Shiaght Laa

Myra Gilbert and Helen Fox of the Creative Network talk about an art exhibition from Saturday 16th August in the Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey, and two packed weekends of the Isle of Man Art and Architecture Festival on 23rd-25th August and 30th-31st August, a venture between the Creative Network and the Isle of Man Society of Architects. Plus songs by George Formby!

Maralyn Crellin presents a programme in which we hear from author and illustrator Rosemary Greening about Blooming Marvellous : Manx Wildflowers - A Botanical Journey, published by Loaghtan Books, and Ruth Keggin Gell talks to some recent visitors to the Island.

Fiona McArdle introduces Shiaght Laa with Kristin Kelly from Australia and Catherine Iverson from the United States of America - both with Manx ancestry. There's also the launch of Fiddyl Reesht, with Director of Culture Vannin, Breesha Maddrell, and the author/editor of Fiddyl Reesht, Laura Rowles.

The North American Manx Association makes annual awards of silver medals for outstanding contributions to Manx culture and community by young people, and the Department of Education makes two awards for the Manx language. We hear this year's ceremony for the presentation of awards with Daphne Caine MHK and President of Tynwald, Laurence Skelly.

Maralyn Crellin introduces a programme which includes Julie Matthews talking about her life in teaching and the Manx language on the eve of her retirement as head of the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, and Chloe Woolley and Jo Callister give an overview of Yn Chruinnaght 2025, the interCeltic arts festival which will be running 21st-27th July.

Fiona McArdle introduces a programme with items about the Sophia Morrison Award, Tynwald, Culture Vannin's Treisht26 project, which will feed into Blein ny Gaelgey, the Year of the Manx Language 2026. We hear from Breesha Maddrell, Ruth Keggin Gell and Phil Gawne.

Chloe Woolley of Culture Vannin tells of a recording of a suite of 19 Manx songs and tunes recorded recently in Georgia, USA, and available on the Culture Vannin website, Alex Brindley talks about the Groudle Glen Railways diesel and battery electric locomotives, and for the birthday of Hall Caine (14th May 1853), James Franklin of Culture Vannin talks about his work.

Manx Wildlife Trust's Community Ranger and Head of Engagement, Graham Makepeace-Warne talk about forthcoming opportunities to engage with nature. Oie Voaldyn and Laa Boaldyn are the Manx celebrations of May Eve and May Day, and there's an opportunity to find out a bit more about them, and Cathy Clucas tells us about the Oie Voaldyn to be held in Peel.

The Manx duo, Thurrick (Sue Harrison and Rob Middleton) are taking part in the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, and we hear Sue's song, Kirree Veg. Manx Wildlife Week runs from Saturday 26th April to Saturday 3rd May, and we hear about events from Manx Wildlife Trust's Community Ranger, Hannah Philips. We also hear about the Guild and a illustrated talk.

Maralyn Crellin hosts a look at Manx Easter traditions and sayings. Manx National Heritage has Easter activities at its sites, and Julian Power reminds us of the Meadowside Choral Society's Good Friday performance of Stainer's The Crucifixion. We look ahead to the Pan Celtic Festival with organising committee member, Nicola Tooms, and writer of this year's Arrane son Mannin, Sue Harrison.

Fiona McArdle is your host. The Island's highest cultural award has been made to Annie Kissack, Reih Bleeaney Vanannan. Meadowside Choral Society's musical director and conductor, Julian Power, talks of his role and of performances of John Stainer's The Crucifixion at 6.30pm on Palm Sunday in Mount Tabor Methodist Chapel, Port St Mary, and on Good Friday in Arbory Parish Church.

A major exhibition, Knox : Order and Beauty, opens at the Manx Museum in Douglas. We hear from curator, Katie King, and from Chris Hobdell of the Archibald Knox Forum about events associated with it in the Forum's Isle of Knox initiative. Chairman of the Shennaghys Jiu cultural festival, Juan Garrett, tells us this weekend's events.

Maralyn Crellin introduces the last in the present series of 'Shiaght Laa' which focuses on the launch of the book of poetry by David Callin, 'From the Nab', which was the name of the farm on which he grew up. In addition to David's introduction, including his thanks to illustrator, Vicky Webb, and publisher, Culture Vannin, we hear some of his own work, but also from his guests for the evening, fellow poets James Franklin, Hazel Teare, Doona Williams, John Dog Callister, Stacey Astill, Michael Manning and Annie Kissack. 'From the Nab' is published by Culture Vannin at £10.We also hear about a fun and funny film, Teeval: Ben-phrinse ny Marrey / Teeval: Princess of the Ocean, newly available in both Manx and English on line, made by Dario Leonetti for Culture Vannin with the help of the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee. It was written by Bunscoill Ghaelgagh students Olivia and Nora, who tell the story of as we see them acting it out in costume including wonderful papier mache heads against a backdrop of Niarbyl.

