Valerie Caine's blog

Fans of Manx trad power trio Barrule were out in force at the Centenary Centre in Peel to celebrate the Island launch of their latest CD Manannan's Cloak, a sequel to their award-winning eponymous debut album released in 2013.

It was a sell-out gig which attracted many fans who were already familiar with the trio's original style of music, which, along with other Manx singers and musicians, has pushed the Isle of Man into the spotlight in recent years.

The 44th Pan Celtic Festival will be staged in the city of Derry in Northern Ireland for a second successive year this month, which will include a return visit by the Manx quartet Shenn Scoill to contest their unprecedented win in the Pan Celtic International Song Contest last year.

As the Sailors' Shelter on East Quay in Peel takes on board a new lease of life, a two man art exhibition taking place later this month will provide an opportunity to study the work of two local artists.

Now that the railway summer season timetable is fully underway, supporters and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to use all three heritage services, including the Snaefell Mountain Railway.

New Go Explore travel cards are now available, featuring both railway and TT images, which offer unlimited travel on all scheduled bus and rail services, with a choice of 1, 3, 5 or 7 days. They can be purchased at any main station, the House of Manannan in Peel, or the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal in Douglas.

With Spring almost upon us, the annual World Bonnag Championships took place at St James' Church in Dalby, where a capacity audience gathered to see who would be crowned overall champion.

It was another sell-out event for the busy organisers of this small, but very active church, who provided a warm welcome to everyone as bonnags of all sizes were lined up ready for judging later in the evening.

Organised jointly by the Department of Education and Children, Culture Vannin and Manx National Heritage, the Manx Folk Awards replaced the former Cruinnaght Aeg competitions which encouraged many of the Island's school children to compete creatively in the areas of song, music, dance and recitation.

Held at the Douglas Youth Arts Centre and the nearby Trinity Methodist Church at Rosemount, this popular, annual event is recognised for its informal approach, which sees finalists gathering in the Island's capital for three days of competitions.

The Manx debut of the folk band Faustus at the Centenary Centre in Peel proved beyond doubt how English folk music has evolved in recent years, as the all-male line-up produced a seemingly endless supply of songs and tunes which left the capacity audience gasping for more.

Judging by everyone's reaction the devil had a busy night, as we all sold our souls for the pleasure of listening to a range of music which criss-crossed a number of English counties and devolved seamlessly to an Island which rejoices in its own unique musical heritage.

With the local calendar starting to fill up with an eclectic range of events, there's a great opportunity to experience some exciting cultural entertainment during the annual Shennaghys Jiu festival, later this month.

Wholly based in Ramsey, the festival's primary aim is to encourage young musicians to perform together in a non-competitive environment, with an emphasis on the enjoyment of informal sessions and ceilis in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

As Fairtrade Fortnight came to a close, a special evening was organised at St James Church in Dalby to learn more about how Fairtrade works, with an opportunity to partake in some chocolate tasting and discover more about the real story behind the confectionary, which most of us take for granted.

Margaret Newton, local Traidcraft distributor, hosted the evening, providing detailed information about how Fairtrade works to help poor farmers, workers and their families around the world, and answering assorted questions from members of the audience.

Local traditional dance group Bock Yuan Fannee recently celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Masonic Hall in Douglas, in conjunction with the Arrane son Mannin event when a local song was chosen for the forthcoming Pan Celtic Festival.

Organised by Fiona McArdle and compèred by one of the group's founding members, David Fisher, the celebration included a selection of Manx dances performed by current and past members of the group and a special 40th birthday cake, followed by a lively ceili with Tarroo Marroo; which included some original members of the dance group.