Valerie Caine's blog

As the celebration of Hop tu Naa looms on the horizon, celebrated academic Professor Ronald Hutton returned to the Isle of Man to speak about his extensive research on the subject to a packed auditorium at the Manx Museum lecture theatre.

Delving into his own studies from the early 1990s, Professor Hutton spoke eloquently about this subject and his understanding of its development over time, but remaining sensitive to his Manx audience.

It might be three years since the Rachel Hair Trio last came to these shores, but their loyal fan base packed out the Centenary Centre in Peel to watch one of Scotland's most recognised folk bands.

Support for the evening was local duo Paul Rogers (Strengyn) and Isla Callister (Tree Cassyn) who got the concert underway with a short session of tunes with a Celtic flavour, which quickly set the tone for the concert.

If you've ever had the good fortune to dine at one of the many successful events at St James' Church in Dalby, there's now an opportunity to take some of those recipes home with you and test them in your own kitchen.

Bakers, cooks and food lovers are all invited to the launch of A Slice of Dalby, a cookery book which promises to bring you some of the best and most popular recipes, tried and tested in the cosy schoolroom of this historic building on the scenic west coast of the Island.

Long standing folk duo, Chris While and Julie Matthews, enjoyed another sell-out performance at the Centenary Centre recently, giving ticket holders a full evening's entertainment a night to remember.

Here as part of their Autumn Tour, While and Matthews came together as a duo in 1993 when key members of the legendary folk super-group the Albion Band.

Although they have followed successful independent, solo careers, their unabated productivity has given birth to no less than ten albums as a duo.

Members of the World Manx Association met in Peel recently for one of their social get-togethers in the historical Sailors' Shelter on East Quay, with an opportunity to chat with friends and learn more about the Isle of Man.

President of the association, Leslie Hanson, had organised a presentation of a DVD written, directed and presented by Charles Guard entitled Manx Mines and Minerals - The story of mining in the Isle of Man.

With stunning, panoramic views of the coastline and a rich cultural heritage, the seaside resort of Newquay will be the new venue for Cornwall's annual Celtic festival, Lowender Peran, which attracts a number of visitors and performers from the Isle of Man.

The festival is a registered charity, set up to encourage recognition of both Cornwall's heritage and its Celtic links, but also for people in the locality to recognise and value their own roots and identity.

Manx Gaelic singer, Ruth Keggin, is well known for her success as both a solo performer and as part of a number of vocal groups, including Nish as Rish, Caarjyn Cooidjagh and the Ruth Keggin Band, but a recent collaboration with fellow singers from Ireland and Scotland has moved her career into a new dimension.

Re-uniting the Scottish, Irish and Manx Gaels into a successful vocal partnership, this revolutionary combination moulds all that is best from each nation's musical heritage into something extraordinary.

With the recently refurbished Sailors' Shelter in Peel gaining a reputation as an exhibition venue, the Isle of Man Guild of Silk Painters became one of the latest organisations to exhibit there; showing how art can be inspired in many ways.

Core members of the Isle of Man Guild of Silk Painters put on a colourful display, which explored the different techniques which can be achieved in this medium.

As those charged with looking at the future role of St Paul's Church in Foxdale consider how best to keep it a part of village life, it became a temporary setting for an exhibition with an unusual theme.

Women in Motorsport was originally exhibited at the Manx Museum before it was transferred to the west of the Island during the Festival of Motorcycling.

The exhibition covered a broad church, highlighting a number of areas in motorsport where women had made their mark and continue to do so.

The annual Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival has grown in recent years to become one of the most popular events on the Island's calendar, drawing inspiration from various local producers who continue to support this annual festival.

With the introduction of an innovative weekend pass and a special evening of street food and live music, there was plenty of time to saunter leisurely amongst a dazzling display of locally sourced food and drink.