Episodes
As David Robertson is visiting Castletown, then the seat of Government, he looks at the roles of what were then called the Governor-in-Chief, Edward Smith, and the Governor, Alexander Shaw, and also at peculiarities of Manx law - but is he right?
We turn once again to Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' in translation into the Manx Gaelic, and hear more about poor Lucy Westenra who becomes restless as there is a fluttering and tapping at the window - by moonlight, Dr John Seward sees that there is a large bat there.
As nyn giaull :
ELIANE PRONOST - Alc'houez an eurusted
DAOIRI FARRELL - A pint of pla...
Although David Robertson is describing his tour through the Island in 1791, he looks back 140 years to events of the 1650s, and we use this as a springboard to the history of the Stanley family.
In this week's excerpt from our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Mina Harker unwittingly writes cheerfully to Lucy Westenra, and Dr John Seward's assistant writes to tell him of another incident with the patient, Renfield.
As y kiaull ain -
SIAN - Bha mo leannan ann
PLETHYN - 'Fuoch chi 'rioed yn morio?
ALBERT HEALY - Melodies from four provinces
MADELYN ANN - Chom enn...
Our tour through the Island in 1791 led by David Robertson has brought us to the Calf, where he refers to a 'woe-worn hermit' living in Elizabethan times. This was a legend used as the basis of a poem by Esther Nelson (1810-1843). We look at Esther Nelson and her poem, 'The Island Penitent : A Legend of the Calf'.
In our Manx translation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Quincey Morris astutely notes that Lucy Westenra has received blood from four people now, and poses the question, 'What took it out?' He joins Dr John Seward and Professor Van Helsing in keeping watch on her. Meanwhile, Mina Har...
After looking at the history and a legend of Keeill Vaayl, the chapel of St Michael that gives its name to the isle in Derbyhaven, we return to David Robertson's tour of 1791 as he takes us further south to the Calf and its avian inhabitants.
An unlucky suitor of Lucy Westenra, Quincey Morris, has just given his blood to save Lucy. He is astute in realizing that another unlucky suitor, Dr John Seward, and the lucky suitor, Arthur Holmwood, as well as Professor Van Helsing, have also given blood previously - and he asks the hard question.
Y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh -
NA SIARAICH - Roinn a...
William Harrison retells The Legend of the Ruined Chapel in St Michael's Isle in a volume of material he collected and edited for The Manx Society in 1873, so we hear about the fate of Father Kelly and the chapel, to which we were steered originally by David Robertson's 1791 tour through the Island.
Dr John Seward and Professor Van Helsing have broken into Lucy Westenra's house, finding four female servants lying drugged in the dining room and Lucy and her mother lying on the bed in Lucy's room. Lucy's mother is dead. What of Lucy? Another episode from a translation into the Manx Gaelic of...
Although David Robertson's 1791 tour through the Isle of Man has brought us to Derbyhaven, his reference to Keeill Vaayl, St Michael's Chapel, has already taken us to the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles, and now we've embarked on a lengthy legend, retold in 1873 by William Harrison, in which St Michael appears to a much-revered priest in the area.
In our Manx translation of Dracula, the late arrival of a telegram has sent Dr John Seward hastening to the home of Lucy Westenra. Meanwhile, Lucy's own account provides a chilling picture of events, so we are warned in advance what ...
David Robertson has brought us to Derbyhaven where we look at the Derby Fort on St Michael's Isle, and then at the chapel itself which gives its name to the isle, Keeill Vaayl, St Michael's Chapel. There's an early reference to it in the Chronicles of Man and the Isles, and then we turn to a legend that appeared in 1873 in a volume for the Manx Society, collected and edited by William Harrison.
Dr John Seward is thankful that he hasn't been summoned by Professor Van Helsing, giving him an opportunity to recover from a knife-attach by his patient, Renshaw. Unfortunately, Van Helsing's tele...
David Robertson tells us the exciting tale of Ivar and Matilda, and the dastardly King Reginald, though the death of Reginald at Ivar's hand is not quite as told in the Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles, which we dip into in a translation by Professor P A Munch.
