Episodes
We hear the Forward added to a small booklet in 1940 by two fine Manx speakers, Chalse y Craine and Markys y Braide, and then we hear the Preface by Mr J B Keig to his original 1933 publication of 'Ballaugh Nick Names', but the nick names take us back to the 1860s.
Professor Van Helsing has returned from Amsterdam and now intends to devote time to tracking down and destroying Count Dracula. However, he thinks this is no work for a woman - although Mina Harker has been at the centre of things and has helped enormously in collating all their information. Another episode from Bram Stoker's 'D...
We come to the final part of David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History', and he goes out with a bang - rather as he went in with a bang when a cell door closed behind him after his closing, heartfelt words were adjudged to be dangerous republican sedition by the nervous, late eighteenth century British monarchy.
In the latest developments in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Mina Harker has gone with Dr John Seward to talk to his patient, Mr Renfield, whose violent outbursts, they now realize, coincide with times when Count Dracula is nearby, having been delivered in a consignment of boxes o...
We're coming towards the end of David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History', published in 1794, but his footnotes are getting longer, so he's still got plenty to tell us before we reach his closing remarks.
In this week's episode from Dracula, Mina Harker has just been comforting Arthur Holmwood in his distress, and warns Quincey Morris that he, too, may need to find some comfort after he has read the typescripts she has made of various journals and letters. She also persuades Dr John Seward to let her talk to his patient, Renfield.
As y kiaull ain -
HERGEST - O'n hamgylch
CHRISTINE...
We've come to the final chapter of 'A Review of the Manks History', David Robertson's addendum to his 1794 publication in which he describes the Island as he saw it when he revisited it - having been based in Douglas as a revenue officer of the Crown - in the summer of 1791. Robertson's gives an overview and draws some conclusions.
As we're reading through the translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's Dracula, we've heard of Jonathan Harker's visits to Whitby and London to trace Count Dracula's cargo of boxes, delivered to an empty house in Carfax, next door to Dr John Seward's as...
Despite the loyalty of the Stanley family to the Royalist cause, Charles II treated them rather poorly on the Restoration. However, they did come into the Lordship of Man again, and David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' then takes us through to the advent of the Murrays, Dukes of Atholl, and the sale of the Island's regalities to the British Crown.
Mina and Jonathan Harker are staying with Dr John Seward, and through analysing dates and occurrences, have seen that Dr Seward's patient, Renfield, seems to have outbreaks when Count Dracula is in the vicinity. Dr Seward goes to see...
In his 1794 'A Review of the Manks History', David Robertson has given quick overviews of the various members of the Stanley family who were Kings, and later styled themselves Lords, of Man. However, he has a lot more to say about Yn Stanlagh Mooar, James Stanley, the Seventh Earl of Derby.
In the latest episode from Bram Stoker's Dracula in translation into Manx, Mina Harker has said that no-one ought to hear the heartfelt anguish in Dr John Seward's voice as he describes the death of Lucy Westenra in a recording on his phonograph diary. John Seward agrees - but then is surprised by Mina ...
We fairly rattle through the members of the Stanley family who had been given the Kingship of Man, which became known as a Lordship to protect the neck of Thomas Stanley in the court of Henry VIII. David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' has now come to Yn Stanlagh Mooar, James Stanley, the tenth Stanley king/lord of Man and Seventh Earl of Derby.
Professor Van Helsing has to return to Amsterdam overnight, so Dr John Seward goes to meet Mina Harker at the station. Each finds out more about the grisly happenings by swapping their personal diaries of events.
As y kiaull 'sy chlaa...
David Robertson picked his way through the 1300s in his 'A Review of the Manks History', associating events from both early and late in a rather disjointed narrative. We've now reached the advent of the Stanley family in 1405.
Arthur Holmwood has done the deed of driving a stake through Lucy Westenra's heart. Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward have a little more to do, and then they make vows for the future - and the hunt for Count Dracula himself.
Shoh ta'n kiaull ain -
MALINKY - Pad the road wi' me
SIMONE ALVES & YANN GOURVIL - Tri martolod An Oriant
SHEILA CORKILL & CHARLES ALWAY...
