Blogs

Media Release from Culture Vannin

Annie Kissack RBV

“If there is one person who truly lives and breathes Manx culture, and deserves to be Manannan’s Choice of the Year, it is Annie Kissack.”

What a stunning way to sum up the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan for 2025! Annie Kissack has been awarded the Isle of Man’s highest cultural honour for her lifelong contribution to creativity and education in Manx culture, with a particular emphasis on the

Images of St Patrick's Day celebrations have filled the news over recent days. Legend has it that Patrick died on March 17th 461AD. The Day of the Festival of Patrick is a day to acknowledge the religious work of Patrick, but also by the people of Ireland and those of Irish descent around the world as a celebration of Ireland. Much has been written about  the history of Patrick. Including that he was the son of a Roman citizen named Calpurnius and that he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and spent much of his early life as a slave in Ireland.

There is a beautiful illuminated version of The Deer's Cry in the Manx Museum (Manx Gaelic: Thie Tashtee Vannin) consisting of a series of pages of illuminated lettering bound into a book. It was designed and executed by Archibald Knox (1864-1933) combining intricate interlacing patterns, inspired by Manx crosses and Celtic manuscripts. The illustrations can be seen on the Manx Museum iMuseum website. The works were not commissioned but were a personal and spiritual exercise which he worked on for over 20 years. They were not completed by the time of his sudden death in 1933.

Newgrange and Knowth Neolithic passage tombs are both designated UNESCO World Heritage sites that stand as testament to the ingenuity of our ancestors. Dating back over 5,000 years these Neolithic passage tombs are older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Newgrange which was built around 3,200 BC is aligned with the winter solstice about the 21st December, the shortest day of the year . At dawn, from December 19th to 23rd, a narrow beam of light penetrates the roof-box and reaches the floor of the chamber, gradually extending to the rear of the passage.

Israel will close its embassy in Dublin in response to what it claims are anti Israel policies by the Irish government. Earlier this year, the Israeli ambassador to Ireland was recalled over the Irish decision to recognise the State of Palestine. Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris has described the move as a "deeply regrettable decision" from the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, also made it clear that  Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law.

Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris has made clear to Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ during an interview yesterday that if the Prime Minister of Israel came to Ireland for any reason he would be arrested. This follows the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “war crimes”. The Irish Prime Minister said: "Yes absolutely.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “war crimes”. The court said on Thursday that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Netanyahu and Gallant “intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival”. Predictably Netanyahu’s office rejected the decision and described the move as “anti-Semitic”.

A remarkably well preserved  2,600-year-old wooden Celtic burial chamber has been uncovered by archaeologists in southern Germany. The wooden burial chamber was revealed within a large burial mound with a diameter of 65 metres and a height of almost six metres dating from the early Celtic period. Its size led archaeologists to identify the entire complex as a mound that the Celts built in southwestern Germany for elite individuals dating between 620 and 450 B.C. The preserved wood will enable archaeologists to use tree-ring dating to determine the exact year of the chamber.

Information from The Archibald Knox Forum:

ISLE OF KNOX – Order and Beauty

We are delighted to announce a momentous celebration of one of the Isle of Man’s most renowned artistic luminaries: Archibald Knox. From April 5, 2025, to March 1, 2026, the Manx Museum will host KNOX: Order and Beauty, the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Knox's work ever assembled in the world

Archibald Knox: A Pioneer of Modern Design

The Pope has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. Pope Francis told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly Angelus prayer: “Let us pray for the Lebanese, especially for the people in the south who are forced to leave their villages,” Francis told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly Angelus prayer. He added “The Middle East has plunged into increasing suffering, with destructive military actions continuing to affect the Palestinian population.” 

Image: Beirut under attack by Israel image courtesy RTE.