Fiona McArdle introduces this edition of Shiaght Laa in which we hear from David Callin, just prior to the launch of his book of poetry, 'From the Nab', published by Culture Vannin.The Director of Culture Vannin, Breesha Maddrell, shares some of her thoughts on Manx culture and the role of Culture Vannin with Phil Gawne, and also explains the process of awarding the annual cultural honour, Reih Bleeaney Vanannan.

Fiona McArdle introduces a programme in which we hear Ruth Keggin Gell give her reaction to this year's Cooish Manx Language Festival which she co-ordinated, and we also hear from special guest to the festival, Scottish Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop, who tells us about her own experience of the Scottish Gaelic language and her careers as an award winning singer and as a television presenter in a range of Scottish Gaelic programmes.Kate Jerry and Collette Gambell run the Artreach Studios in Peel, where they have a wide range of events, with great opportunities to enjoy getting involved in hands-on, creative work. There are many workshops for adults and youngsters, and Kate tells us of Artreach Studios involvement in creative opportunities for talented teenagers. With so much going on, keep an eye on their website - www.artreachiom.com

Fiona McArdle introduces a programme in which we hear from yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, about the Cooish Manx Language Festival 2024, which is running from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th November, and includes a concert with Scottish Gaidhlig singer, Joy Dunlop, accompanied by Ron Jappy. Joy will also be giving workshops in Scottish Gaelic and singing in that language, whilst Ron will be giving a workshop on guitar accompaniment and a Scottish tune workshop.We also look ahead to performances on Thursday 14th, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th November at the House of Manannan in Peel by Labyrinth : History in Action, bringing stories of life and death round Manx shores, in association with the All at Sea exhibition currently on show.

As soon as the sun goes down, we start a new 24 hour cycle consisting of the eve, followed by the day itself. Sundown on 31st October brings the Manx tradition of Hop tu Naa, with its surprising variation of associated songs, some of which we hear, whilst Culture Vannin's Online and Educational Resources Officer, James Franklin, tells us more about the tradition.Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, has been co-ordinating the work which goes into making the Cooish Manx Language Festival, running this year from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th November. Ruth outlines the history and purpose of the Cooish and who all is involved with it this year.

From Saturday 26th October there'll be an exhibition entitles 'Rare Sightings and Urban Faeries' at the Manx Museum in Douglas. We hear from the curator of the exhibition for Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin, Manx National Heritage, Nicola Tooms, before we hear from the artist herself, Julia Ashby Smyth, who has 77 images on display.In a week's time it'll be Hop tu Naa. Whilst there's a feeling that it remains a strong Manx tradition, that's never been evaluated. This year Culture Vannin's Online and Educational Resources Officer, James Franklin, is encouraging people to take part in what will be a baseline survey to look back on and compare with in 10, 20 or 50 years.

Maralyn Crellin gives us an overview of some of the opportunities to enjoy a range of music in the course of the next week. Some of these take place as part of concert seasons in churches, and we also hear about St Paul's Church in Ramsey, celebrating the anniversary of its consecration by Bishop George Murray on 18th August 1822.However, our main focus is on 15th August, which is Laa'l Moirrey Toshee, the principal feast day of St Mary, who remains an important figure for the church in Man. A well-known song in Manx, collected by Mona Douglas, invokes 'blessed Mary' to increase the milk of a cow that's being milked, and with that idea in mind we also hear some Manx poetry about cows!This is the final programme in this series of Shiaght Laa.

Fiona McArdle hosts this edition of Shiaght Laa in which we hear of Manx representatives at two large festivals. This week, Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol is taking place in Pontypridd, and Manx delegates Nicola Tooms and Matilda Watson were welcomed to the stage by the Archdderwydd. Lorient in Brittany will again be abuzz with music, and from Monday 12th to Sunday 18th August, a large contingent of Manxies will be taking part in the city's huge Festival Interceltique. We hear about it from Grainney Sheard, her sister Ealee, Breeshey Kermode of Biosphere Isle of Man and Blue Badge guide Jacqueline Yates, who will all be there as part of a contingent of about 60 people from the Island, performing music, song and dance and promoting the Island's unique culture.