{{Short description|Welsh language poet and Archdruid}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use British English|date=November 2012}} '''Selwyn Griffith''' (1928 – 10 August 2011) was a Welsh language poet and the Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales, known by the bardic name Selwyn Iolen.
Selwyn Iolen was born in Bethel, near Caernarfon in 1928 and lived in the area throughout his life. He was educated at Bethel Primary School and Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon.
He worked as a local government officer for Gwyrfai Rural District Council for 18 years before pursuing a teacher training course at the Bangor Normal College. After completing his teacher training course he went on to teach in Ysgol Cadnant Conwy, Ysgol Penybryn Bethesda, Ysgol Llanberis, Ysgol Dolbadarn and as headteacher of Rhiwlas Primary School.
Selwyn Iolen won numerous local eisteddfod chairs across Wales and published seven volumes of poetic recitations for children, a collection of general poetic works ''C'narfon a Cherddi Eraill'' and an autobiography ''O Barc y Wern i Barc y Faenol'' He was elected a member of the Gorsedd in 1973. He won the Dyffryn Conwy National Eisteddfod Crown in 1989 and served as Archdruid between 2005 and 2008, he also officiated as Archdruid at the 2009 Eisteddfod due to the illness of Archdruid Dic Jones.
== Works == *2007: ''O Barc y Wern i Barc y Faenol'' *2000: ''Nesa i Adrodd...'' *1995: ''A Dyma'r Ola''' *1995: ''Mae Gen i Gân'' (with Leah Owen) *1992: ''Dewch i Adrodd Eto'' *1992: ''Dewch i Adrodd'' *1990: ''Pawb yn Barod?'' *1986: ''Llwyfan y Plant'' *1979: ''C'nafron a Cherddi Eraill''
==References== *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_9120000/newsid_9126500/9126562.stm Obituary] from BBC Wales (in Welsh) *[http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/cymru/46462-selwyn-iolen-wedi-marw Obituary] Golwg360 {{Navbox|name=|list1={{s-start}} {{s-bef|before=Robyn Léwis}} {{s-ttl|title=Archdderwydd of the National Eisteddfod of Wales |years=2005–2008}} {{s-aft|after=Dic Jones}} {{s-end}}|image=[[File:Tribann.svg | 40px | link= Gorsedd Cymru | alt= Awen Bardic symbol]]|imageleft=[[File:Tribann.svg | 40px | link= Gorsedd Cymru | alt= Awen Bardic symbol]]}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffith, Selwyn}} Category:1928 births Category:2011 deaths Category:People from Llanddeiniolen Category:Welsh-language poets Category:Bards of Gorsedd Cymru Category:Crowned bards Category:Welsh Eisteddfod archdruids Category:Heads of schools in Wales Category:20th-century Welsh poets Category:20th-century Welsh male writers {{Wales-writer-stub}}