International Island Games Association

Member Profile

Ynys Mon

Flag of Ynys Mon

Games Attended

To view a report on one of the following games then simply click the name of the games.

Links

Below are a series of useful website links relating to this member island.

Photos

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LOCATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS

The Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) is located at the heart of the British Isles. The largest island off the coast of England and Wales, it has the added advantage of being linked to the mainland by two bridges the Britannia Bridge (road and rail) and the Menai Suspension Bridge.

Ynys Môn is within easy reach of all corners of the globe and the growth of the budget airline industry means traveling to the Island has never been so economical.   Ynys Môn is within easy reach of all parts of Britain and Ireland either by rail, road or ferry.

Manchester airport is only 1.5 hours away by road and it is only 3.5 hours by rail from London to Bangor. 

Holyhead is the gateway from Ireland and Dublin can be reached in 99 minutes.  

Highland Airways offer a twice daily, Monday to Friday, flight linking Cardiff with Ynys Môn. 

Services from Maes Awyr Môn (Angelsey Airport) offer an alternative to the long journeys by road and rail between the region and the capital, as well as providing a link to Cardiff International Airport and its possibilities for onward travel.  (www.angelseyairport.com) 

GEOGRAPHY

Ynys Môn is some 50km North to South and 50km East to West covering an area of 72,000 hectares with 125 miles of coastline.

Ynys Môn offers an impressive variety of landscapes and wildlife.  The majority of the coastline has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); this landscape is one of the most important in Great Britain.  The Ynys Môn AONB is the largest in Wales and is notable for its blend of landscapes, geology, culture and wildlife.

An extensive network of coastal and inland paths enables visitors to explore this wealth of differing countryside throughout the year.  The Ynys Môn Coastal Path, stretching over 125 miles (200km), offers views of some of the most spectacular scenery on the Island.  The Path, a developing network of permissive and public paths, follows much of the coast and connects with 36 of the Island's towns and villages making it eacy to access.

Ynys Môn has a variety of towns and villages each with its own character, with many hidden secrets just waiting to be discovered.  From the bustling port of Holyhead to the beach resorts of Benllech and Rhosneigr or the village atmosphere of Menai Bridge, there are a multitude of places for visitors to explore.

The views over the Menai Strait, taking in the panorama of the Snowdonia Mountains, are another of Ynys Môn's natural attractions not to be missed. They form a magnificent backdrop, being snow-capped for much of the time between November and May.

Mean temperatures vary from 4.4°C to 5.6°C in January and 14.4°C to 15.6°C in July. Average rainfall is between 890mm and 1,015mm annually. During the summer months most of the island enjoys an average of nearly seven hours of sunshine daily. Prevailing winds are south-westerly.

HISTORY

The retreat of the Ice Age from North Wales several thousand years ago exposed the spectacular Ynys Môn coastline sculptured by glaciers. The melting ice separated Ynys Môn from the mainland forming an island of mild climate and fertile soil.

Hunters, farmers, warriors and kings have all left their mark with an abundance of ancient stones, burial chambers, forts and castles providing strong evidence of the island’s importance through the ages.

Seafaring Vikings were also attracted by the agricultural benefits of the island and, indeed, their influence was so strong that the Scandinavian name for the island is retained to this day — (Ynys Môn): 

    ‘Ongulsey’, the island of Ongull, Ongull possibly being a name of a person.

Scandinavian raids on Ynys Môn occurred in the ninth and tenth centuries and three attacks in particular have been recorded on coastal settlements in the second half of the tenth century — Holyhead 961, Aberffraw 968, Penmon 971. There is recent evidence of more prolonged Viking activity on the east coast of Ynys Mon with a major Viking settlement having recently been found at Benllech. 

POPULATION AND MAJOR CENTRES

Ynys Môn has a population of 66,829, with a population density of 0.9 people per hectare (2001 census) and is a predominantly rural area.  Although characterised by small settlements scattered around the island, the island also has urban settlements centered in Holyhead with a population of 11,237 followed by Llangefni (4,662), Amlwch (3,438) Menai Bridge (3,850) and Beaumaris (2,040).  Most of the island's economic activities are located in or around these urban areas.

 

GOVERNMENT

Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn (The Isle of Angelsey County Council) came into existence in April 1996 following local government re-organisation and is responsible for providing all local government services on Ynys Môn, working in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government to help support the citizens.  The Council employs in the region of 3,000 staff.

