THE opening event at this year’s PENfro Book Festival will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Welsh colony in Patagonia.

Stephanie Davies from Cardigan travelled to Argentina in March 2014 to meet some of the Welsh descendants living there today.

Her Project Hiraeth sought to explore, document and celebrate what has remained a little known story - that is until now.

With Wales gradually being absorbed into England during the first half of the 19th century, a inspired group of 153 Welsh pioneers set sail for South America in a bid to preserve their culture.

There are more than 50,000 Welsh descendants living there today, and 12,000 still speak Welsh as their first language.

Stephanie, an experienced researcher, spent two months in Patagonia unearthing untold stories of the Welsh experience there.

She will share her stories with the PENfro audience at Rhosygilwen’s Neuadd y Dderwen at 8pm on Friday, September 11.

Using some fascinating video and interviews, Stephanie will explain how her own curiosity led her to launch the project.

She said: “It’s hard to explain but Patagonia felt more like Wales than Wales does. Our filmed interviews and some of the stories that have been handed down through the generations help to create a better understanding of the Welsh colonists in Patagonia.”

Tickets to the event cost £8. You can book through the PENfro website or pay on the door.

To find out more about Project Hiraeth visit http://project-hiraeth.com/