Whatever texts David Robertson was using to compile his 'A Review of the Manks History' in 1794, he seems to have got his timelines in a muddle for the period he's writing about, racing through the 1300s. His references to people and incidents seem to concertina back and forth through the century.
In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Professor Van Helsing takes various objects from his long, leather bag, including a sharpened stake and a hammer. He explains what is necessary to bring rest to Lucy Westenra and her betrothed, Arthur Holmwood, undertakes to do t...
David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' was added to his description of a return visit he made to the Island where he had worked as a British revenue officer some years previously. His combined volumes were published in 1794, and he's reached the reign of Magnus, the last of the dynasty of Godred Crovan.
Professor Van Helsing has brought the three men who each proposed to Lucy Westenra to her grave, and shows to them that she is indeed one of the Undead. She throws aside a young child she's been sucking the blood of, and turns her attention to her former fiance, Arthur Holmwood.
...
Is there something about the name, Reginald? Every time we hear of one in Manx history, he seems to have been something of a bad lot. We start and finish our dip into David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' with two such flawed characters.
Professor Van Helsing has brought Arthur Holmwood, Quincey Morris and Dr John Seward to the graveyard at Kingstead, and the empty tomb of Lucy Westenra. Here they keep watch. And oh! what a sickening spectacle awaits them.
As y kiaull 'sy chlaare -
BWNCATH & MEINIR GWILYM - Gyrru ni 'mlaen
MONROE - Am bothan a bh'aig Fhionnghuala
KOUERIEN - Su...
The rule of the dynasty of Godred Crovan was interrupted as King of Man and the Isles by the arrival of the exiled but powerful King Magnus of Norway. On his death, as David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' outlines it, the former line was invited back, in the form of Olave. Unfortunately, he had three troublesome nephews who took advantage of his absence to foment trouble. His return didn't go well.
In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of 'Dracula', Professor Van Helsing is broaching the difficult subject of the state of Lucy Westenra and what he wants to do to resolve the s...
In his 1794 publication, 'A Tour Through the Isle of Man', David Robertson has added 'A Review of the Manks History', and we've reached events detailed in the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles with the arrival of Godred Crovan.
Professor Van Helsing has written a farewell note for Dr John Seward, just in case Count Dracula should come looking for Lucy Westenra whilst the Professor is keeping watch on her burial place during the night. The following day Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris begin to hear of what the Professor intends to do.
As y kiaull ain -
CALUM KENNEDY - Mary of...
As it was written in the 1790s, David Robertson's 'Review of the Manks History' doesn't have the advantage of modern academic research with input from a wide range of disciplines, but still makes entertaining reading, and we can tease out some of the storylines from our own perspective.
The coffin of Lucy Westenra was empty in the dead of night, but Lucy is again lying in it the next day. But she's as beautiful as she ever was, despite lying here in a tomb, but her teeth seem longer and sharper now!
As nyn giaull -
SOWENA - Sprig of thyme
SKEEAL - She 'neen aeg mish as aalin
CARREG LAFAR ...
David Robertson's walking tour of the Island actually was completed several chapters ago, but he had a further four chapters of observations. However, after that, although he finishes Chapter XVIII with END OF THE TOUR, the book continues with REVIEW OF THE MANKS HISTORY, which is also interesting as he views history as understood or surmised in the 1790s.
During the night, Professor Van Helsing has bored and sawed his way into Lucy Westenra's lead coffin to reveal that it's empty. However, he returns with Dr John Seward to open the coffin again during the day - and there's is Lucy, but as...
David Robertson made a walking tour of the Island on his return visit to it in 1791. His circuit began and ended in Douglas, but he added on three more chapters of his general observations, many of which are rather less than flattering, as we hear.
After visiting a hospital to look at a child who had been lost on Hampstead Heath, Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward have another mission, this time in the graveyard - in the very vault - where Lucy Westenra was buried recently. It was just before children started being lost on Hampstead Heath. Another extract in our translation into the ...
