New Stamp Issue Celebrates Manx National Anthem

Isle of Man Post Office (Manx: Oik Postagh Ellan Vannin), in collaboration with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (Manx: Sheshaght Phaggad Bree Ellan Vannin) and Biosphere IOM, have issued a twelve stamp issue. The stamps celebrate the Manx National Anthem ‘O Land of Our Birth’. The images on the stamps are taken from twelve winning photographs selected from a recent competition titled ‘O Land of Our Birth’. The final choice of images reference the words of the national anthem.

The "National Anthem of the Isle of Man" (Manx: Arrane Ashoonagh Vannin) was written and composed by William Henry Gill (1839–1923), with the Manx translation by John J. Kneen (1873–1939). It is often referred to by its opening words, "O Land of Our Birth" (Manx: "O Halloo Nyn Ghooie"). There are eight verses in total in the modern anthem, but often the first verse only and sometimes the first and last are sung'. It is sung to an adaptation of the traditional Manx melody of "Mylecharaine’s March"

In Manx (First and last verse):

O Halloo nyn ghooie,
O chliegeen ny s'bwaaie
Ry gheddyn er ooir aalin Yee;
Ta dt' Ardstoyll Reill-Thie
Myr Barrool er ny hoie
Dy reayll shin ayns seyrsnys as shee.

Lhig dooin boggoil bee,
Lesh annym as cree,
As croghey er gialdyn yn Chiarn;
Dy vodmayd dagh oor,
Treishteil er e phooar,
Dagh olk ass nyn h'anmeenyn 'hayrn.

In English (First verse):

O land of our birth,
O gem of God's earth,
O Island so strong and so fair;
Built firm as Barrule,
Thy Throne of Home Rule
Makes us free as thy sweet mountain air. 

During the Covid 19 Lockdown a video of the first verse in Manx was produced by Culture Vannin. https://www.culturevannin.im/watchlisten/videos/arrane-ashoonagh-dy-vannin-639767/