BARDAGHT ANNIE KISSACK, RBV – THE POETRY OF ANNIE KISSACK, RBV

Moylley as soylley da Annie Kissack – congratulations to Annie Kissack – Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, the Island’s highest cultural award. The award recognises Annie’s involvement with Manx culture in many forms, but particularly the Manx language, music, song and dance, literature and education.

It’s wonderful timing because for our next event we welcome Annie Kissack, RBV, the Fifth Manx Bard, to talk about the background to her poetry and to read to us some of her work, which ranges from the wry and amusing to very moving as she explores a range of subjects, all associated with the Island. Annie will be presenting her work in the Guild Room, adjoining Peel Methodist Church in Atholl Street, Peel at 2.30pm on Saturday 5th April.

A PASSION FOR THE MANX LANDSCAPE

Gura mie mooar ec – thanks very much to – Yvonne Cresswell for sharing her research into William Hoggatt (1879-1961) : Artist and Champion for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside, which was held on Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, St David’s Day, 1st March. You can read a little about it by clicking here.

ROMANCE OF A RIVER: THE BEAUTY AND HISTORY OF THE COLBY RIVER

Gura mie mooar ec Phil Gawne for telling us something of the background to the film, Romance of a River: The Beauty and History of the Colby River, and then giving us a showing of it. The film is narrated by Phil and tells the story of the Colby River, from where it enters the sea at Kentraugh, to its source on the slopes of Cronk ny Arrey Laa. Read a little about it by clicking here.

TAGHYRTYN – 2025 – EVENTS

You can see our programme of events – 10 throughout 2025, with a summer break in July and August – by clicking here!

FROM PEEL TO FLESHWICK FROM THE SEA – ADAM HORNE

Adam Horne gave us a very interesting presentation, From Peel to Fleshwick from the Sea, on Saturday 11th January, and you can read about it here – though you really had to see it as it was a particularly visual treat!

ARRANE SON MANNIN

Moylley as soylley – congratulations – to the duo Thurrick, comprising Sue Harrison (voice & guitar) & Rob Middleton (mandolin), for their performance which won the Arrane son Mannin competition to find a song to represent the Island in the Pan Celtic International Song Competition in Carlow in April. Sue’s song is about Kirree Veg, who visualises the stories of the Manx carved crosses by touching the stones.

KIAULL MANNINAGH JIU

Chloe Woolley, yn Greinneyder Kiaullee (the Manx Music Development Officer) to Culture Vannin produces an excellent monthly overview with copious illustrations of what’s happening in the Island’s music and dance scene, together with interesting pieces of research and a transcription of a tune. To read the latest edition of Kiaull Manninagh Jiu, click here.

CELTIC NATION KERNOW

Celtic Nation Kernow has been established to continue the legacy of Celtic Congress Cornwall which has existed as a Celtic organisation for over one hundred years. Time and technology has moved forward in ways our forefathers would never have imagined and we are now able to interact worldwide through the power of the internet. Celtic Nation Kernow is an integral and contemporary part of Celtic Congress Cornwall and continues its aims and goals but in a way better suited to the 21st century. You can find out more by clicking here.

INTERNATIONAL CELTIC CONGRESS FACEBOOK PAGE

Len Sheppard, the Vice-Chair of the Cornish branch, prepares a Facebook page for the International Celtic Congress, which can be seen by clicking here. He asks for material for inclusion to be sent to him at associationcornishheritage@gmail.com.

Nyn Mwooise da Margaret Patricia Crellin – Our thanks to Margaret Patricia Crellin

The Manx Branch of the Celtic Congress received a generous bequest from Margaret Patricia Crellin, who passed away in Noble’s Hospital in January 2021 at the age of 91. She was sister to George Crellin of Fiddlers Green, Andreas and a relative of the late John Crellin of Close-e-Kee.  Margaret spent some years in Australia but always loved things Manx. She learned the Manx language by getting sets of tapes sent out to her. In addition to her bequest to the Celtic Congress, she also made one to Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh, with which John Crellin was, of course, so closely associated for many years.

Failt erriu gys Banglane Manninagh y Chohaglym Celtiagh

Welcome to the Manx Branch of the Celtic Congress

Eaghtyrane: Brian Kerwin
Lhiass Eaghtyrane: Stewart Bennett
Patroonyn: Clare Christian OBE; Hazel Hannan
Screeudeyr Onn: Bob Carswell
Tashteyder Onn: Bob Carswell

The Branches of the Celtic Congress in each of the six Celtic Nations of Alba (Scotland), Breizh (Brittany), Cymru (Wales), Eire (Ireland), Kernow (Cornwall) and our own Mannin Branch perpetuate the culture, ideals, and languages of the Celtic peoples, and seek to maintain an intellectual contact and close cooperation between the respective Celtic communities.

The Celtic Congress was founded in 1917, though its antecedents go back some years before that, in order to promote the knowlege, use, and appreciation of the languages and cultures of the six Celtic countries. National Branches of the Congress meet in an International Congress each year in order to help further these aims.