Alastair Kneale's blog

News from Manx Language Development Officer for Culture Vannin:

The annual Ned Maddrell Lecture, which is free, features a guest speaker discussing a minority language situation that has a relevance to Manx Gaelic. This year it will be held on Saturday 26th November 2016 at Tynwald Mills Conference Centre at 2pm. The lecture will be on language transmission within the family in Gaidhlig-speaking communities in the Western Isles and will be delivered by Dr Cassie Smith-Christmas; the title is:

Hop-tu-Naa is a Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) on 31 October. Predating Halloween, it is the celebration of the original beginning of the Celtic New Year. As with Halloween and the customs associated with it, Hop tu Naa is a festival with pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic festival of Samhain (Manx Gaelic: Sauin). It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, that include Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh. Widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Press release from Culture Vannin:

The search for a Manx cultural champion is on

News from Mannin Branch of the Celtic League:

The Isle of Man will celebrate a unique UN award next week when the Secretary of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme formally inaugurate our status as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

At an event at the Manx Museum on Tuesday, Mr Han Qunli will present Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK with a certificate marking the island’s achievement.

The International Co-ordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere announced the island’s acceptance into the world network in March 2016.

The Manx Wildlife Trust (Manx: Treisht Bea-Feie Vannin) are holding a 'Celebrate Wild about Gardens Week' from the 24 to 30 October 2016. This year they have announced they are celebrating it by going batty about bats! The Trust have organised bat-themed activities on how to support bats and other wildlife in your garden. More information on the programme for the week can be found on the Manx Wildlife Trust website.

News from the Celtic League:

There’s an interesting story on the BBC web pages today about the discovery of the wreck of a U Boat which sank 100 years ago off Stranraer. The story is surrounded with subterfuge and mystery and even has a ‘horrible sea monster’ in the mix! (Link):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ne…/uk-scotland-south-scotland-37691283

News from the Mannin Branch Celtic League:

The Celtic League Mannin Branch have publicly acknowledged the detail and comprehensive nature of an MAIB report into an Irish Sea incident in which the MFV Karen was snagged a year ago by an unidentified Royal Navy submarine.

Text of a Manx Radio report below - an audio clip is at the link:

“Irish Sea fishing dangers exposed

News from the Breton Branch Celtic League:

Bugaled Breizh:

INQUEST in January-2017 in Britain 

Members of London Manx Society (Manx: Yn Cheshaght Vanninagh Lunnin) attended a Mhelliah Service at St Bride's Church in London's Fleet Street on Monday 10th October. A Mhelliah is a traditional Celtic harvest festival that remains popular on the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin), and is celebrated annually by London Manx Society. In his novel 'The Manxman', a 1894 novel by the Manx writer Hall Caine (14 May 1853 – 31 August 1931), he describes the festival:

Press Release From Culture Vannin

Manx Words: a new dictionary for learners of Manx

Culture Vannin is pleased to announce the publication of a new dictionary for learners of Manx.

Entitled Manx Words this pocket dictionary is a fantastic addition to the growing material available for both learners and speakers of the language.