Valerie Caine's blog

The Isle of Man has an extensive and proud historical link with the North West of England through the busy port of Liverpool, serving a need for migration, employment, transport of goods and latterly an important connection for onward travel.

But the port represents much more than this to people on the Island as we continue to foster a long held affinity.

With an estimated forty percent of languages around the world said to be in danger of extinction, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, in order to raise awareness of the potential threats to their future but also mobilise people into action for their preservation.

There's a further treat in store for those dedicated readers who have been following Maria Darnoult's series about the Waverley family, with the third volume, entitled Discord, now in print.

If you're looking for a gift with a local flavour which also helps the on-going work of an Island charity, then here's the opportunity to pop into any branch of Crossroads Care to pick up your copy of next year's calendar and their Christmas cards.

With the festive season on the horizon and the uplifting sound of music and song to warm our winter evenings, there's an opportunity to enjoy a magical, Manx Christmas at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas.

Manannan's Winterfest, which made a successful debut at the same venue last year, will showcase a range of talent from across the Island (and one or two from further afield) who will represent a cross-section of top performers from a number of genres.

It is said that the Cornish have a long history of expressing their distinctive identity, with a steadily increasing identification and promotion of a Celtic dimension since the late nineteenth century, and there's no better way to experience this than the annual festival known as Lowender Peran.

With new and exciting ideas in the pipeline for the redevelopment of the basement displays in the Manx Museum, it will bring to a close the much-loved Folklife Gallery, which has been on permanent display since the 1950s and remains largely unchanged.

The Folklife Gallery is a gentle reminder of a bygone age on the Isle of Man, evoking memories of a mainly rural setting.

The Island's largest free festival of heritage and cultural events, known as the Isle of Man Heritage Open Days, has blossomed since its inaugural year which included just three events and this year celebrates its tenth anniversary, with a burgeoning list of events scheduled for two weekends during October.

Held at the Great Meadow estate by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Riggall, this year's Southern Agricultural Show was once again plagued by demanding weather conditions, but organisers carried on regardless - with a few re-adjustments to the programme.

A much respected annual show, its well supported from across the Island and beyond but despite the necessity of adapting its schedule to suit a more contemporary audience, has retained its core values of agriculture and rural life.

Hot on the heels of last year's successful debut of one of the Island's newest festivals, Our Island Our World returns to Peel on the 30th and 31st August with a host of new bands at the Centenary Centre.