We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon on Saturday 5th April when our guest speaker was the Fifth Manx Bard, Annie Kissack, RBV. She entertained the audience for over an hour with her poetry, accompanied by a thoughtful slideshow which explored some of the ways she had developed themes from the landscape and from family life.
Annie shared how, before becoming Bard, she had written around 20 poems, but now has over 1,000! Her work explores the deep connection between people and place, with poems about childhood memories in Laxey Glen, her four times married great, great,grandmother Gorry (née Killey) of Ballacallin, and even sitting in a hall watching moths dance near a lightbulb while her parents took Manx lessons.
She also read poems inspired by the late Mona Douglas, poet Paul Lebiedzinski, and archaeologist Sheila Cregeen, along with reflections on Manx customs, from gathering willow to hymn raising at the Braaid Eisteddfod, and a moment of clapping between orchestral movements at the Villa Marina met with a sharp word from a well known local!
A highlight for many was Field 153, based on a curious tale of a man turned into a horse.
The talk was thoroughly enjoyed by all, a lovely celebration of poetry, memory, and Manx culture, myr shoh ta shin cur booise mooar dy jarroo da Annie Kissack, RBV.
Lesh booise da Jo Overty son fockleyn as y chaslys