Valerie Caine's blog

If you're looking for a new challenge this year, then it's time to set your sights on the World Bonnag Championships at Dalby, where some of the Island's talented bakers will gather for this annual celebration.

With Shoprite once again sponsoring the many classes on offer, it's a great opportunity to perfect a Manx product which graces many farmhouse tables and rural events.

This year's International Celtic Congress, which will bring a total of sixty delegates from the Celtic countries in a demonstration of solidarity, will be held on the Isle of Man later this month.

As a group they aim to perpetuate the culture, ideals and languages of the Celtic people, and to maintain an intellectual contact and close co-operation between the respective Celtic communities.

There'll be Manx music both at home and away later this month, as the festival season gets into full swing, with opportunity to enjoy contributions from many of our Celtic neighbours.

With the advent of spring and the ubiquitous golden daffodils to help shake off the winter gloom, the inter-Celtic festival of Wales, Cwlwm Celtaidd, will burst into life this month and will include musicians and dancers from the Isle of Man in their programme.

Based in the seaside resort of Porthcawl, this family-friendly festival has long been a favourite of Manx traditional dance group Perree Bane, whose vibrancy and colour attract an audience wherever they perform.

Local trad band Mec Lir made history recently, when they became the first Manx group to represent the Isle of Man at what has become known as one of Canada's premiere musical events.

Musicians David Kilgallon, Tomas Callister, Adam Rhodes and Greg Barry have brought a new, contemporary feel to Manx traditional music, providing a ground-breaking mix of dance tunes with an upbeat tempo which has attracted a legion of new fans and generated much interest off-Island.

In response to the relentless wind and rain of the past few months, supporters of St James Church, Dalby, came out in force to join the annual snowdrop walk, followed by afternoon tea.

Meeting at Dalby House, by kind permission of Mrs Clarke, visitors were invited to stroll amongst the garden, where a plethora of snowdrops basked in the glory of praise and endearment.

The annual Arrane son Mannin (Song for Mann) competition, which provides the Island entry for the Pan Celtic Festival Song Contest held in Ireland each year, was held at the Masonic Hall in Peel.

It was a successful event, which brought a number of Manx traditional musicians together to entertain an appreciative audience, prior to the competition itself and as the judges made their appraisal.

Despite an array of contemporary entertainment, the annual Oie'll Verree in Kirk Michael still attracts a full house to the Ebenezer Hall, situated in the centre of the village.

Many, but not all, of these concerts have fallen by the wayside in recent years, although this particular event continues to grow in popularity. Now organised by members of Michael Heritage Trust, the evening follows a tried and tested format which draws people from all walks of life; and indeed from various parts of the Island.

Celtic Connections is the largest, winter music festival of its kind and the UK's premier celebration of Celtic music, and this year will include a number of top traditional musicians from the Isle of Man.

This is not the first time that the Island has been represented in Glasgow's annual, folk, roots and world music festival, but this year the Manx will be making their mark with local favourites Mec Lir and Manx Gaelic singer Ruth Keggin.

This year the annual festive gathering returned to Peel with a selection of Manx musicians to whet everyone's appetite on a dismal winter evening.

Traditionally held between Christmas and New Year, the night's entertainment was compéred by local man Greg Joughin of the Mollag Band at the Masonic Hall. Predictably the concert was a sell out with a line--up of singers and musicians performing at the venue from across the Island.