In this episode from Bram Stoker's Dracula, translated into the Manx Gaelic, we hear more about the wolf, Bersicker, as told to animal keeper, Thomas Bilder, to the reporter from the Pall Mall Gazette. The story is far tamer than the one revealed in Dr John Seward's diary, as his patient, Renshaw, comes into his study.
...
Our tour through the Isle of Man in 1791 with David Robertson brings us to Rushen Abbey, where we also admire the Crossag bridge and hear something of the history and the start of an ancient tale associated with it.
A wolf has escaped from a zoological gardens in London, and keeper Thomas Bilder is questioned about it by a reporter for the Pall Mall Gazette, in another episode from Bram Stoker's Dracula.
As y kiaull ain -
FIONA McARDLE - Ny strooanyn Nancy aalin
NEEAR NESAN - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee/La violette
CALAN - Dawns y pelau/Welsh processional morris
SELKIE - Rantin' rovin' Rob...
The Manx people of 1791 were notable for instigating court cases, and David Robertson gives us a fairly unedifying picture of how they proceeded.
In our version in the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's Dracula, once again Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward have to save the life of Lucy Westenra. With the Professor keeping watch over her, Lucy enjoys several nights of good sleep, and she quite enjoys the smell of garlic now!
Y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh -
EMMA CHRISTIAN - Invocation to St Bridget
MERA ROYLE - Moirrey ny gainle
LORS LANDAT & THOMAS MOISSON - Me n'ouzon ket
SHOOGLENIFTY - No...
Our 1791 tour guide, David Robertson, takes us out of Douglas and through Santon to Ballasalla. It gives us an opportunity to explore something of the history of Newtown (now Mount Murray) and an early industrial enterprise in Ballasalla, using the power of the Silverburn to drive a cotton mill.
Dr John Seward can't understand what Professor Van Helsing's reason is for his elaborate precautions involving garlic flowers all round Lucy Westenra's bedroom and even in a wreath round her neck. However, the Professor is satisfied that this will give Lucy an undisturbed night. Our version in the...
We learn a little more about Captain John Taubman of The Nunnery, before David Robertson points out other fine houses for hospitality in the neighbourhood of Douglas - Captain Southcote's Ballaughton, Lord Henry Murray's Atholl-lodge on Port-e-Chee and The Hague in Onchan, formerly the home of the late Richard Betham. We return to Captain Taubman for his work in agriculture.
Professor Van Helsing has arranged for some flowers to be sent for Lucy Westenra from his friend's glasshouse in Haarlem. Lucy is rather nonplussed to find that they're garlic, but the Professor assures her it's no jok...
David Robertson takes us on further from Captain Taubman's residence, The Nunnery, to Kirk Braddan. He introduces us to 'Graveyard Poetry', and also to a story told by another visitor, Colonel Richard Townley - to whom it sounds as though Robertson had something of an aversion.
In the excerpt from our Manx translation of 'Dracula', Lucy Westenra arranges for Dr John Seward to sleep on a sofa in a room adjoining her bedroom, with both doors open so she can call for him if necessary. The following morning, Professor Van Helsing wakes John Seward and they go through to Lucy's room.
As nyn gi...
David Robertson has returned to Douglas in 1791, and gives us a description of the town and its inhabitants, before taking us a little further afield. However, there are tensions and difficulties as well as beauties and pleasure.
In an episode from our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Arthur Holmwood has given blood to save the life of his fiance, Lucy Westenra. As he is about to leave, Professor Van Helsing has another thought to share with him. The Professor sets Dr John Seward to keep close watch while Lucy sleeps.
As y kiaull ain y keayrt shoh -
GERARD JAFF...
David Robertson gives us a view of society in Douglas as it was in 1791, where some indulged in luxuries whilst others suffered destitution. We meet some characters whom we've encountered in other descriptions of the Island in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
In our translation of Dracula into the Manx Gaelic, Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward agree that Lucy Westenra's life depends on a blood transfusion. John Seward offers his, but just then Lucy's fiance, Arthur Holmwood, arrives and is only too glad to give his blood to save Lucy.
