Around 8,000 people took to the streets of Aberystwyth today (Saturday 26 September) for the eleventh March for Independence, as First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth addressed a rally in Castle Gardens.
Supporters travelled from across Wales for the first March for Independence to be held in Aberystwyth and the first in mid Wales.
The march, organised by YesCymru and AUOBCymru, left Castle Gardens at 1pm before making its way through the centre of Aberystwyth and along the promenade, with thousands of Welsh flags, banners and placards filling the streets.
Marchers returned to Castle Gardens for an afternoon rally featuring political, cultural and campaign voices from across Wales.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth MS addressed the crowd, having previously spoken at the March for Independence in Bangor in 2023 as Plaid Cymru Leader.
Speaking at the rally, First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said:
“We are on a journey, and there’s no turning back. The next step must be equality with Scotland as a minimum. We are standing up for Wales, pursuing the investment and greater powers we need from Westminster now, so we can make a real difference to people’s lives as the next step in our constitutional journey.
“Under one banner, we celebrate the ever growing belief in our potential, and the ever growing determination to build a new, more prosperous, fairer and more confident Wales.”
He was joined on stage by Elwyn Vaughan MS, Hywel Griffiths, National Eisteddfod Crown and Chair winner, Bethany Davies, Cerys Hutin and YesCymru Chair Rob Hughes.
Aberystwyth-based Siôn Jobbins of Radio YesCymru hosted the rally, while live music came from Dros Dro and Connemara. Samba Drwm, Bagad Bro Ystwyth, Clocswyr Seithennyn, Accordions Dros Annibyniaeth and Merched Beca were among the bands and performers bringing music and colour to the march.
The march formed the centrepiece of a weekend of independence events in Aberystwyth. An Indy Market was held throughout Saturday in Castle Gardens, with organisations and campaign groups from across Wales taking part.
A programme of fringe events and live music also took place across the town over the weekend, beginning with a performance by Gwilym Bowen Rhys at the Llew Du on Friday evening. Following Saturday’s march and rally, supporters gathered for a folk music session at the Llew Du, a special post-march discussion of The Civil Contract with author Martin Dennett at Theatr Arad Goch, and an evening gig featuring Dros Dro and Steff Bwca at The Coops.
The event came during a significant period in Wales’ constitutional debate. In the days before the march, the Senedd backed the principle that the people of Wales should determine Wales’ constitutional future. Earlier in September, the leaders of Plaid Cymru, the SNP and Sinn Féin signed the Cardiff Memorandum affirming the right of Wales, Scotland and Ireland to determine their own futures.
Rob Hughes, Chair of YesCymru, said:
“The March for Independence in Aberystwyth is about bringing people together from every part of Wales who believe that the future of our country should ultimately be decided by the people who live here.
“Having the First Minister address the March for Independence is an important moment, but this movement has always been about far more than any one politician or political party. Change has to be built from the ground up, in communities across Wales.
“There is a growing national conversation about what comes next for Wales. Our task is to keep independence at the heart of that conversation, build majority support and secure an independence referendum by 2032. This march is another important step on that journey.”
The Aberystwyth march was the eleventh March for Independence organised by YesCymru and AUOBCymru since the first march in Cardiff in 2019, following previous events across Wales.
It also followed the launch of YesCymru’s 2032 campaign in August, which aims to build majority support for independence and secure an independence referendum by 2032.