1978 in Wales
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| See also: | List of years in Wales Timeline of Welsh history
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This article is about the particular significance of the year 1978 to Wales and its people.
Incumbents
- Prince of Wales – Charles
- Princess of Wales – vacant
- Secretary of State for Wales – John Morris
- Archbishop of Wales – Gwilym Williams, Bishop of Bangor
- Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales
- R. Bryn Williams (outgoing)
- Geraint (Bowen) (incoming)
Events
- The Welsh Office is given responsibility for further and higher education in Wales.
- The National Language Centre is established at Nant Gwrtheyrn in the Lleyn peninsula.
- Closure of the steelworks in Ebbw Vale and East Moors.
Arts and literature
- Richard Burton records the narrative for the concept album Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds.
- Operatic contralto Helen Watts is awarded the CBE.
- Gregynog Press reincarnated as Gwasg Gregynog.
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales (held in Cardiff)
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair - withheld
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown - Siôn Eirian
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Prose Medal - Harri Williams
New books
- Ruth Bidgood - The Print of Miracle
- Marion Eames - Sianyn a Siarli
- Ken Follett - Eye of the Needle
- James Hanley - A Kingdom
- Robert Minhinnick - A Thread in the Maze
- John Tripp - Collected Poems
- T. Arfon Williams - Englynion Arfon
Music
- Dave Edmunds - Tracks on Wax 4
- Geraint Jarman - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Film
- Kenneth Griffith appears with Richard Burton in The Wild Geese.
Broadcasting
Welsh-language television
- Shane becomes the first film to be dubbed into the Welsh language for television.
English-language television
- 17 March - BBC Wales comedy film Grand Slam stars Hugh Griffith and Windsor Davies.
- BBC Wales drama serial Hawkmoor, based on the life of Twm Siôn Cati, stars John Ogwen and Jane Asher.
- Elaine Morgan's adaptation of Off to Philadelphia in the Morning, the novel by Jack Jones, stars David Lyn as Joseph Parry and Connie Booth as his wife Jane. Meredith Edwards, Rachel Thomas and William Squire also appear.
English-language radio
- 13 November - BBC Radio Wales is launched, following the demise of the 'Radio 4 Wales' service (previously the Welsh Home Service). The first show is AM, presented by Anita Morgan.
Sport
- Boxing - Johnny Owen wins the Commonwealth bantamweight title.
- Darts - Leighton Rees wins the World Professional Darts Championship.
- Rugby union - Wales win their eighth Grand Slam.
- Snooker - Doug Mountjoy wins the UK Open Championship.
Births
- 21 January - Rachael Bland, née Hodges, broadcast journalist (died 2018)
- 1 February - David Hughes, footballer
- 12 February - Gethin Jones, television presenter
- 17 May - Joanna Page, actress
- 26 July - Eve Myles, actress
- 17 November - Tom Ellis, actor
- 25 December - Simon Jones, cricketer
- date unknown
- David Llewellyn, author
- Rachel Trezise, author
Deaths
- 11 January - William John Edwards, Cerdd Dant singer
- 4 April - Sir Morien Morgan, aeronautics engineer
- 9 April - Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, architect
- 14 April - Thomas Hollingdale, Wales rugby union international, 77
- 16 April - Eddie Morgan, Wales international rugby player, 64
- 18 May - Selwyn Lloyd, politician
- 2 July - Philip S. Yorke, last Squire of Erddig
- 12 September - Bobby Delahay, Wales rugby union captain
- 16 December - Harry Phillips, Wales international rugby player, 75
- date unknown - David Williams, historian