Chloe Woolley of Culture Vannin tells of a recording of a suite of 19 Manx songs and tunes recorded recently in Georgia, USA, and available on the Culture Vannin website, Alex Brindley talks about the Groudle Glen Railways diesel and battery electric locomotives, and for the birthday of Hall Caine (14th May 1853), James Franklin of Culture Vannin t…

Manx Wildlife Trust's Community Ranger and Head of Engagement, Graham Makepeace-Warne talk about forthcoming opportunities to engage with nature. Oie Voaldyn and Laa Boaldyn are the Manx celebrations of May Eve and May Day, and there's an opportunity to find out a bit more about them, and Cathy Clucas tells us about the Oie Voaldyn to be held in Pe…

The Manx duo, Thurrick (Sue Harrison and Rob Middleton) are taking part in the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, and we hear Sue's song, Kirree Veg. Manx Wildlife Week runs from Saturday 26th April to Saturday 3rd May, and we hear about events from Manx Wildlife Trust's Community Ranger, Hannah Philips. We also hear about the Guild and a illustrated …

Maralyn Crellin hosts a look at Manx Easter traditions and sayings. Manx National Heritage has Easter activities at its sites, and Julian Power reminds us of the Meadowside Choral Society's Good Friday performance of Stainer's The Crucifixion. We look ahead to the Pan Celtic Festival with organising committee member, Nicola Tooms, and writer of thi…

Fiona McArdle is your host. The Island's highest cultural award has been made to Annie Kissack, Reih Bleeaney Vanannan. Meadowside Choral Society's musical director and conductor, Julian Power, talks of his role and of performances of John Stainer's The Crucifixion at 6.30pm on Palm Sunday in Mount Tabor Methodist Chapel, Port St Mary, and on Good …

A major exhibition, Knox : Order and Beauty, opens at the Manx Museum in Douglas. We hear from curator, Katie King, and from Chris Hobdell of the Archibald Knox Forum about events associated with it in the Forum's Isle of Knox initiative. Chairman of the Shennaghys Jiu cultural festival, Juan Garrett, tells us this weekend's events.…

Maralyn Crellin introduces the last in the present series of 'Shiaght Laa' which focuses on the launch of the book of poetry by David Callin, 'From the Nab', which was the name of the farm on which he grew up. In addition to David's introduction, including his thanks to illustrator, Vicky Webb, and publisher, Culture Vannin, we hear some of his own…

Fiona McArdle introduces this edition of Shiaght Laa in which we hear from David Callin, just prior to the launch of his book of poetry, 'From the Nab', published by Culture Vannin. The Director of Culture Vannin, Breesha Maddrell, shares some of her thoughts on Manx culture and the role of Culture Vannin with Phil Gawne, and also explains the proc…

Fiona McArdle introduces a programme in which we hear Ruth Keggin Gell give her reaction to this year's Cooish Manx Language Festival which she co-ordinated, and we also hear from special guest to the festival, Scottish Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop, who tells us about her own experience of the Scottish Gaelic language and her careers as an award winnin…

Fiona McArdle introduces a programme in which we hear from yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, about the Cooish Manx Language Festival 2024, which is running from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th November, and includes a concert with Scottish Gaidhlig singer, Joy Dunlop, accompanied by Ron Jappy. Joy wi…

As soon as the sun goes down, we start a new 24 hour cycle consisting of the eve, followed by the day itself. Sundown on 31st October brings the Manx tradition of Hop tu Naa, with its surprising variation of associated songs, some of which we hear, whilst Culture Vannin's Online and Educational Resources Officer, James Franklin, tells us more about…

From Saturday 26th October there'll be an exhibition entitles 'Rare Sightings and Urban Faeries' at the Manx Museum in Douglas. We hear from the curator of the exhibition for Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin, Manx National Heritage, Nicola Tooms, before we hear from the artist herself, Julia Ashby Smyth, who has 77 images on display. In a week's time it'll…

