ON THE EVE of the General Election, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood will make an emotional visit to Carmarthen, where the first-ever Plaid MP was elected 49 years ago.
Gwynfor Evans shock victory in a by-election in 1966 caused a political earthquake. It gave the SNP the credibility to win Hamilton in a by-election shortly afterwards, setting the Scottish party on the long road to the unprecedented popularity it enjoys today.
“Guildhall Square was packed with a couple of thousand people,” said Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths. “There were incredible scenes of jubilation when it was announced from the balcony that Gwynfor had won. The event is remembered in songs and poems and the story even appeared on the front page of the New York Times. Plaid’s victory in Carmarthen set the devolution ball rolling. It started the political process that eventually led to a Welsh Assembly. It can be argued that the momentous events witnessed in Scotland today were originally sparked by Plaid’s victory in Carmarthen in 1966.”
Leanne Wood will arrive at the market Clock Tower to give a brief speech and she will then walk to Guildhall Square in the town centre at 12:45pm.
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