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Rhondda Cynon Taf has been selected as the host county of the 2022 National Eisteddfod.

The National Eisteddfod Committee confirmed the county would host the celebration of Welsh language and culture in three year's time.

The council said preparatory work would now commence to organise the iconic national event in the area.

Rhondda Cynon Taf said they expressed interest in hosting the National Eisteddfod in 2017 and discussions have been ongoing for the last two years.

The National Eisteddfod Committee recently met to consider expressions of interest to host the event and ratified Rhondda Cynon Taf as the host county.

Last year the festival was held in Cardiff Bay, returning to the capital after a decade and breaking attendance records .

Here's what one of our reporters thought of the 2018 Eisteddfod :

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This August, the Eisteddfod will be held in Llanrwst in Conwy County and in 2020 Tregaron will take the reins.

National Eisteddfod chief executive Betsan Moses said: "We are delighted to be working with Rhondda Cynon Taf to bring the National Eisteddfod to the area in 2022.

"We are proud that the first modern day Eisteddfod was held in Aberdare in 1861, and look forward to working with the local community across the area to bring the festival of the 21st century to the county.

"We believe this will help to boost the language within the area, with the festival and the community project supporting the aim of achieving a million Welsh speakers by 2050."

Past Eisteddfods in Rhondda Cynon Taf 1861 Aberdare 1893 Pontypridd 1905 Mountain Ash 1928 Treorchy 1940 and '46 Mountain Ash 1956 Aberdare

(Image: Aled Llywelyn)

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council leader Andrew Morgan said: "Our County Borough is honoured to be confirmed as host for the 2022 National Eisteddfod of Wales and I’m sure that this event will provide a major economic opportunity for Rhondda Cynon Taf.

"This event has the potential to deliver a major economic boost by allowing us to showcase the whole of our county borough as a visitor and cultural destination.

"It is our intention to focus the event around a central location to take maximum advantage of its pivotal location in the region, which I know was a key consideration in the deliberations of the Eisteddfod in making the commitment to bring this major national event to Rhondda Cynon Taf.

"All corners of Rhondda Cynon Taf will have a role to play in delivering a successful event and ensuring visitors receive a warm

welcome to our county."