Maralyn Crellin gives us an overview of some of the opportunities to enjoy a range of music in the course of the next week. Some of these take place as part of concert seasons in churches, and we also hear about St Paul's Church in Ramsey, celebrating the anniversary of its consecration by Bishop George Murray on 18th August 1822. However, our main…

Fiona McArdle hosts this edition of Shiaght Laa in which we hear of Manx representatives at two large festivals. This week, Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol is taking place in Pontypridd, and Manx delegates Nicola Tooms and Matilda Watson were welcomed to the stage by the Archdderwydd. Lorient in Brittany will again be abuzz with music, and from Monday 1…

In this edition of 'Shiaght Laa' we hear about some of the many opportunities to enjoy music and exhibitions of various sorts, about a tradition associated with 1st August - known in Manx as Laa Luanys or Laa Luanistyn - and hear from some of the people who enjoyed Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering last week, and how it was that they came to be in th…

Maralyn Crellin is our host as we rejoin Chloe Woolley and Jo Callister of the organising committee of Yn Chruinnaght for news about what's happening from today (Thursday 25th) to Sunday 28th July. Visitors to Yn Chruinnaght this year from Brittany, mother and daughter Brigitte and Katell Kloareg tell us about the situation with Breton-medium educa…

Fiona McArdle introduces Shiaght Laa, and in addition to some of the many other opportunities to enjoy music and song - and the return of the Jurby Mice! - round the Island, we hear about Yn Chruinnaght's Celtic Gathering 2024, which will be held from Monday 22nd July to Sunday 28th July. Two members of the organising committee, Jo Callister and Ch…

There are lots of opportunities to enjoy a summer of music in the Island, with a range of styles in a range of venues. We hear of some of them in the programme. The North American Manx Association (NAMA) again awarded silver medals to young recipients to celebrate their cultural achievements, and there were also two prizes in respect of the Manx la…

Maralyn Crellin introduces this edition of Shiaght Laa, the final one in this series. After a look at some forthcoming events, we find out about Charlotte de Tremoille, the Countess of Derby, wife of James Stanlagh (yn Stanlagh Mooar), the 7th Earl of Derby, and the siege of Lathom House in Lancashire - as described in song by Steeleye Span. The Co…

Fiona McArdle introduces an edition of Shiaght Laa in which - we hear about some of the opportunities to enjoy events in the week ahead; we hear of a new publication by Dr Peter Davey about 'Rushen Abbey : one hundred years of excavation'; we try to find out about why to the Manx people the 18th May was called Laa'l Spitlhin Souree; and we look at …

From this year's Manx Music, Speech and Dance Festival, the Guild, we enjoy award winning performances from the winner of the Sheffield Plate, Breesha Kelsey, and of the Cleveland Medal, Neil Taverner. A recording of Dollin Kelly's performance of T E Brown's 'Betsy Lee' has just been made available online at Culture Vannin's website, and we hear a …

Maralyn Crellin takes us into the Villa Marina for the Guild as we hear about the junior and senior blue riband awards, the Sheffield Plate and the Cleveland Medal. Then we go outside and join Manx Wildlife Trust's Community Ranger, Hannah Phillips, for information about the end of Manx Wildlife Week - and beyond. The calendar has already passed 1s…

Fiona McArdle is our host as we hear about Manx Wildlife Week (27th April - 4th May), which brings together Manx National Heritage, the Manx Wildlife Trust and UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man and many of the volunteer groups they each support. The programme can be found at this website - https://manxnationalheritage.im/whats-on/ We hear an overview fr…

We hear of two recent publications in this edition, the first of which is 'Dreich Planet 2 - Isle of Man', with poetry from the Island. Guest editors for the international publishing venture, Annie Kissack and Hazel Teare, tell us about, and we hear the first poem in the collection by their fellow guest editor, David Callin. The other is 'Stranding…

