A NEW community enterprise has officially opened its doors in Llandovery.

Y Gannwyll - named in honour of Vicar Prichard whose poems were published under the title of Canwyll y Cymru (The Welshman’s Candle) - is a new museum and tourist information centre based in the former Heritage Centre building in the town.

The centre, which boasts historical and cultural exhibits of Llandovery and the surrounding areas, has been set up by a group comprising of volunteers and trustees.

Visitors and VIP’s had the first chance to view the displays at the official opening on Saturday, April 13.

Carmarthenshire County Council has financially and logistically supported the tourism elements in what is a strategically located facility in the heart of the town which in itself is a major entry point into the county from the Beacons.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member responsible for Culture, Leisure and Sport and Tourism, Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, said: “Y Gannwyll is another great example of how we as an authority are supporting the regeneration of local communities and work in partnership with them especially in such an important industry as our tourism one.

"This exciting new chapter of this particular building in the town comes following our recent contributions to improving the awareness of Twm Sion Cati with additional signage from the town to the site. I would like to congratulate everyone involved for their hard work and dedication in opening this new museum and visitor centre and would like to wish them all the best of luck in their new venture.”

Local member and one of the Trustees, Cllr Handel Davies, said: “This exciting venture, Y Gannwyll, opens with the dual aim to better promote our rich local history and to highlight the top local attractions and activities in and around Llandovery to encourage visitors to stop and stay longer to enjoy.

"With so many of Wales’s legends here from Twm Sion Cati’s (Wales’s own Robin Hood) Cave to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan (Wales’s own Braveheart), to the Lady of the Lake and the Physicians of Myddfai, to Vicar Prichard and William Williams Pantycelyn and his famous rugby hymn ‘…Bread of Heaven’ and so much more.

"Already a magnet for fishing, walkers and cyclists, we are determined that this beautifully scenic area of north Carmarthenshire, through initiatives such as this, will become an increasingly popular tourist destination which will benefit the local economy.”