As a British revenue officer, David Robinson was in favour of the British Crown buying the sovereign rights of the Island from the Lord of Mann, the Duke of Atholl, in 1765 in order to suppress 'the trade' - or 'smuggling' as the British Government considered it.
Professor Van Helsing is trying to persuade Dr John Seward to open his mind to strange possibilities outside of accepted science. And he has a proposal regarding the burial place of Lucy Westenra.
Y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh -
TRIP - Turning tides
PLETHYN - Ar ben waun Tredegar
THE SCOTTISH FIDDLE ORCHESTRA - Medley for the Gay G...
As a British revenue officer, David Robertson writes approvingly of the way the British Crown bought the Lord of Mann's rights in 1765 in order to suppress 'the running trade' in a move that the Manx people referred to as 'y chialg vooar' - 'the big swindle'.
Professor Van Helsing returns from Exeter and starts questioning Dr John Seward about his views on things that science disapproves of, such as astral bodies and mind reading. He points out that Dr Seward is happy to accept hypnotism, even though he has no idea how or why it works. So why not other phenomena?
As nyn giaull -
BRENDA WO...
David Robertson tells us about the herring fishery and the process of preparing both white herrings and red herrings. We hear of the trade and way of life associated with them in the 1790s.
Jonathan Harker has resumed his journal, and so we hear that Professor Van Helsing finds him in surprisingly good health. However, as they part Van Helsing learns of problems in store. Dr John Seward also resumes his diary, thinking that he'd finished it only a week before.
As y kiaull ain -
DERVISH - The ploughman
JOHN BOLITHO - Maggie May
THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS - The geese in the bog/The jig of Slurs...
Having arrived back in Douglas from a tour of the Island with two friends, David Robertson surveys the town from Douglas Head and reflects on the herring fishery as it was in 1791.
Professor Van Helsing has visited Mina Harker in Exeter. Having found out all about poor Lucy Westenra, his attention turns to Mina's husband, Jonathan, and he, too, reads Jonathan's journal of his travails in Castle Dracula.
As y kiaull ain -
ANDREA AR GOUILH & ALAN COCHEVELOU - Marzin en he gavel
OSSIAN - 'S gann gunn dirich mi chaoidh
ST STITHIANS SILVER BAND - Poldice
MACDARA - Beidh aonach amarach
CATE LE ...
David Robertson surveys the scene from the summit of Snaefell and falls to philosophising. After heading straight down the valley to Laxey, he and his two friends then complete their tour of the Island by returning to Douglas via Onchan.
In our Manx translation of Dracula, Professor Van Helsing explains to Mina Harker how it is that, although meeting her for the first time, he feels that he already knows her.
As y kiaull ain -
ANOUK PETTIT & AALISH KILGALLON - Dagh laa as oie
YR HWNTWS - Hannar cnap
REEL TIME CEILIDH BAND - The Congress Reel/Fleshmarket Close/Andy Renwick's Ferret
FRANCIS...
After concluding an overview of the Island's ecclesiastical history, David Robertson continues his 1791 tour of the Island, from Bishop's Court to Ramsey, then out to Maughold, before ascending Snaefell.
In our Manx translation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Professor Van Helsing has arranged to come to Exeter to see Mina Harker. So striking is their meeting that Mina decides to give a verbatim report in her journal.
As y kiaull ain -
MARI MATHIAS - Annwn
EOGHAINN O CEANABHAINN - Mo Sheamoisin
AR BLEIZI RUZ - Polka de Haute-Bretagne
CHRISTINE TEARE - Aislyn y cheayn
THE CHANGING ROOM - Yntredh...
David Robertson gives a pen portrait of Bishop Thomas Wilson and talks of his successor, Mark Hildesley, as being in the same mould. He then deals with several other incumbents up to Claudius Crigan in 1791, before looking at a range of suggestions for the name of the see as Sodor and Man.
There are disturbing developments on and around Hampstead Heath, not far from where Lucy Westenra was buried. Professor Van Helsing arranges to visit Lucy's friend, Mina Harker, in Exeter. Mina hopes it will shed light on what she has just read of the tribulations of her husband Jonathan on visiting Coun...
