Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A “Welsh born and bred” journalist faced a furious backlash after describing the National Eisteddfod as a “parochial bore-fest” in an online rant.

Marcus Stead, who lives in Cardiff Bay, where this year's festival is being held, provoked outrage by tweeting a series of demeaning and derogatory comments about the event and the Welsh language over the weekend.

Mr Stead, who describes himself on his Twitter feed as a “journalist and property developer with plenty to say!” tweeted: “A lot of noise is coming from the Eisteddfod site near my flat.

"I can’t work out whether the people ‘on the mice’ are speaking Welsh, or are just very drunk. Probably both. We’ve got a week of this parochial bore-fest to run.”

That comment received more than 100 replies, including one from international rugby referee Nigel Owens MBE who tweeted: “Very disappointing to read this Marcus.. Respect it may not be your thing.

"But its value to the survival of our language, culture and our unique identity as a nation is of huge importance. Something we all in Wales should cherish. Shame you cant respect that.”

But despite this response from Mr Owens, and scores more less polite replies, Mr Stead remained unrepentant: “Dear Crachach types (Dafydds, Esyllts etc) please stop tweeting me with your parochial rubbish.

"I have absolutely no interest in debating with you. Go back to your Eisteddfod bore fest or salivate over books about your favourite racist and anti-Semite, Saunders Lewis. Nos da.”

Mr Lewis was a poet, historian, political activist and co-founder of Plaid Cymru.

On Saturday, the day before the Eisteddfod tweet, Mr Stead did some more anti-Welsh language trolling: “How to attract tourists to Wales - have all road signs in English only, drop the Welsh signs, just 20% of Welsh people speak it and virtually zero outside Wales do.

“Also be more welcoming - don’t switch to Welsh every time non-regulars walk into a pub etc.”

Many people living across the border in England derided his views on Twitter.

Tim Turner, from Manchester, tweeted: “I often work in North Wales. One of things I notice (and enjoy) is the speed with which Welsh speakers transition to English when dealing with me.

"The idea that they switch to Welsh to annoy the English is a pathetic myth spread by morons.”

James Marsh Tweeted: "I’ve travelled to Wales multiple times, the signs never bothered me, they don’t bother most people, you seem to be the only one with an issue.

“Maybe figure out why that is, and why nobody agrees with you.”

When Mr Stead spoke to the Daily Post, he criticised the “foul-mouthed” online abuse he received from people he described as “Welsh language activists”.

He also had some angry words for Nigel Owens.

(Image: STEVE LEWIS)

“I have defended Nigel Owens numerous times over the years when he used to get terrible homophobic abuse, I even asked an Irish journalist to contact him when writing an article about homophobia in sport so I’m not going to take any lectures from him.”

When asked if he understood why some people may find his comments offensive he said: “We live in a free country and I have not sworn at anybody and I don’t go out of my way to upset anyone.”

He continued: “I am Welsh born and bred, I have lived here all my life, but the fact is English is the main language in Wales, 80% of people can’t speak Welsh.

“Welsh should not be subsidised as it is, the viewing figures for S4C are terrible-I look at the BARB figures every week.”

When asked why he didn’t go and visit the National Eisteddfod, which is being held in Cardiff Bay, he said: “I don’t think I’d be made very welcome, I don’t understand the language.”

As for the bilingual road signs being scrapped in favour of English only, he said: “It’s a road safety issue when you’re travelling 70mph and need to make a quick decision, the signs are a distraction.”

National Eisteddfod organisers declined to comment on Mr Stead’s outburst.