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Claare Ny Gael

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Claare ny Gael 14th March 2021

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51 minutes | Saturday, 13 March 2021
We recap and hear more from brilliant academic and author, Dr Jennifer Kewley Draskau, about her latest novel, 'Transportee', available as a book or in a Kindle edition. Jennifer explains how she has based it on the transportation of felons from Castle Rushen to Jamaica in 1698, and on her research into slavery and indentured servitude and much more. With the feast day dedicated to St Patrick on the 17th March, we hear of a man who was involved in the foundation of Irish language and musical societies and who did much to encourage the formation of similar support for the Manx language and ...
51 minutes | Saturday, 6 March 2021
We hear from academic and author, Dr Jennifer Kewley Draskau, about the background to her recently-launched novel, 'Transportee', taking as its starting point the decision in 1698 to commute the death penalty on a dozen felons lying in chains in Castle Rushen to one of transportation to Jamaica. In celebration of Gool Piran, the Feast Day of St Piran (5th March), patron saint of Cornwall, we hear of a Cornish academic, Henry Jenner, and how he gives us a view of the Manx language in 1874, as well as all he did to promote the Cornish language. As dy yannoo ard eailley jeh'n Noo Piran neesh...
51 minutes | Saturday, 27 February 2021
Bishop Mark Hildesley and his household were greeted on the morning of 28th February 1760 by the thunder of cannon. From Jurby Head they witnessed the sea battle between three Royal Navy vessels under Commander John Elliot and three vessels of the French Royale under Francois Thurot - a battle in which Thurot was killed. Despite celebrating with the Royal Navy, Thurot was widely mourned in the Island, where he was known from the running trade. As 1st March is Dydd Dewi Sant, St David's Day, we celebrate a Welshman, A S B Davies, who, in 1952 and 1954, produced two booklets of stories in Ma...
51 minutes | Saturday, 20 February 2021
Bishop Thomas Wilson enjoyed a long episcopacy from 1697 to 1755. However, relations with his former tutorial charge, James Stanley, who became the Tenth Earl of Derby in 1702, became strained in the early 1700s. We hear of one point of friction over the case of Mary Hendricks. Our short story in Manx is a translation of a mysterious piece by Virginia Woolf. In fact, it's shorter than usual, so we also go back to three pieces of flash fiction based on work by Sheila Elliott, Jenn Linning and Kate Fellowes. As nyn giaull - BARRULE - Illiam boght SOWENA - Jim Stacey DEAF SHEPHERD - Finbarr ...
51 minutes | Saturday, 13 February 2021
The efforts by the Douglas Fire Brigade to deal with a fire in the belfry of St Thomas's Church in Douglas attracted some negative comments from the newspapers of the day. We find out why as we hear a description of the events of Sunday evening, 11th February 1912. Our story in Manx is by a social worker from Sheffield, Amanda Marples, who won a prize as a new author. In this Manx translation the story is called 'Fer y Tattoo'. Even better, it all takes place on a tram. As y kiaull ain: CRIW 1985 - Dwylo dros y mor JULIE FOWLIS - A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhathair mi BAGAD KADOUDAL - K...
51 minutes | Saturday, 6 February 2021
We open at random a copy of George Jefferson's Manks Advertiser and Weekly Intelligencer for Thursday 8th February 1821 to get a flavour of what Island life was like at that time. It cost over twice as much per year to licence a greyhound (£2 2s) as it did to have a four-horse carriage on the road (£1), and all the details of owners and how much they paid on what was there for all to read in the newspaper. In Manx, we have the opening two chapters of a modern thriller by Peter James. As y kiaull ain : KATHLEEN MacINNES - Gaol ise gaol i KISTINIDIZ - Gweharral KING CHIAULLEE - Continental ...
51 minutes | Saturday, 30 January 2021
In celebration of Noo Breesha, St Bridget, we hear about the custom associated with households vying to attract the saint to lodge with them overnight, which would bring good luck on the household for the rest of the year. We hear an abridged version of the story as told by Kathleen Killip, read by Ian Cottier.  In Manx, we hear the short history of what was reckoned to be the finest vessel ever launched in the Island up to that point, the Parkfield - launched 8th January 1833, left Douglas at 9.00pm on Friday 2nd February, returned to Douglas because of a sudden storm, but was driven on t...
51 minutes | Saturday, 23 January 2021
Henry Bloom Noble wrote a letter on 25th January 1886 saying that his wife, Rebecca, would present the site and that he would pay for building a hospital in Douglas (now the Manx Museum building in Kingswood Grove). Their offer was announced and accepted on 27th January. Unfortunately, Rebecca didn't live to see the completion and opening of the hospital in 1888. Our story in Manx is another by Simon J Wood. He lives in Lincolnshire and his story about a famous author is set in Boston - but in this case, Boston, Massachusetts. We celebrate the birth of Robert Burns on 25th January 1759 le...
