Shiaght Laa

Final edition of the present series with Fiona McArdle. The Manannan Festival, the publication of a new collection of poetry and Tynwald - how does it work? 

This week, the team take a look at the Manannan Festival, Loughtan Books and Laa Columb Killey 

In this week's edition, Bob looks at Make Music Day, the Sophia Morrison Award and he hears about the life of James Alfred Curphey.

Bob Carswell brings us voices from the TT and Manx Grand Prix, also news of the Celtic Media Festival and Manx involvement and looks at 40 years of Culture Vannin.

Fiona McArdle presents the programme as Shiaght Laa hears from Phil Craine about Praying the Keeills 2022, and about two art exhibitions - Chief Executive of Hospice IOM, Anne Mills, tells us about The Big Splash Art Trail and how it will help support the work of the Hospice; and artist Paul Parker and curator Hannah Murphy of Manx National Heritage explain the background of the exhibition at the Manx Museum Art Gallery, 'Speed & Light : A Painted Journey Round the World Famous TT Course'. Author Paul Quayle talks about his latest publication, '2020 Haiku'.

Shiaght Laa returns for a new series. Marilyn Crellin gives an overview of some of the events happening on the Island over the next few days, including Praying the Keills, Isle of Man History Day and a look at this weekend's celebration of 40 years of Culture Vannin / Manx Heritage Foundation 

Fiona McArdle introduces a programme which takes quite a dramatic turn. Rushen Players present readings of ghost stories; Dilys Sowrey presents her musical, 'Ayres and Braces'; and President of the Manx Amateur Drama Federation, Michael Lees, tell us about a Festival of One-Act Plays and the Young Actor of Mann 2022

Maralyn Crellin gives a brief overview of animals and birds in Manx music, after we hear from Liam Rice of the ManxSPCA about Dress Up As An Animal Day (Fri 18 Feb), fund raising, the welcome to volunteers and an opportunity for a varied role working full-time for the ManxSPCA. We find out something of the background to 'Ayres and Braces', a musical presentation by well-known musician and singer, Dilys Sowrey.

This week, the House of Keys debated whether prayers should remain part of the proceedings. The former Chaplain was also Archdeacon of Man, and we hear from the new Archdeacon. We also hear some prayers in Manx song. 

The Director of Culture Vannin, Breesha Maddrell, talks to Phil Gawne about the history and work of Culture Vannin as it celebrates a significant anniversary with extra support for new projects. The deadline for applications is 14th February

The Island's rich cultural life in both Manx and English. This week features recordings and interviews from last Friday's ceremony to recognise Nigel Crowe as Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2022. 

We start with a dance associated with what appears on the modern calendar to be 17th January. The tune, Mylecharane's March, is a spritely version of a song long popular in the Island. The story of Mylecharane, a miser in the Jurby Curraghs, who found a treasure of some sort, is well-known in Manx tradition. A traditional song in the Manx language says that he used his wealth to give a dowry to his daughter - and was cursed by Manx fathers for doing so. The song is known to have been a great favourite with Manx people, and it was described from the early nineteenth century as the Manx National Air. W H Gill used his arrangement of the tune to set his words which, from 1907, were widely accepted as the Island's National Anthem. However, it wasn't until 22nd January 2003 that Tynwald designated it as such.

The Island's vast tourist industry needed entertainment, and leading artistes popularised songs which led to large sales of sheet music and promoted the emerging recording industry. Florrie Forde spent many summer seasons in the Island and popularised a number of songs related to it. Her big hit song in 1909 was 'Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?'. Songs about 'Kelly' had become popular since 1887, but Florrie Forde's success also inspired 'answer' or 'follow-up' songs by Billy Merson and Billy Williams, which we hear. 

The judicial murder of Illiam Dhone, William Christian of Ronaldsway, by firing squad on Hango Hill on 2nd January 1663 has resounded down through history in song and story. We hear songs old and new and poetry made about his death and how that is viewed to the modern day.

Fiona McArdle presents the final edition in this series of Shiaght Laa. We hear from Professor Hugh Davidson about William Milner, known mainly in connection with the iconic tower on Bradda Head. An exhibition about his life and work, 'William Milner : The Man and the Tower', can be seen in St Catherine's Church Hall until 4.00pm on Sunday 31st October.  With the change of clocks this weekend and shortening days, dark skies are very much in evidence. We hear from Howard Parkinson about his recent publication, 'Space for Dark Skies : An astronomical miscellany from the Isle of Man'. The Cooish Manx language festival will be taking place 4th-7th November, and Yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx language development officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, outlines the programme of ten events. Culture Vannin is inviting nominations for the Island's highest cultural award, Reih Bleeaney Vanannan. Culture Vannin's Director, Breesha Maddrell, tells us about the award, how to go about ma

The Maughold Crosses Group was formed in May to look at how the collection of carved crosses, currently housed in the churchyard under a shelter designed by Armitage Rigby in 1906, can be protected, preserved and presented for the future. We hear from Chairman of the Maughold Crosses Group, Martin Royle, and member, Pam Kerruish.  The Isle of Man Poetry's Society Poetry Trail 2021 consists of 30 poems on display in Douglas, Peel and Ramsey. We've heard 24 of the poems so far in Shiaght Laa, and in this edition we hear the remaining six winning entries. All 30 poems will be on display until 31st October.

Maralyn Crellin introduces this edition, with an overview of three very different forthcoming events, three more pieces from the Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trail (continuing in Douglas, Ramsey and Peel until 31st October), and the story behind the song, Illiam y Thalhear, which is also performed by Caarjyn Cooidjagh. 

On the eve of the first Port Erin Jazz Festival, Jerry Carter reminds us of the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of music in the Bay Hotel and the Falcon's Nest. Thanks to James Franklin of Culture Vannin, we have an opportunity to hear a little of the theatre pieces by Cori Philips and Annie Kissack, with the prospect of being able to enjoy the videos of them soon. The latest publication by Loaghtan Publications is 'Castletown : Past and Present', based on Ray Stanfield's collection of postcards and other images, paired with modern photographs by George Hobbes and information researched and written by Sara Goodwins, who tell us about working on the book. 

We look at a presentation at the Erin Arts Centre called 'At the Season's Edge' by Tholtan Theatricals and Caarjyn Cooidjagh. The evening comprised two works commissioned by Culture Vannin: Cori Philips's short, amusing piece called 'Our Loch-y Charm' and a one-act play by Annie Kissack, 'The In-Between Times', both set in the 1860s.   We hear two more of the successful poets who have contributed to this year's Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trail, including Peel and Ramsey as well as Douglas this time. Jerry Carter is a saxophonist and jazz lover who has been involved in organising the first Port Erin Jazz Festival. He tells us about special guests, Alan Barnes and Dave Newton, Beccy Rork and the Leeds College of Music Jazz Band, as well as about the many Island musicians who'll be performing. 

The Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trail was officially launched with an event in St George's Church in Douglas on Saturday 11th September. Thanks to Ernie de Legh Runciman, we can hear some of the 20 winning entries for this year's trail introducing themselves and reading their work. The Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival is into it's 13th year. Food Marketing Executive to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture, Hayden Armour, gives us a preview of this year's event.