As y kiaull ain -
RUTH KEGGI...
David Robertson guides us round some of the sights of Douglas as it was in 1791, and we look into the background of them with the help of later historians and more modern research.
In Bram Stoker's Dracula, Professor Van Helsing has returned to examine Lucy Westenra, whose rapid deterioration since the previous day shocks Dr John Seward. Urgent action is required.
As y kiaull ain 'sy chlaare shoh -
CLARE KILGALLON & MONA'S ISLE - The garden
MEREDYDD EVANS - Trip i Aberystwyth
IRRSEEBLASER - Salzkammergut
MICHAEL HANLY & MICHEAL O'DONNELL - An bothan a bha' ig Fhionnghuala
AHANAN - Henn yw...
David Robertson was an English customs officer who had been based in Douglas in the late 1780s. He returned to tour the Island in the summer of 1791, and subsequently published a book about it. From it, we get a view of the Island about 230 years ago.
In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Dr John Seward has a patient called Renfield in his care whose case interests him, though he doesn't understand it. He also now has another patient in Lucy Westenra, and he has called in his old friend and mentor, Professor Van Helsing, to examine her.
As nyn giaull -
MANNIN F...
We recently heard of a visit to the Island in 1795. The previous year, a book was published of a tour of the Island made in 1791 by David Robertson, who had previously been based in Douglas as a customs officer. We look at the opening chapter of his book.
In our extract from the Manx Gaelic translation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Professor Abraham Van Helsing has come from Amsterdam at the request of his friend and former student, Dr John Seward, to examine Lucy Westenra, about whose health her fiance, the Hon Arthur Holmwood, is very concerned.
As y kiaull ain -
RUNRIG - Meadhan oidche air...
We hear from Sara Goodwins and George Hobbs of Loaghtan Books about their most recent publication, 'Ramsey, Past and Present', based round images from Ray Stanfield's extensive collection.
In Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' in our translation into the Manx Gaelic, Dr John Seward reports on his brief examination of Lucy Westenra to her worried fiance, Arthur Holmwood, but is puzzled and invites his old friend and mentor, Professor van Helsing, to come from Amsterdam to give his opinion.
As y kiaull ain -
GWENNO - Tresor
JOHN McCORMACK - Trottin' to the fair
JOHN TOSE & JEZ KING - Morfa Rhuddlan/Di...
Samuel William Ryley's family surname was Romney, but he adopted Ryley as a stage name and nom de plume some time between his 1795 visit to the Island and publication of his memoir in 1808. We've been looking at just a few pages from Volume 3 of his nine volume memoir.
In our Manx translation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, we hear of Dr John Seward's experiences with his patient, Renfield, and also from Lucy Westenra's diary. Her fiance, Arthur, is so concerned for her health, he writes to his friend, John Seward - one of Lucy's rejected suitors - asking him to give his professional opinion.
A...
In the autumn on 1795, Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, are in Castletown, where again Samuel chances upon Dr Jacob Hammer and invites him to dine with them. The Dr has no money and is in dread of ending up as a debtor in Castle Rushen, but an official pass is not available to leave the Island until all debts are settled.
Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' is an epistolary novel, and in our Manx translation we hear Mina Murray's letter from Buda-Pesth to Lucy Westenra about Jonathan Harker's condition and their impending wedding. In fact, she's writing her letter as Mina Harker. Lucy replies t...
Samuel William Ryley's memoir of his three months in the Island in 1795 includes encounters with Dr Jacob Hammer. Having bearded the doctor in his den to ask him to play his violin for him, Samuel Ryley waits at the theatre for his appearance. All is not well!
In our Manx translation of 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, the patient, Renfield, is found, brought back to the asylum and restrained. Meanwhile, Mina Murray is in Buda-Pesth to take care of Jonathan Harker. And there's more news, as she writes to Lucy Westenra.
As y kiaull ain - jeeaghyn er oaie gys yn Chooish (2-6 Mee Houney) -
THE MOL...