51 minutes | Saturday, 16 January 2021
The 'Lord Hill' was a vessel which traded between Douglas and Liverpool in the early nineteenth century, carrying passengers as well as cargo. She appears to have been wrecked somewhere off the mouth of the Ribble in the early hours of Sunday 17th January 1819 with the loss without trace of 29 passengers and crew on board. Our story in Manx is from a poignant original in English by Amber Sparks, an American author inspired by the #MeToo movement. As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - ANNE LORNE GILLIES - An ataireachd ard YWS GWYNEDD - Sebona fi JAMES KELLY & DAITHI SPROULE - The Duke of Leins...
51 minutes | Saturday, 9 January 2021
We visit the northern parish of Kirk Andreas and hear about how the Murray family as Dukes of Atholl indulged in nepotism to hasten the advancement of George Murray in the church. However, our main focus is on the church building, and particularly on the very tall tower, designed by Ewan Christian and built in 1869. There was a slap-up supper for the workmen and a party for their wives and family on 6th and 7th January 1870 to celebrate the tower's inauguration. Our story in Manx is a translation of one written by American horror writer H P Lovecraft about three robbers and The Terrible Ol...
51 minutes | Monday, 4 January 2021
We focus on Manx hero William Christian, known as Illiam Dhone, who was put to death by firing squad at Hango Hill near Castletown through the machinations of Charles Stanley, the Eighth Earl of Derby, on 2nd January 1663. Our story in Manx is a translation of one by Steve Caplin about a bar with an unusual clientele.  As nyn giaull : CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Baase Illiam Dhone GREG JOUGHIN - Hango Hill TIM PRICE - Langness (from his 'Gem of God's Earth' suite) RUTH KEGGIN - Little red bird in the pines GRAHAM & NIGEL CROWE - Orry the Dane SCRAN - Fathaby SKEEAL - Ny laghyn foddey shen KATE DO...
50 minutes | Saturday, 26 December 2020
We hear of traditions of Yn Chegeesh Ommidjagh, the Foolish Fortnight of the Manx Christmas, in the Manx language, but also of traditions in the English language. The White Boys are groups of mummers performing versions of a play they would have found in chapbooks printed in Britain and Ireland sold by chapmen. Hunting the wren is a tradition widespread throughout Britain, Ireland and other European countries. The Mollag Band also appeared at Christmas. As nyn giaull - BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Brig Lily GREG JOUGHIN & HILLARY GALE - Roie, ben Juan Tammie MANX FOLK DANCE SOCIETY - St George's Sw...
47 minutes | Saturday, 19 December 2020
Our story in Manx (author unknown) follows the snowy footsteps of the tradition of telling ghostly tales at the Christmas time. The snow falls, too, in William Kennish's description of the Oie'll Verree in Maughold Church in the early 1800s, which gives us a glimpse of Yn Chegeesh Ommidjagh, the Foolish Fortnight of the Manx Christmas. As nyn giaull son y Nollick : CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Tra va ruggit Creest : JOHN, GUTO & ANGHARAD LEWIS - Clychau Bethlem : FIONA J MacKENZIE - Duan Nollaig (Heire bannag) : KANERION PLEUIGNER - Kanomp Noel : EMMA CHRISTIAN - Oikan ayns Bethlehem : KESCANA & MER...
50 minutes | Saturday, 12 December 2020
Agricultural leases came to an end at Hop tu Naa, the end of the agricultural year. New ones began Laa Souney. With the change of calendar in 1752, that became Shenn Laa Souney, the modern calendar's 12th November. On the South Side of the Island, possession had to be taken on or before Shenn Laa'l Catreeney (modern 6th December). On the North Side, the date was Shenn Laa'l Andreays (corresponding to 11th December).  Our story in Manx is about a girl called Leilani, exotically enticing to another girl at a private Catholic school in California. This translation is from the story by Kesia A...
50 minutes | Saturday, 5 December 2020
We celebrate Shenn Laa'l Catreeney, St Catherine's Day by the old-style calendar, which coincides with 6th December by the modern reckoning, with a visit to the well, keeill and present church dedicated to her in Port Erin and then a fair at Bell Abbey in Colby, where there was also a well and keeill, and devotees seem to have been notoriously thirsty. Our story in Manx begins and ends in hospital, whilst a story develops in the interim. This is a translation of a story in English by Simon J Wood, living in Lincolnshire, but writing about London. As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh : GOITSE -...
