| content |
| 2007 | 2009 | Other years in Wales |
| 2008 in the United Kingdom |
| 2008 in Ireland |
| Other events of 2008 |
This article is about the particular significance of the year 2008 to Wales and its people.
Contents |
Incumbents
- Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales
- Princess of Wales - Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall (does not use title)
- First Minister - Rhodri Morgan
- Deputy First Minister of Wales - Ieuan Wyn Jones
- Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales - Dafydd Elis-Thomas
- Secretary of State for Wales
- Peter Hain (to January 24)
- Paul Murphy
- Archbishop of Wales - Barry Morgan (Bishop of Llandaff)
Events
- 24 January - Peter Hain resigns from his government offices (including Secretary of State for Wales) after the Electoral Commission refers to the Metropolitan Police his failure to report donations amounting to £100,000.
- 18 February - Plans to publish Wales's first daily newspaper in the Welsh language, under the title Y Byd (The World), are abandoned because of inadequate finance.
- 1 March - St David's Day Cardiff sees record breaking numbers march in the annual St David's Day parade. The parade left the National Museum of Wales for Y Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
- 7 March - Queen Elizabeth II visits Swansea to open its new leisure centre, a replacement for the building she opened in 1977.
- 16 April - Swansea's new bowls stadium hosts the World Indoor Singles and Mixed Pairs Championship for bowls.
- 16 April - First minister Rhodri Morgan officially opens Amazon.co.uk's 400,000 sq ft Fulfilment Centre in Jersey Marine.
- 1 May - All Wales local council elections.
- 31 May - Swansea Bay Film Festival begins.
- 14 June - In the Queen's Birthday honours list, Russell T. Davies is awarded the OBE and Joe Calzaghe the CBE.
Arts and literature
Awards
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Chair -
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Crown -
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: Drama Medal -
- Wales Book of the Year:
- English language:
- Welsh language:
- Dylan Thomas Award:
New books
- Iolo Morganwg and the Romantic Tradition in Wales: The Correspondence of Iolo Morganwg, Vols 1, 2 & 3 (ed. Geraint H. Jenkins, Ffion Mair Jones & David Ceri Jones)
- The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales
Music
Classical
- Karl Jenkins - Stabat Mater
Albums
Singles
Film
Broadcasting
Welsh language TV
- Natur Cymru (with Iolo Williams)
- Noson Chis a Meinir
English language TV
- Teen Tribes (with Rhod Gilbert) (BBC2)
Sport
- Football
- 9 March - Cardiff City F.C. defeat Middlesbrough F.C. to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927.
- 6 April - Cardiff City F.C. defeat Barnsley F.C. to reach the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927.
- 17 May - Cardiff City F.C. are defeated by Portsmouth F.C. in the final of the FA Cup
- Rugby union
- 2 February - Wales defeat World Cup finalists England in their first match of the 2008 Six Nations Championship.
- 8 March - Wales defeat Ireland to clinch the Triple Crown.
- 15 March - Wales defeat France to win the Grand Slam for the second time in five years.
- 12 April - Ospreys defeat Leicester Tigers and lift the EDF Energy Cup trophy.
Births
Deaths
- 1 January - Aled Rhys Wiliam, writer, 81
- 4 February - Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir, politician, 87
- 12 March - Alun Hoddinott, composer, 78
- 18 March - Philip Jones Griffiths, photojournalist, 72
- 24 March - Neil Aspinall, Beatles' friend and assistant, 65
- 17 April - Gwyneth Dunwoody, politician, 77
- 25 April - Humphrey Lyttelton, jazz musician and former Port Talbot steelworker, 86
- 1 May - Mark Kendall, footballer, 49
- 12 June - Derek Tapscott, footballer, 75
