Blogs

A recent exhibition at the Manx Museum in Douglas reflected upon the work of the artist William Hoggatt, who spent many years living on the Isle of Man.

Born and educated in Lancaster, Hoggatt spent more than fifty years living and working on the Island and was said to have described himself as 'almost a Manxman'.

In the first decades of the 1700s, Edward Lhwyd a brilliant Welsh linguist (who was also a botanist, geologist and antiquarian) came to understand the connections between the surviving Celtic languages: Gaelic (both Irish and Scottish), Welsh, Breton and Cornish.

A number of students of Manx language and folklore have travelled to the Island over time to learn more about our unique traditions and native tongue, with some writing up their findings - many of which still survive.

Karl Roeder's Manx Notes and Queries, reproduced here under the title Ghosts, Bugganes and Fairy Pigs, was first published in book form in 1904, but was also available as a column in the Isle of Man Examiner.

The website “StAustellVoice” reports that the leaders of Mebyon Kernow (the Cornish Nationalist party in Cornwall), and Cornwall Council marked St Piran’s Day by calling on the government to give the Cornish people what other UK national minorities have been afforded – a tick-box in the 2021 census.

The British government is being accused of discriminating against a recognized UK minority and of suffering a “significant blind spot” when it comes to Cornwall as it is challenged to do more to support the county’s distinct ‘national’ identity

The Manx Gaelic song album under the title of Sollys (light) was originally released in 2012, gathering together thirty much-loved Island songs and some lesser known examples.

Mainly unaccompanied, this special album features fourteen well-known singers and concentrates on a selection of solos, duets and trios together with a choral piece from local Manx Gaelic choir, Caarjyn Cooidjagh. The album re-introduces a wide range of traditional material which can be found in local manuscript collections.

Members and supporters of the Archibald Knox Forum gathered at the grave of the famous Manx born designer, situated in Braddan New Cemetery, to commemorate the anniversary of his death.

Director of the Archibald Knox Forum, Chris Hobdell, recited a short prayer at the grave-side before placing a floral tribute at the distinctive stone - initially designed by the artist for another family.

The island of Eigg (Scottish Gaelic: Eige) is one of the Small Isles (Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Tarsainn), a small archipelago of islands in the Inner Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan a-staigh) off the west coast of mainland Scotland. A possible origin of the name Eigg is the Scottish Gaelic for 'notched island' (eag). The island is 5 1⁄2 miles (9 kilometres) long from north to south, and 3 miles (5 km) east to west. This year  from 17-20 April, it will hold its first film festival with birds as the theme for the inaugural event.

Media release from Culture Vannin:

Building Bridges and strengthening communities

Establishing a strong and long-term relationship between the Gaelic speaking communities of the Isle of Man and the Lower Mourne Area of County Down in Northern Ireland was at the heart of a recent visit to the area by Adrian Cain, The Manx Language Development Officer for Culture Vannin, and Aalin Clague of the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.

With spring (hopefully) just around the corner, the anticipation of a stroll amongst the snowdrops followed by afternoon tea, was a welcome diversion from the winter storms.

Organised by the hard-working team at St James Church in Dalby, a leisurely walk amongst the snowdrops attracts an annual, dedicated number of followers.

Saint David (Welsh: Dewi Sant c. 500 – c. 589) is the patron saint of Wales. Celebrations have recently taken place on March 1st, St David's Day, recognised as a National Day throughout Wales. The date is tradionally seen as that on which Saint David died in 589.  He was a Welsh bishop of Mynyw, now St Davids (Welsh: Tyddewi) during the 6th century. He is traditionally believed to be the son of Saint Non and the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, King of Ceredigion.