Don't sing Yma o Hyd at asylum protests, says Iwan
Dafydd Iwan has said he doesn't want any "right-wing groups using Yma o Hyd to oppose asylum seekers"
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Yma o Hyd singer Dafydd Iwan says he doesn't want "right wing groups using Yma o Hyd to oppose asylum seekers"
It comes after he heard reports the song was used at an event opposing the housing of people at a Carmarthenshire hotel
Iwan says he supports concerns about jobs, but doesn't want his song associated with such protests
- Published
The folk singer behind Welsh language anthem Yma o Hyd has urged people to stop using his song to protest the housing of asylum seekers.
Dafydd Iwan's 40-year-old song has seen renewed popularity after being adopted by Wales football fans.
But the singer has said its use by other groups "must stop".
It follows reports the song was used at an event opposing the housing of asylum seekers at a hotel in Carmarthenshire.
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“The song is used for many purposes and that can be a bit of a cause for concern," Iwan told Radio Cymru on Monday.
“I had a message yesterday saying it was being used by a right-wing group against asylum seekers.
"And so I went on social media to say I wasn’t happy about this and to ask them to stop.”
Iwan said he’d since been contacted by the campaigners who explained to him that their concern relates to the possible loss of a 100 local jobs at Stradey Park Hotel, near Llanelli.
Yma o Hyd was the official Wales song of the 2022 World Cup
“They said they don’t oppose asylum seekers and support a plan to house people across Carmarthenshire, but they don’t support the use of the hotel," he said.
“I accept and support their position. I didn’t want to get involved in the debate about Stradey Park Hotel and I understand their concern about the jobs.
“But I don’t want anyone from right-wing groups using Yma o Hyd to oppose asylum seekers.”
The hotel is set to house up to 207 asylum seekers from 3 July, despite objections from the local council and a local MP.
Stradey Park Hotel has been the subject of some local opposition since plans were announced for it to house up to 207 asylum seekers
Carmarthenshire council has said it is "firmly against" the Home Office plan.
It said it had concerns about the "cohesion of the local community" and whether services in the area could cope.
A Home Office spokesperson previously said the number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation had reached "record levels" and put the asylum system under "incredible strain".
They blamed a "backlog in asylum applications waiting a decision" on the decision to use hotels like Stradey Park to house those seeking asylum.
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