Shiaght Laa

The Director of Culture Vannin , Breesha Maddrell, talks to Phil Gawne about the history and work of Culture Vannin as it celebrates a significant anniversary with extra support for new projects. The deadline for applications is 14th February

The Island's rich cultural life in both Manx and English. This week features recordings and interviews from last Friday's ceremony to recognise Nigel Crowe as Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2022. 

We start with a dance associated with what appears on the modern calendar to be 17th January. The tune, Mylecharane's March, is a spritely version of a song long popular in the Island. The story of Mylecharane, a miser in the Jurby Curraghs, who found a treasure of some sort, is well-known in Manx tradition. A traditional song in the Manx language says that he used his wealth to give a dowry t...

The Island's vast tourist industry needed entertainment, and leading artistes popularised songs which led to large sales of sheet music and promoted the emerging recording industry. Florrie Forde spent many summer seasons in the Island and popularised a number of songs related to it. Her big hit song in 1909 was 'Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?'. Songs about 'Kelly' had become pop...

The judicial murder of Illiam Dhone, William Christian of Ronaldsway, by firing squad on Hango Hill on 2nd January 1663 has resounded down through history in song and story. We hear songs old and new and poetry made about his death and how that is viewed to the modern day.

Fiona McArdle presents the final edition in this series of Shiaght Laa. We hear from Professor Hugh Davidson about William Milner, known mainly in connection with the iconic tower on Bradda Head. An exhibition about his life and work, 'William Milner : The Man and the Tower', can be seen in St Catherine's Church Hall until 4.00pm on Sunday 31st October.  With the change of clocks...

The Maughold Crosses Group was formed in May to look at how the collection of carved crosses, currently housed in the churchyard under a shelter designed by Armitage Rigby in 1906, can be protected, preserved and presented for the future. We hear from Chairman of the Maughold Crosses Group, Martin Royle, and member, Pam Kerruish.  The Isle of Man Poetry's Society Poetry Trail 2021 consist...

Maralyn Crellin introduces this edition, with an overview of three very different forthcoming events, three more pieces from the Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trail (continuing in Douglas, Ramsey and Peel until 31st October), and the story behind the song, Illiam y Thalhear, which is also performed by Caarjyn Cooidjagh. 

On the eve of the first Port Erin Jazz Festival, Jerry Carter reminds us of the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of music in the Bay Hotel and the Falcon's Nest. Thanks to James Franklin of Culture Vannin, we have an opportunity to hear a little of the theatre pieces by Cori Philips and Annie Kissack, with the prospect of being able to enjoy the videos of them soon. The latest publication by...

We look at a presentation at the Erin Arts Centre called 'At the Season's Edge' by Tholtan Theatricals and Caarjyn Cooidjagh. The evening comprised two works commissioned by Culture Vannin: Cori Philips's short, amusing piece called 'Our Loch-y Charm' and a one-act play by Annie Kissack, 'The In-Between Times', both set in the 1860s.   We hear two more of the s...

The Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trail was officially launched with an event in St George's Church in Douglas on Saturday 11th September. Thanks to Ernie de Legh Runciman, we can hear some of the 20 winning entries for this year's trail introducing themselves and reading their work. The Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival is into it's 13th year. Food Marketing Executive to t...

The Isle of Man Poetry Society has been organising an annual Poetry Trail for some years, placing ten poems in shops and other public places round Douglas. This year, the trail is expanding. Chair of the Isle of Man Poetry Society, Bethany de Legh Runciman tells us about the trail and the official launch. Adrian Cain tells us about Brian Stowell, about the Aundyr Brian Mac Stoyll, a prize to be aw...

We visit the barn at Paul Costain's farm, Moorhouse, in Colby to join the ceremony at which the Seventh Manx Bard was named, robed and chaired. We hear Owen Atkinson reading some of his poetry and then telling us about how he works. By the end of September, entries have to be in for Aundyr Brian Mac Stoyll, an award for creative work incorporating the Manx language made by the group, Pobble, i...

The Isle of Man Arts Society was founded in 1953 with 28 members, but now has about 300. We hear the opening of this year's exhibition with Society President, David Sayle, and Chief Executive of sponsors, Ramsey Crokkall, Joanne Crookall, before David Sayle tells us more about the Society's activities. Over the long bank holiday weekend, Rushen Heritage Trust is organising a series of exhi...

