Ifor ap Glyn was born in London into a Welsh-speaking family and graduated from Cardiff University. He worked as a television producer and scriptwriter before becoming a poet and dramatist. He has published five volumes of poetry and has contributed to many anthologies. An active performer, he has taken part in many poetry tours. In 2016 he was national poet of Wales. Ifor ap Glyn has won the Crown at the National Eisteddfod twice, in 1999 and 2013. He is also a member of the Caernarfon team which has twice won the annual poetry knockout competition on BBC Radio Cymru, Talwrn y Beirdd.