There are 40 elected Members on Ynys Môn who represent the electoral wards.  It is the Members who form the Council's policies by numerous committees and sub-committees.  The chairman and vice-chairman of the various committees and sub-committees work closely with the diretors and senior officers of departments to ensure that policies and decisions made by the Council are professional and fair.

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

"Croeso I Mon Mam Cymru" — "Welcome to Ynys Môn the Mother of Wales"

The Welsh Language ‘yr iaith Gymraeg’, is a tongue with an ancient history. It is a member of the Indo-European family, just like English, French and German. It belongs to the Celtic group of languages and is closely related to Breton and Cornish.

Amongst modern European languages it has one of the earliest surviving literatures. However, it is not some vanished language known only to a few academics, it is the daily working language of Ynys Môn and around 60% of the population of the island can speak Welsh, thus making Ynys Môn one of the main strongholds for the Welsh language and culture.  The Welsh language is widely used in business, administration and education.  It is the medium of a television station, a radio station, of numerous films, magazines, newspapers, books and pop songs.  Nationally, the language is spoken by some half a million people.

Throughout its history, Ynys Môn has inspired great poets. In Welsh society the poet has always been publicly respected and, over the centuries Ynys Môn’s country houses offered vital patronage to harpists and bards. This tradition is alive and well on the island today with local Eisteddfodau still encouraging competition in music and literature.

ECONOMY

Ynys Môn has experienced significant ecomonic changes over recent years.  Angelsey's economy was once dominated by agriculture but now only accounts for 4% of the total number of employees on Ynys Môn.   The island's economy is characterised by a handful of large employers, Wylfa Nuclear Power Station. Angelsey Aluminum Metals Ltd., Royal Air Force Valley and the Isle of Angelsey County Council.  However, most are employed by very small firms with 10 employees or less.  Agriculture and agri-food are still important to the island and tourism is also a key sector which continues to grow.

TOURISM

Ynys Môn is more than just another Welsh Island, it is a rich, enchanting, cannot ignore destination.

Ynys Môn's vision is of a tourism sector that is dynamic, innovative, sustainable and highly regarded, offering visitors a positive and memorable experience beyond their expectations.  Building on the ethos of :

    "Those who have visited need not be told.  They will just return".

The spectatular countryside is often what draws people to Ynys Môn, time after time.  Many enjoy simply strolling along the magnificent beaches and cliff tops.  The newly opened '125 mile Coastal Path' makes this altogether easier and more rewarding, for both locals and tourists.  Set in stages, the path can be started one holiday and finished the next, or indeed the next!  In addition to this, the new Council has produced booklets outlining some of the most outstanding sites for walking, making life easier for those day-trippers who just want to explore.

New for 2008/09:

    Pick up your copy of 'Circular walk which adjoin the Coastal Path', a classic set of 10 circular walks     around Ynys Môn taking in some of our best scenery and local cultures.

    Golf Pass.  Play five of our premier courses for just £70 with Ynys Môn Golf Pass saving over             50% on our standard green fees.

    Visit the newly opened Oriel Kyffin Williams, celebrating the lifetime work of one of Wales's most     renowned artists.

    Pick up a copy of 'True Taste of Angelsey', a definitive guide of where the best local produce can     be sampled.

    Celebrate our Culture in style on March 1st with our St David's Day celebrations, culminating in a       concert to mark the day.

    For more information on visiting Ynys Môn visit;   www.visitangelsey.co.uk       

SPORT AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

 

Ynys Môn has fantastic natural resources that cater for outdoor activities such as climbing, sailing, kayaking and walking.  The Isle of Angelsey Coastal Path is a 125 mile route that circumnavigates the island, passing through the largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales.

Ynys Môn has comprehensive leisure facilities with 5 leisure contres, 8 golf courses, 10 bowling greens, 7 rugby pitches and 15 football pitches (not including school sites).  Sailing is very strong on the island with a number if youngsters competing at national, international and world level.  Additionally there are in excess of 120 active sports clubs and societies.

Participation in the NatWest Island Games is a very important goal within the island’s development schemes, providing the opportunity to compete on foreign soil in International competition.

Dave Tommis

Chairman - Ynys Môn Island Games Association   




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