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Pen-y-Groes (alternatively spelt as Penygroes) is a large village in northwestern Wales. Located to the south of Caernarfon. Population 1,680. 88% of the population are Welsh-speaking, making it one of the most predominately Welsh-speaking in the country. It is located in the former slate quarrying area of Dyffryn Nantlle, although most of the quarries are now closed down, close to Llanllyfni. It lies in the parish of Llanllyfni,and other nearby villages are Carmel, Talysarn, Nantlle, Tanrallt, Nebo, Pont Lloc and Groeslon. It is the site of the area's comprehensive school Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle (opera star Bryn Terfel's old school) and the once-legendary football team Nantlle Vale which used to be managed by professional wrestler and promoter Orig Williams, better known by his ring name of El Bandito.
The cyclepath Lôn Eifion passes through the village, following the bed of the former Bangor to Afonwen branch railway line, which was closed in 1964.
Pen-y-Groes lies by the edge of Lord Newborough's former estate at Glynllifon, from which several medieval legends have emanated. The character Lleu Llaw Gyffes, who features in the ages-old legends of the Mabinogi (sometimes inaccurately referred to as the Mabinogion), was said to have lived in the area. The iron age hill fort at Dinas Dinlleu and the village of Nantlle - originally spelt as Nantlleu - are said to have been named after him.
Other famous persons from these parts were the poets R. Williams Parry and Mathonwy Hughes, popular contemporary actor and singer Bryn Fon, politician and Labour MP Betty Williams and academic Dafydd Glyn Jones.
Pen-y-Groes is also a village in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. The Carmarthenshire village was well-known as the Headquarters of the Apostolic Church. The denomination hosted their International Convention in the Village every year from 1916-2002. The church moved its main office to Swansea in 2002 but they still have their bible college and substantial land in the locality.
(Source: Wikipedia) |