News of Cardigan’s forthcoming 900th anniversary celebrations next year has reached the ears of fellow Cardis in Cardigan, New Brunswick.

The tiny Canadian settlement - now with only 14 homes and two churches - was founded by Welsh settlers nearly 200 years ago.

Many of those settlers came from West Wales and sailed into Canada from Cardigan.

The 2010 committee wrote a letter to the Daily Gleaner - the local newspaper - telling Canadians about next year’s festivities and extending an open invitation to the town.

Several Canadians have since written to the Tivy-Side wanting more information about the celebrations.

One of those is Coleen Williams - a descendant of the original Welsh settlers.

"I was very excited when I read your article in the newspaper and would like very much to be part of your celebration in some way," she said.

"It is too bad that we hadn’t heard of this earlier this year as we celebrated our 190th anniversary of the landing this past June."

She added that the small Cardigan settlement was still vibrant.

"We have two churches which are both well maintained. The former Baptist church has been disbanded for several years and is now owned by the Cardigan branch of the Welsh Society. This had been designated as an historic landmark. Services are held here twice a year and are usually very well attended," she said.

"The United church is still open and we have services there every Sunday. This church was also formed by Welsh settlers as many of them were Congregationalists which was the forerunner of our United religion."

Coleen is currently collecting information on the early settlers and compiling their genealogy.

Another Canadian from nearby Fredericton, David Sansom, was also interested in a visit to Cardigan in 2010.

"My wife Brenda and I are both members of the New Brunswick Welsh Society. My great great great grandparents were among the early settlers from Wales (Mary Nichols and Williams Sansom) and we are very much involved with the upkeep of the Welsh church," he said.

"Perhaps your letter is the inspiration we need to plan a trip to Cardigan next year!"

Harold Rice, who runs the Ty Rhys B&B, is also involved with maintaining the chapel.

"I would like any information you could give me regarding 2010," he said.

Another descendant Gary Golding also attends the annual celebration at the Cardigan church.

"My great-great grandfather William Griffiths and his wife Francis Griffiths (Saunders) emigrated to New Brunswick in 1819 as passengers on the ship Albion. Later that year they reached the small farming community that was later named Cardigan," he said.

"It’s great to know this family history and I would love to be able to come to Wales for the celebration you folks are planning next year."

Ronald Sanderson, who has also attended services at the Welsh chapel, said he would also love to visit.

"I am the pastor of a small country church and have learned about the ministry of Evan Roberts and Duncan Campbell and the great spiritual revivals that happened in Wales," he said.

"I have never been to Wales but God willing maybe I will be able to attend your celebrations next year."

The 2010 committee is now putting together an information pack to send out to New Brunswick.

"It is wonderful that we are getting this interest from the other side of the Atlantic," said 2010 chairman Llwyd Edwards.

"It demonstrates the impact the emigration of the early 19th century had on the town and far flung communities."