According to David Robertson's 1791 view of history, after the suppression of the Druids of the Ancient Britons in one Mona, Anglesey, they came to another Mona, the Isle of Man, where they continued their benevolent rule and ministry until the coming of Christianity.
Following the burial of Lucy Westenra near Hampstead Heath, Professor Van Helsing tries to explain to Dr John Seward how it is that King Laughter comes at the most inappropriate times. Meanwhile, families in the Hampstead area are concerned that children are going missing for some lengthy periods and their excuse is that they...
Having explored Peel Castle, David Robertson and friends set out for Kirk Michael, and there we explore the background to one of the Scandinavian runic monuments they examined, as well as other ancient monuments. David Robertson seems to know a surprising lot about Druids!
In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', we hear of Jonathan Harker's startling sighting in London's Piccadilly of a link to his past of which his wife, Mina, still knows nothing - but decides to discover. From Dr Seward we hear of Professor Van Helsing's odd behaviour, and his explanation for ...
David Robertson quotes from the work of George Waldron, describing a piece of history associated with Peel Castle in the 1440s. This has given rise to some fanciful additions to the history of Eleanor Cobham, the former wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, thanks in part to William Shakespeare and to A P Graves in 'Manx National Songs'.
Arthur Holmwood has come for the funeral of his fiance, Lucy Westenra. Whilst at first a little reserved, he comes to embrace Professor Van Helsing as a good friend, though the Professor still doesn't explain his actions to him, dragging him forcefully awa...
We've arrived in Peel in our tour of the Island in 1791 in the company of David Robertson, who gives a brief account of Peel and its bay and then draws on the work of Captain Francis Grose (a visitor to the Island in 1774) to describe Peel Castle.
Arthur Holmwood has just had to attend to the funeral of his father before coming for the funeral of his fiance, Lucy Westenra. His comfort is in his friendship with Dr John Seward, and now with John Seward's friend and mentor, Professor Van Helsing.
As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh -
GRAHAM HART - Goin' up Camborne Hill
EMMA CHRISTIAN - Arrane sa...
Our 1791 tour guide, David Robertson, takes us over the mountains from Ballafesson to Foxdale, and then we go down the valley into St John's, before going back out along the Patrick Road towards Peel.
Professor Van Helsing's drastic measures for dealing with Lucy Westenra after her death are thwarted. However, Mrs. Westenra's unusual will has, to the surprise of her solicitor, settled matters in a way which he could scarcely have forseen.
As y kiaull 'sy chlaare y cheayrt shoh -
MYNEDIAD AM DDIM - Torth o fara
BARBARA GLASSEY & HARRY BARLOW - Ellan my chree
BAGAD CAP CAVAL - St Brieg set ...
David Robertson tells us how the Manx people in the late eighteenth century experienced the beings that he refers to as "fairies" and the second sight - not that these were necessarily dismissed by leading figures of the day such as Joseph Addison.
Our episode from Bram Stoker's Dracula follows the death of Lucy Westenra - or does it? Professor Van Helsing proposes a startling course of action to Dr John Seward!
As y kiaull ain -
SHENN SCOILL - Tayrn mee thie
PLETHYN - Y ddafad gorniog
THE GLENCRAIG SCOTTISH DANCE BAND - The walrus
MIKE JAMES & YVES LEBLANCE - Avant-deux de la Meziere
EMM...
David Robertson leads us from Kirk Malew to Kirk Christ Rushen, and on the way we pass some standing stones - but where? We then hear some romantic tales associated with Cronk Howe Mooar - the Fairy Hill at Ballafesson.
Despite the ministrations of Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward, Arthur Holmwood's bride-to-be, Lucy Westenra, is failing. She's grateful to Professor Van Helsing for his understanding of her condition. Another episode from a Manx translation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
As y kiaull ain -
EMMET SPICELAND - Nora bheag
MARIE-ALINE LAGADIC - Ma labousig ar c'hoad
ELIZABET...