50 minutes | Saturday, 28 November 2020
We go along to Gooseneck-lane in Douglas for the opening of what has been a very useful building for all sorts of purposes over the years, and now houses the Family Library. Shortly after the opening of Noble's Hall on 26th November 1906, Gooseneck-lane was developed and renamed Westmoreland Road. Our short story in Manx is a translation from a poignant tale of seeking solace after death by former American primary school teacher, Theresa Cecilia Newbill. As nyn giaull (celebrating Laa'l Andreays, St Andrew's Day!) : LORNA ANDERSON & HAYDN TRIO EISENSTADT - Tam Glen ALASDAIR GRAHAM & CON...
50 minutes | Saturday, 21 November 2020
We hear about the reason the Mona's Isle Steam Packet Company was founded, and about its early competition with the St George's Steam Packet Company of Liverpool. That rivalry ended dramatically with the wreck of the St George on Conister. Fortunately, all aboard were rescued by Douglas lifeboat, though Sir William Hillary suffered six broken ribs in the rescue in the early hours of 20th November 1830.  We have a shortish story in Manx from an original by Sherwood Anderson, then four more pieces of flash fiction translated from stories by Bruce Gunther, Pamela Kennedy, I M Cameron and Nori...
50 minutes | Saturday, 14 November 2020
Via the 1825 Potato Riots and lazy beds for seed potatoes on Peel Hill to restore Ireland's blighted stock after the 1840s we arrive at Archibald Cregeen. In his dictionary he refers to 18th November as Laa'l Spitlhin Geuree. We explore who or what was Spitlhin.  Rather than one story in Manx threaded through the programme, we have eight pieces of flash fiction. As shoh nyn giaull : SKEEAL - Mannin veg veen THE MOLLAG BAND - Graih my chree BIRLINN JIARG - Octopus jigs BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Arrane sooree MARLENE HENDY & DILYS SOWREY - Arrane ben vlieaun TIM PRICE - The Chasms BARRULE -...
50 minutes | Saturday, 7 November 2020
Hovering as we are between Laa Souney and Shenn Laa Houney, we look at the Ramsey Fair which was traditionally held until the early twentieth century on 8th November - Shenn Laal Simon as Jude, the Feast Day of St Simon and Jude. Biblical references, apocrypha, lost archaeology, murder and lost causes later, we move on to Laal Martin, 9th November. Our story in Manx is from one in English by American, Samuel Barnhart - satirising the relationship between an incoming supply teacher and pupils, it's called 'Ta Dagh Laa myr Caggey'. As y kiaull ain : MARY BLACK & GENERAL HUMBERT - Mo ghile ...
50 minutes | Saturday, 31 October 2020
In 1825, the Bishop of Sodor and Man, George Murray, imposed a tithe on green crops and set tithes far higher than in Great Britain or Ireland. This resulted in riots throughout the Island. We hear part of the account written by the Bishop's wife, Lady Sarah Murray, of the very real dangers and of avoiding the wrath of the mobs. Our story in Manx is a translation of a satire by American writer Elizabeth Eve King on television talk shows and the uncritical embracing of facile answers to life's difficult questions. She creates two brothers with a name based on that of Deepak Chopra, whilst i...
50 minutes | Saturday, 24 October 2020
Two Peel men, James Moore and Thomas Siddleton, were sentenced to hang for robbery with violence in 1832. Moore confessed but Siddleton protested his innocence, even with his feet on the trapdoor and his neck in the noose. We look at the case and their execution which took place on 22nd October 1832.  Our story in Manx is all about strange goings on on 31st October, so perhaps a week in advance. It's a translation of a story written by an American writer currently based at the University of Glasgow, Alexandra Grunberg. It's called 'Ta Cuirrey Creeoil Erriu'. As nyn giaull :  JIMMY RODGERS...
50 minutes | Saturday, 17 October 2020
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, was known as Yn Stanlagh Mooar ('the great Stanley') by the Manx people, not from affection but as an acknowledgement of the power he exercised, not just in the Isle of Man and the north-west of England and North Wales, but in the royal court and in the House of Lords. He fought for the crown in the civil war. After his capture, Oliver Cromwell gave an order that he should be tried at Chester - and executed at Bolton. The verdict was pre-ordained and he was executed, though among scenes that must have surprised the Parliamentarians, on 15th October 1651.  ...
50 minutes | Saturday, 10 October 2020
It's a poetic edition of Claare ny Gael with pieces of poetry read by their authors : Kerron Clague - untitled : Ruth Baxendale - Tholt-y-Will Glen : Vinty Kneale - When I were young : Stacey Astill - Cronk ny Arrey Laa : David Kelly - The buggane : Annie Kissack - When the wind blows : Kerron Clague - Cartography in wire. It's the final part of our story in Manx, a translation from Mike Scofield's English original, about the new app which has taken over people's lives. Will Eric be able to fight against it? As nyn giaull : CHARLIE MURPHY - Burning times LIZ JEFFERIES - Rosemary Lane R...