Fiona McArdle introduces the final programme in this series. We start with a reminder of Ruth Keggin Gell's workshops on Taizé chants (with an explanation of their background) and on Manx for worship on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th January. Later on we hear Ruth herself reminding us of Culture Vannin's Manx lessons on Zoom each Wednesday from 17th…

2nd January marks the anniversary of the death of Illiam Dhone, William Christian, by firing squad in 1663, an event lamented in song and in poetry ever since. We hear from yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, about workshops at Thie dy Vea in Peel for Manx in worship, and also more general another w…

As we approach y Chegeesh Ommidjagh, the Foolish Fortnight of y Nollick, the Manx Christmas, we listen to some seasonal pieces that have been composed in comparatively recent years. We hear - S'feayr yn oie (Annie Kissack); Carval Chreneash (Annie Kissack); Christmas Star (Marilyn Cannell); Shinyn ny deiney (Annie Kissack); Deiney creeney (Bob Cars…

Maralyn Crellin introduces a programme in which James Franklin, the Online and Educational Resource Officer of Culture Vannin, tells us about a new publication, 'A Guide to the Folklore Sites of the Isle of Man', the result of a five-year project between Katie Newton, Sam Hudson and himself. Margaid Bird is a founder-member of Ramsey-based Manx Gae…

Fiona McArdle is your host for this edition. The Isle of Man Poetry Society has monthly meetings at the Archibald Knox public house in Onchan, and there's one on Sunday 3rd December at 7.30pm. Chair of the Society, Bethany de Legh Runciman, talks about poetry and about opportunities to write and perform it. And as the programme goes out on Laa'l An…

There's an important date coming up on 1st December, because that's the deadline for two important matters. It's the final day by which to nominate a person or a group for the prestigious annual award, the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, to be awarded early in the New Year. Breesha Maddrell of Culture Vannin tells us about that. Coming up from 10th Februar…

In the final programme in this series, Maralyn Crellin gives an overview of musical events during the coming week, and we dip into musical treats of yesteryear with songs by Florrie Forde - the final 'Kelly' song from 1920, 'Kelly's Got Married Today' and from 1930 asks, 'What Happened to the Manx Cat's Tail?'. As we often say in Shiaght Laa, peopl…

Fiona McArdle is our guide through the programme this week. Loaghtan Books have published a book that takes us to many unexpected corners and fascinating facts about the Island and its people. It's called 'Manx Myths, Mysteries and Miscellanies'. It's based on the research and articles of journalist and author, the late Robert Kelly. We hear about …

As well as hearing about other opportunities to enjoy a range of music, Yn Chruinnaght is in full swing and we hear from Jo Callister and Chloe Woolley about events from Thursday evening 27th July to Sunday 30th July. Almost on the eve of the Southern District Agricultural Show, we hear from show Secretary, Zoe Hampton, this year's President (and f…

We look to the west for the most part this time, as Maralyn Crellin tells us about the Peel Traditional Boat Weekend from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd July, and that's followed by Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th July. However, in addition to events in Peel, Yn Chruinnaght also includes a series of events in Douglas and…

Since 1979, the North American Manx Association has made an annual award of a series of specially-minted silver medals to young people of the Island who display eminence in aspects of the Island's cultural and community life. This year the ceremony to award these medals, plus two prizes of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture for the most…

This is the last programme in this series of 'Shiaght Laa' and it's presented by Fiona McArdle, RBV. IOM Post Office has just issued a set of ten stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Manx Wildlife Trust with designs by MWT Artist in Residence, Clare Payne. We hear more about the work of MWT from Community Ranger, Hannah Phillips, includi…

Jen Adams, the Outreach and Education Manager for the Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch talks about the three-month project, The Manx Nature Show, which the Watch is steering and which opens in St German's Cathedral on 18th February, running through till 6th May. Taking part in The Manx Nature Show will be 22 environmental organisations, including the M…