We visit the bell-tower of St Thomas's Church in Douglas in the company of Judith Ley and Charles Guard as tower captain Edwin Creer talks about the carillon system there played with the Ellacombe apparatus, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2021. The Snaefell Mountain Railway was opened on 21st August 1895, and we hear from Andrew Scarffe about its history and a description of the day...

Carol Kennaugh, the Secretary of the Royal Manx Agricultural Show, and Dennis Quirk, one of the many voluntary helpers, talk about putting the show together, what's on this year, and Dennis tells us about the all-important judging.   We hear about Manx-Breton musical collaboration of David Kilgallon and Mera Royle with Lors Landat and Thomas Moisson, their forthcoming CD and how they will...

We have some of the history connected with Laa Colum Killey before there's a reminder about Laa Colum Killey Beg in Arbory School from Julie Young. Online and Educational Resources Officer for Culture Vannin, James Franklin, tells us about the film, Island Utopias, by Sarah Mercer, which has been shortlisted for an award in the Celtic Media Festival. We also hear a little more about Gaelg 21,...

Maralyn Crellin introduces a programme which looks at the Colmcille Eireann is Albain initiative, which is increasingly involving the Island, and joins Ruth Keggin Gell to look at events in Gaelg 21, a Manx language festival which is part of the Colmcille 1500 celebrations. One of those events is a Bree session, and we hear from Chloe Woolley about what will be involved, not only as part of Gaelg...

Finch Hill Church in Buck's Road, Douglas was opened on 10th June 1868. It closed for worship in the 1970s, and, despite being registered for its historic and architectural interest in 1989, no-one was able to adapt a use for its facilities and it was demolished in 1997. St Barnabas's, in the heart of old Douglas, could seat up to 1,500 people. It's congregation dwindled and it was clo...

The Erin Arts Centre presents a range of cultural events, but with the current difficulties of bringing performers to the Island, we are fortunate to have so many first-class artists here in the Island. International concert pianist Olga Stone and Cleveland Medal winning mezzo-soprano Mandy Griffin are in concert on Friday 4th June. Belle Abbey in Colby takes its name either from an Irishman calle...

Maralyn Crellin introduces the programme, as Phil Craine, chairman of the oecumenical group that organises the annual Praying the Keeills event, tells us of the final two days, Friday 28th and Saturday 29th May. Saxophonist Jerry Carter and trombonist Jacqui Morrey-Grace are members of jazz group Blue Vannin, which will be holding what they hope will be the first of a regular Erin Arts Centre Jazz...

Goaill Padjer ec ny Shenn Chialteenyn - Praying the Keeills is in its 16th year. Chairman of the organising committee, Phil Craine, tells us about this year's programme, from Saturday 22nd to Saturday 29th May. This coming Sunday afternoon, 23rd May, the Port St Mary branch of the RNLI will be holding an all-Island knockout tug of war tournament on the sand in Chapel Bay. The tug of war used t...

Fiona McArdle introduces the programme this time.  After the first get-together of the Manx Fiddle Orchestra, Katy Lawrence talks about the inspiration for it and how it went. By the modern calendar, we're almost halfway through the month of May, but by the old style, it's barely begun. We explore the traditions of Shenn Oie Voaldyn, Old May Eve (corresponding to the modern 11th May)...

Manx National Heritage have recently made the first batch of films of the Island by amateur film maker J Walter Royston available through the iMuseum (www.imuseum.im). Katie Clugston of MNH tells us about the background of them, and of more to come.  Sara Goodwins is the author and illustrator of a fourth book in the series Tram Tales of the Manx Electric Railway, 'To the Rescue'. She...

Boaldyn is the Manx celebration of Maytime. In 2020, during lockdown, Culture Vannin invited people to celebrate Boaldyn in music, song and dance. Now that Boaldyn is coming round again, it's an opportunity to hear some of those performances at the season itself. We hear about the winning dances by Heike Perry and Lowenna Joughin and hear winning tunes by David Speers and Frank Joughin and a n...