As he sails away from Douglas on 31st December 1795, Samuel William Ryley meets up with Dr Jacob Hammer. Whilst we've looked at other episodes in Samuel Ryley's memoir, published in 1808, this is by no means the first time he's encountered the doughty Doctor, so we go back to find out more.
In 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, Nursing Sister Agatha of a sanitorium in Buda-Pesth has added a PS to her letter to Mina Murray. We then turn to the diary of Dr John Seward, studying his patient, Renfield, who escapes into the adjoining property, Carfax - recently purchased by a foreign client, one Count D...
Do you know anything about a poem about the many Kelly families of Lonan? One of them was said to have purloined something from a shipwreck. The revenue officers were told it was Kelly of Lonan - but which of so many could it be? This is a query from David Kelly of The Rhaa, who learned part of the poem from his father and has recently come across a version of it. Any information gratefully received!
We hear more about Master Carr, the eccentric schoolmaster living about 2 miles from Peel, before Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, try to leave the Island at the end of 1795 - and we un...
Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, expected to earn money from theatrical performances in the Island in 1795. After three months, that had not happened and they were about to leave - but not before a real-life drama unfolded.
In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', we infer what is happening from entries in Mina Murray's Journal and from letters sent between lawyers in Whitby and a haulage firm in London and the Home Counties.
As y kiaull ain -
BERNARD CAINE & CHARLES GUARD - Eisht as nish
ALVAN, marish AHEZ - Fulenn
SWINGIN' FIDDLES - Da Bousta boy/Harves...
An actor, Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, have come to the Island in 1795, obviously expecting to stay a while as they have brought their furniture with them. However, they have found a pleasant furnished cottage on the sea front in Peel - but will they be able to stay there after all?
After Lucy Westenra's sleepwalking exploits ending up in the churchyard of St Mary's in Whitby, she has begged her friend, Mina Murray, to promise to say nothing. Mina is not sure whether she should give such a promise. Another episode in the translation into Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.
...
Samuel William Ryley (1759-1837) had a book published in 1808 : 'The Itinerant : or, Memoirs of an Actor'. Part of the book deals with a visit he made with his wife, Ann, to the Island in September 1795. We look at some of what he has to say about his experience here.
Mina Murray searches for her sleepwalking friend, Lucy Westenra, and finds her lying on their favourite bench in the churchyard surrounding St Mary's in Whitby - but there seems to be another tall, dark figure bending over her. Another piece from a translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.
We find out a little more about George Stepney of Belle Vue in Maughold, before exploring old Laxey and the Laxey valley. After that, we head for Douglas and the end of our excursion led by Rev Thomas Stephen's 1832 publication, 'A Poetical Guide to the Isle of Mann', and the end of his book.
We return to Mina Murray's Journal in the translation into Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Her ploy of getting Lucy Westenra tired out before bedtime seems to work at first, but quickly turns to dramatic concern.
As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh -
CILMERI - Y sgwner tri mast
CAARJYN COOIDJAGH -...
Our 1832 publication, 'A Poetical Guide to the Isle of Mann' by Rev Thomas Stephen, has brought us to explore down north, to which we came via the western route. After seeing some of the sights - including Thomas Stephen's old family home in Ballaugh - we set out to return to Douglas, this time by the east coast route.
In this episode of our Manx translation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', whilst the ship's log of the Demeter has been given in evidence before an inquest, the verdict is left open. The burial service for the captain - regarded as a hero by the populace of Whitby - is a touching ...
Our jaunt through the Island as it was in 1832 has brought us to Ramsey. We look at St Paul's Church, its history and appearance in the time of Rev Thomas Stephen, Ramsey harbour and then we exert ourselves to enjoy some wider sight-seeing on the north.
The captain of the Russian schooner, Demeter, kept a ship's log of the troubled voyage from Varna to Whitby. His was the only body on board on arrival - dead and tied to the wheel! The ship's log, as described by Bram Stoker in this translation into Manx of 'Dracula', tells his grim story.