach my children,” said Mrs Dafydd.

Now fluent, Mrs Dafydd put herself forward for the competition at this year’s National Eisteddfod in Wrexham, running from July 30 to August 6, after making the last six at last year’s Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale.

This year she has gone one better and is the final four.

Mrs Dafydd, of Main Road, speaks Welsh at home with her husband and two children, Ioan, four, and Emrys, two.

She is also a tutor on the couple’s website, saysomethinginwelsh.co m which uses mp3 files to help people learn Welsh.

Mrs Dafydd added: “I’m very excited this year and I think it’s nice to show someone with a young family like me that you can find a bit of time to pick it up She will go up against Kay Holder from Dinas Powys, Neil Wyn Jones from West Kirby and Sarah Roberts from Bangor in the final on the Maes on August 3 with the ceremony that evening at Wrexham Memorial Hall.

  • Tickets for the Eisteddfod go on sale next month, visit eisteddfod.org.uk or call 0845 4090 800 for more information.