Shiaght Laa

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 process of awarding the annual cultural honour, Reih B...

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 winning singer and as a television presenter in a range...

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 will also be giving workshops in Scottish Gaelic and...

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 the tradition. Culture Vannin's Manx Language Dev...

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 be Hop tu Naa. Whilst there's a feeling that it r...

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 focus is on 15th August, which is Laa'l Moirrey T...

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 12th to Sunday 18th August, a large contingent of M...

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 the Island for it. We hear from the duo, Tarmac, Jam...

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 education and about their background and repertoire. Pl...

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 Chloe Woolley, give us an overview of the whole inte...

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 language presented by the Department of Education, S...

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 Countess staunchly resisted and the siege was lifted...

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 the lyrics and hear the song, 'Baatey Pabyr', writ...

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 famous extract from that.&...

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 1st May, but the Early May Bank Holiday falls on...

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 from: Lauren McCoy, curator of natural history at MN...

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 'Strandings & Sinkings : Shipwrecks in Manx...

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 January. Will Price of Port Erin h...

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 workshop there for Manx songs. She will also be...

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 Carswell); Yn Joarree (Philip Leighton Stowell, tr...

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 Gaelic choir, Cliogaree Twoaie, and she...

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 Andreays, St Andrew's Day, we look at th...

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 February to 10th March will be another...

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, people in the Island ar...

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 Robert and his work from his...