1997 in Wales

This article is about the particular significance of the year 1997 to Wales and its people.

Incumbents

 * Secretary of State for Wales – William Hague (until 3 May); Ron Davies
 * Archbishop of Wales – Alwyn Rice Jones, Bishop of St Asaph
 * Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales – Dafydd Rowlands

Events

 * 15 January – Diana, Princess of Wales calls for an international ban on landmines.
 * 21 January – Wales child abuse scandal: Over eighty people are named as child abusers in care homes in North Wales.
 * March – Launch of the "Welsh Language in Chubut" project.
 * 13 March – Launch of the Aberystwyth Centre for the Book.
 * 1 May – In the UK general election, four female MPs are elected in Wales -- Julie Morgan, Ann Clwyd, Betty Williams and Jackie Lawrence. Lembit Öpik becomes MP for Montgomeryshire.
 * 24 May – Robert Hardy officially opens the Judge's Lodging museum in Presteigne.
 * 31 August – Newsreader Martyn Lewis announces the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
 * 1 September – The Prince of Wales flies to Paris to bring home the body of his ex-wife. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor of the crash in which Diana died, remains in a critical condition.
 * 6 September – At the funeral of the former Princess of Wales, her coffin is carried into Westminster Abbey by a contingent of Welsh Guards.
 * 18 September – The referendum on Welsh devolution results in a narrow "Yes" vote.
 * 13 October – First section of the restored Welsh Highland Railway (60 cm (2 ft) gauge) officially opens over 5 km (3 mi) of former standard gauge trackbed between Caernarfon and Dinas.
 * date unknown
 * Alun Hoddinott receives the Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales.
 * Bryn Euryn, an archaeological site near Colwyn Bay, is identified as the probable base of Cynlas Goch, a 6th-century king.
 * Cardiff Arms Park is demolished to make way for a new stadium.
 * Welsh Sheepdog Society is founded.
 * Jenny Pride becomes the first Welsh female to command a unit of the Royal Engineers.

Arts

 * Sir Harry Secombe suffers a stroke.
 * October - The Red Violin festival is held for the first time in Cardiff.

Awards

 * Glyndŵr Award – Alun Hoddinott
 * National Eisteddfod of Wales – held in Bala
 * Chair – Ceri Wyn Jones, "Gwaddol"
 * Crown – Cen Williams, "Branwen"
 * Prose Medal – Angharad Tomos, Y Canol Llonydd
 * Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen – Gwyneth Carey
 * Richard Burton Prize – Rhys ap Trefor
 * Welsh Arts Council Book of the Year – Iwan Llwyd, Dan Ddylanwad (Under the Influence)

Books

 * Rees Davies – The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dŵr
 * Dai Jones – Fi Dai Sy' 'Ma
 * Angharad Tomos – Wele'n Gwawrio
 * Gerwyn Williams – Cydio’n Dynn

Music

 * L'Héritage des Celtes, featuring Elaine Morgan – Finisterre
 * Bryn Terfel makes his debut at La Scala as Figaro.

Albums

 * Acrimony – Tumuli Shroomaroom
 * Manic Street Preachers – Everything Live
 * Stereophonics release their first album, Word Gets Around.
 * Gorky's Zygotic Mynci – Barafundle
 * Iwcs a Doyle – Edrychiad Cynta’

Film

 * Ioan Gruffudd and Bernard Fox appear in the blockbuster Titanic.
 * Michael Sheen stars in Wilde.
 * Horror film Darklands is filmed in Port Talbot.

English-language television

 * Visions of Snowdonia with Iolo Williams

Welsh-language television

 * Ffermio
 * Pam Fi Duw? starring Brian Hibbard
 * Tylluan Wen starring John Ogwen
 * Y Clwb Rygbi

Sport

 * BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year – Scott Gibbs
 * Boxing:
 * 11 October – Joe Calzaghe beats Chris Eubank to become the Super Middleweight World Champion.
 * 19 December – Barry Jones beats Wilson Palacio to become the WBO Super featherweight Champion.
 * Cricket – Glamorgan win the County Championship.

Births

 * 3 January – Joe Morrell, footballer
 * 23 January – Shaheen Jafargholi, singer and actor
 * 22 March – Harry Wilson, footballer
 * 24 March – George Thomas, footballer
 * 15 May – Maisie Potter, snowboarder

Deaths

 * January – Alan Taylor, TV presenter, 72
 * 10 March – Wilf Wooller, cricketer, rugby player, journalist and sports administrator, 84
 * 2 June – Eddie Thomas, boxing champion and manager, 70
 * 10 July – Ivor Allchurch, footballer, 67
 * 16 July – Ron Berry, writer, 77
 * 2 August – Rhydwen Williams, poet, novelist, and minister, 80
 * 20 August – Bernard Cowey, Wales international rugby union player, 85
 * 30 August – Gwilym Tilsley, poet and archdruid, 86
 * 31 August (in Paris) – Diana, Princess of Wales, 36
 * 22 September – George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy, former Speaker of the House of Commons, 88
 * 6 November – Ray Daniel, footballer, 69
 * 13 November – Alexander Cordell, novelist, 83
 * 15 November – Alf Day, footballer, 90
 * 16 November – Aubrey Edwards, cricketer, 79
 * 28 December – Ronnie Williams, actor and comedian, 58
 * date unknown
 * David Gwerfyl Davies, organist and composer
 * Reg Parker, footballer