NINE hundred years after Arglwydd Rhys rose victorious from the battlements of Cardigan Castle, the mighty Welsh warrior is returning to the fray once more in preparation for the most important battle of his life.

Tomorrow (Thursday) Lord Rhys (right) will be visiting the National Eisteddfod in Newport where he will once again summon his warriors to gird their loins and fight for Cardigan Castle's place in the final of the BBC 'Restoration' programme.

And as the nation awaits the result of just one more programme before Sunday's nail-biting final, castle supporters are crossing their fingers for a place in Hampton Court on Sunday night.

The eight finalists, including the best runner-up, will be announced on Friday night when each one will be allocated its own telephone number enabling viewers to vote for their favourite 'Restoration' candidate.

"It's nail-biting stuff," said Cardigan mayor Cllr Linda Grace. "After the Wales region attracted the highest vote in the series I'm confident that OUR castle will be in the final as the best runner-up." Meanwhile Cllr Grace has paid heed to Lord Rhys' battle-cry and will be touring the Eisteddfod on Saturday.

Another councillor eager to stress the castle's links with the Eisteddfod is Pembrokeshire County Council leader John Davies.

"Given that the castle has played an integral part in the nation's history for the past 900 years, Pembrokeshire's obligation is one of national recognition that should be shared by all the local authorities in Wales," he said.

"In National Eisteddfod week I urge the Minister of Culture, Alan Pugh, to commit his support towards full restoration of the home of the eisteddfod."

Cllr Davies also called on the people of Pembrokeshire to register their vote if the castle reaches the finals. "Cardigan castle is truly a jewel in the area's heritage crown," he added. "It belongs to us all."

Ceredigion MP Simon Thomas, meanwhile, is confident of Cardigan's success on Sunday night. "Whatever the virtues of the rival bids, they cannot match Cardigan Castle's grand sweep of history," he said. "This will stand the castle in good stead for what will be many years of campaigning to see it restored to its rightful place in Cardigan town and Welsh history."

And castle campaigner Glen Johnson echoes the MP's comments. "Lord Rhys was the man who built the first masonry castle anywhere in Britain and who went on to celebrate this achievement by staging the first ever Eisteddfod," he said.

"Now, in 2004, we should celebrate this fact by restoring the building as a monument to him. Cardigan has come a long way towards securing its castle and now it's up to the community to have the resolve to carry it on."

* Local firms can help boost the Castle's Restoration vote by following the lead of Coast and Country Cottages, who have e-mailed their list of 21,000 customers with the message to 'Vote for Cardigan Castle'.