GIGGING in Swansea last week, comedian Henry Paker observed: "You don't half like Dylan Thomas here don't you? Any chance you get you're throwing up a picture of him on the wall.

"And everyone has a story about him. 'He used to drink with my uncle', or 'That's nothing, he used to vomit on my carpet'".

The humour may be lost on the page, but the question he was asking about the industry which now surrounds one of the country's greatest ever poets was 'has it all got, well, a little tacky?'

Fans of the poet of Cwmdonkin Drive can now take a trail around his childhood haunts, and even spend a night in the Uplands home he grew up in.

It wasn't always this way, but they are now spoilt for choice with mementoes bearing his image, from T-shirts, T-towels, key rings and even beer.

But does such marketing really cheapen the Dylan brand — or is it instead an opportunity to bring more people to learn more about his unique genius?

That was one of the aims behind the annual Dylan Thomas Festival, which was held in the city earlier this month.

It also featured a spin-off fringe festival, and events were held in Dylan's former Uplands stomping ground (one place where Paker was right about a picture of Dylan being thrown up on the wall). They included a Dylan Thomas look-a-like contest, and an attempt to gather as many people named Dylan together as possible.

But both failed to attract the numbers organisers would had hoped for.

Visit our Lasting Tribute site to Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas expert Jeff Towns said: "Some of the events may have been described as tacky, and may not have worked as well as would have been liked, but I am all for people getting involved with Dylan Thomas.

"You do not want overkill, but there is a place for look-a-like competitions. In America they have one for Hemingway and it is a bit of fun.

"The Dylan Thomas festival this year was a success, and there were some quality events, although perhaps it could have had a higher profile.

"We had a big year in 2003, which marked the 50th anniversary of his death. What we need now is for everyone to come together for 2014, which will be the 100th anniversary of his birth, which is what we really should be celebrating."

Groups who should be working together, he said, included the Dylan Thomas Centre, the Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea University's Taliesin theatre, and the owners of Dylan's Cwmdonkin Drive home, who now rent out the period decorated property.

Find out everything you need to know about Dylan Thomas at our wesite dedicated to the Swansea poet

Dave Wooley, literary officer at the Dylan Thomas Centre, and an organiser of the festival, agreed.

"We do need to be working together to make 2014 the biggest success it can be.

"2003 was successful, and we had a big rise in visitors and income the following year. But there are always problems with funding, and many things have happened since, including the credit crunch.

"But of course we are happy to work with whoever to make it a success."