THERE will be a chance for local people to learn more about the plans to hold the National Eisteddfod at Castle Meadows in Abergavenny in 2016 when the event's organiser Elen Huw Elis hosts a public meeting at the town's market hall on Thursday, July 17 The National Eisteddfod is the biggest cultural event in Wales. It celebrates the country's culture of poetry, music and dance over eight days and attracts 160,000 visitors every year. Eisteddfod Cymru said it has found the interest and enthusiasm surrounding the festival 'very encouraging' since it was announced that Monmouthshire would host the event for the first time since 1913. In an open invitation to the meeting Ms Elis said, "Many, locally and nationally, are looking forward to visiting an area which has not had the opportunity to host the festival for many years, although successful festivals have of course been held in the southeast relatively recently, namely in Blaenau Gwent in 2010, and Newport in 2004." In the next two years the county will be faced with the task of raising some £300,000 to support the event, with the area split into fundraising wards with targets dependent on the size and population of the areas - details of this and the way in which people can begin to support the event will be outlined at the meeting on July 17. Anyone interested in helping in any way from establishing a local appeal fund or just showing support, can attend the meeting, which will offer a simultaneous translation service. The meeting will take place at 6.30pm on July 17 in Abergavenny Market Hall.