50 minutes | Saturday, 3 October 2020
In 1263, King Hakon of Norway brought a large fleet together to attack King Alexander III of Scotland. King Magnus of Man was among the followers of Hakon. The Battle of Largs of 2nd October 1263 was indecisive, but following it Hakon became ill and died, and his fleet sailed back to Norway. King Magnus had no option but to agree to Alexander III as his overlord. Magnus died in 1265, and in 1266 Norway formally transferred its suzerainty over Man and the Isles to Scotland. This was the end of the dynasty of Godred Crovan. We have the second part of our short story in Manx  - short, but not...
50 minutes | Saturday, 26 September 2020
When poor weather brought a poor harvest, some Manx landowners wanted to ship grain off the Island to take advantage of higher market prices elsewhere - but leaving the Island with a shortage and prices beyond the reach of many people for their staple food. The outcome was rioting, which started in Peel on 29th September 1821 and spread to Douglas soon after.  Our story in Manx is the opening part of a tale, originally in English by Mike Scofield, about someone who enjoys solitude in the wilderness, but after a month away returns to find people behaving very strangely - thanks to new softw...
50 minutes | Saturday, 19 September 2020
Mona Douglas was born on 18th September 1898, and we remember her in this edition of Claare ny Gael. On a more sombre note, Laa'l Mian, St Matthew's Day (21st September) is the anniversary of the wreck of the herring fleet in the mouth of Douglas Harbour. We hear contemporary reports about it and the song in Manx made on the tragedy. Our story in Manx is a little shorter, and it's a string of sentences, a translation of those written in English by John Heggelund, that build up to give a picture of an individual through thoughts and feelings. As y kiaull ain : GREG JOUGHIN & MONA'S ISLE -...
50 minutes | Tuesday, 15 September 2020
We hear about a tragedy at the mouth of Douglas Harbour when three men on board a smack, 'Hero', were drowned on 13th September 1873. The event also caused the resignation of the coxswain of Douglas lifeboat, William Curphey, who had been critical of the position of the lifeboat house, on the Harris Promenade below St Thomas's Church. He was proved right when the lifeboat was unable to launch to help the 'Hero', though right at the harbour mouth. Our story in Manx, 'Cre Cho Doo as ta'n Speyr', is about a grandfather and his grandson in a world and time where people are cut off from nature -...
50 minutes | Saturday, 5 September 2020
In January of 1901, S K Broadbent & Co published an announcement that the manuscript of a new book by A W Moore had been received and would be published later that year. It was to contain the biographies of over 200 distinguished Manx people. The book was 'Manx Worthies' and duly appeared on Tuesday 27th August 1901. We dip into the Isle of Man Examiner and Mona's Herald reports of early September celebrating the publication. Our story in Manx is about an artist's imperative to paint - even though the end of the world is nigh. As nyn giaull : BRIAN MAC STOYLL & SHORYS Y CREAYRIE - Mannin...
50 minutes | Saturday, 29 August 2020
We hear about the celebrations when the Ramsey Steam Packet Company's vessel, 'Manx Fairy' first arrived in the Island from Liverpool, and particularly when it came into its home port of Ramsey. In Manx we have a translation of a story by Frank Roger about a mysterious burning woman who appears as a vision to a lonely man. As y kiaull ain : SANDY CROSS, MUSICALE & THE MANX YOUTH BAND - Ramsey town MAGI TUDUR - Dwi'm yn licio RACHEL HAIR - Charmed PYBA - Tri marghak MICHO RUSSELL - Nora Daly GEOFF LILES & ANNETTE DAVIES - Eithin aur OSKORRI - Aita semeak CEOL NA CREIGE - Crodh Chal...
50 minutes | Saturday, 22 August 2020
Magnus Barefoot was a King of Norway who left that country and made his base here in Mann in the 1090s. The Chronicle of the Kings of Mann and the Isles regards him as de facto King of Mann and the Isles at that time. He was restless and aggressive, attacking the other Mona, the Isle of Anglesey, and going on to be belligerent towards Ireland. Having planned an attack, he went on ahead of his main army and was killed in a skirmish in Ulster on 23rd August 1103 and is buried at St Patrick's Church, Co Down. Our story is off a young girl and how she deals with the Buggane. Mummy doesn't under...
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Claare ny Gael 14th March 2021
Claare Ny Gael

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