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Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog  Blaenau Ffestiniog shown within Wales
OS grid reference	SH705455
Community	Ffestiniog
Principal area	Gwynedd
Ceremonial county	Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BLAENAU FFESTINIOG
Postcode district	LL41
Dialling code	01766
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
List of places: UK • Wales • Gwynedd

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Blaenau Ffestiniog hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1898. It was formerly part of the ancient county of Merionethshire. Locals divide Blaenau Ffestiniog into "parts" - among these are Tanygrisau and Manod.^{[citation needed]} In this sense Blaenau Ffestiniog is sometimes used to refer only to the centre of town.

The English pronunciation of Blaenau Ffestiniog suggested by the BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names is /ˈblaɪnaɪ fɛsˈtɪnjɒɡ/,^[1] but the first word is pronounced [ˈbləɨna] by local Welsh speakers and usually [blaɪna] by non-Welsh-speakers.

Located in the mountains of Snowdonia, the town was once a centre of the Welsh slate mining industry. This industry declined during the early 20th century. The town's economy is now largely dependent on tourism. Although the town is in the centre of the Snowdonia National Park, the boundaries of the Park are specifically arranged to omit the town with its substantial slate waste heaps from the Park.

The hills around Blaenau Ffestiniog form the watershed between the River Lledr flowing to the north (a tributary of the River Conwy) and the River Dwyryd flowing to the west.

Ysgol y Moelwyn is the main secondary school in the area, covering Blaenau, Manod, Tanygrisiau, Llan Ffestiniog, Trawsfynydd, Gellilydan, and even stretching into the Vale of Ffestiniog. There are five primary schools in the area, many are due for closure or mergers with other schools.^[2]

the Ffestiniog Railway

the Festiniog and Blaenau Railway

the Conwy Valley Line of the London and North Western Railway, and

the Bala Ffestiniog Line of the Great Western Railway.

Blaenau Ffestiniog boasts several major tourist attractions, including the Ffestiniog Railway, and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a former slate mine open to visitors. Llechwedd is regularly listed as one of Wales' top 5 visitor attractions.^[3]

Blaenau Ffestiniog has strong roots and tradition with music from the Quarrying boom days with the Caban, Male voice choirs and brass bands, to the Jazz / Dance bands like ‘The New Majestics’ to the popular-rock bands of the 80-90’s such as Llwybr Llaethog and Anweledig, to most recent bands such as Gai Toms, Frizbee and Gwybdaith Hen Fran. Further to this local Alternative Music training Company Gwallgofiaid now has 12 + bands under its umbrella based at their Center 'Cell' at the Old Police Station in Park Square. The Centre has 5 rehearsal rooms, a 24 track studio and Cwrt performance space, but recently the center has been put under threat of closure because of lack of funding.

David Nash, artist

John Cowper Powys, novelist.

Llwybr Llaethog, musical group.

Glyn Wise, contestant and runner up on Big Brother 7.

Anweledig, musical group.

Gwyn Thomas, Welsh poet, academic and the present National Poet for Wales.

Dave Felgate, footballer.