We join the ceremony for the investiture of Shiaght Laa presenter, Fiona McArdle, as Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, the Island's highest cultural award. We hear from Breesha Maddrell, Director of Culture Vannin, and briefly from the Culture Vannin Chairman, Chris Thomas MHK, before we hear from Fiona herself. Moylley as soylley da Fiona McArdle, RBV! In a…

Fiona McArdle introduces the programme in which we hear from the Young Singer of Mann competitions. Congratulations to Anna Tamarova, winner of the junior category (7-12) and Eve Puzzar, winner of the senior category (13-18). We also hear of Laa'l Moirrey ny Gainle, the Manx Candlemas (2nd February) and of Black Saturday, when Dumbell's Bank failed…

After a brief overview of events into the weekend, we join Pip Rolfe of the Erin Arts Centre to hear about the Young Singer of Mann competition, in two categories this year, the young age group on Saturday 28th January and the older age range on Sunday 29th January. The panel of adjudicators is chaired by Angela Stewart, who tells us about the judg…

There are interesting exhibitions running at the Manx Museum in Douglas and the House of Manannan in Peel, and we hear of a concert in Bride. Mostly, though, we look forward to Wednesday 25th January, which happens to be Laa'l Paul. Can the weather on that day really foretell the state of the world? Wednesday 25th January sees a presentation by Dav…

Son dhooragh, shoh claare er ny chebbal liorish Fiona McArdle myr red frea ec jerrey yn straih dy chlaareyn y cheayrt shoh. 'Sy chiaghtoo chlaare shoh (ayns straih as shey claareyn ayn!) ta shin clashtyn mychione y scansh jeh Shenn Houney (11 & 12 Mee Houney), as eisht ersooyl lhien gys 'Rhumsaa - Eisht as Nish', son yn chiaroo lioar ayns straih li…

From the official opening of the Museum 100 exhibition, eighth Manx Bard, Michael Manning, gives his poem about the Manx Museum, and HE Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Lorimer, gives an overview of his predecessors' involvement in promoting the Manx Museum, culminating in its opening in its current iconic building in Douglas on 2nd November 1922. Cha…

Maralyn Crellin is your host for this edition of 'Shiaght Laa'. 'Museum 100' is an exhibition at the Manx Museum in Douglas to celebrate 100 years of the Manx Museum in that very building. The exhibition is now open, ready for the centenary, but there was a preview, at which we hear Director of the Manx Museum, Connie Lovel, and the Chairman of the…

Fiona McArdle introduces the programme, reminding us that on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd October there are more opportunities to see the musical presentation about the Star of India by Ramsey-based theatre group, Cloiederyn. We heard last time about the recent official re-starting of the Great Laxey Wheel. Whilst the Wheel was being re-started, h…

After two years of work, the first phase of repairs to the Great Laxey Wheel has been completed. A ceremony was held on Wednesday 12th October to re-start the Lady Isabella, as she was dubbed when the Wheel opened in 1854. We hear from: the Chairman of the Manx Museum and National Trust,Jonathan Hall; the Director of the Manx Museum, Connie Lovel; …

Maralyn Crellin gives an overview of the second Port Erin Jazz Festival (7th & 8th October) and a visit by Yorkshire bluesman, Howlin' Mat, with concerts in Peel on Saturday 8th and Port Erin on Sunday 9th. The major part of the programme is given over to Brian King talking about he became involved in research about HMS Racehorse, which went down w…

Fiona McArdle is your host as we hear about the Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trail 2022 - available until 28th October - and hear two poems from it. David Martin and Charles Guard open an exhibition of painting by the late David Fletcher at the House of Manannan in Peel. Artist Kate Jerry tells us of an open studio day at the Artreach Studio…

Final edition of the present series with Fiona McArdle. The Manannan Festival, the publication of a new collection of poetry and Tynwald - how does it work?By Manx Radio

This week, the team take a look at the Manannan Festival, Loughtan Books and Laa Columb KilleyBy Manx Radio