Episodes
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...
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...
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...
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 -...
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 -...
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...
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...
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...
We look at a tradition of going to the mountains in early August, and how it came to be associated with the first Sunday after 12th August, known as the First Sunday in Harvest - which was this week.
That takes us to the mountains, so it's also appropriate to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Snaefell Mountain Railway on 21st August 1895.
Our story in Manx is a science fantasy all about smoking.
As nyn giaull - ooilley woish y Vritaan :
MARC ROBINE - Les filles de Lorient
CABESTAN - Les vieux de la vieille
AR BLEIZI RUZ - Polka de Haute-Bretagne
ANNIE EBREL - Roba...
We go to the heart of Douglas, to Cheu y Phurt - the North Quay. Old St Matthew's stood at the open-air market place until the late 19th century brought the cast iron meat and fish market and the brick-built butter, fruit and vegetable market. For a short time, the old chapel still stood as the new church came into use on 10th August 1897.
And our story is about apples - and a 'fairy' who brings loads of them.
Shoh nyn giaull :
CARREG LAFAR - Hen ferchetan/Ffair y Bala
NORRIE MILLS & MUSICALE - I'm a native of Peel
TEZEN KOYNT - Nine brave boys
MAIRTIN DE COGAIN - Poc ar buile
D...
The middle section of the programme presents the third and final part of Mollyndroat, the musical written by Aalin Clague and Annie Kissack and performed by the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh in lockdown. On either side of that we open the pages of the first edition of the Mona's Herald newspaper, published on 3rd August 1833, and we also hear translations in Manx of five pieces of flash fiction. As nyn giaull (reesht woish ynnyd eggey Yn Chruinnaght - ynchruinnaght.com) : BRETON-MANX COLLABORATION - Arrane oie vie/Er geric wenn : THE MacDONALD SISTERS - Far am bi fhin : LESKI - Three spires/Tregajor...
We hear the second part of the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh fo ghlass musical production, 'Mollyndroat', written by Aalin Clague and Annie Kissack. We also have some more examples of flash fiction, with five very short stories, four of them in about 130 words and the final one in only 62 words. It's been Yn Chruinnaght in the past week, so all our music this time can be found on the website, ynchruinnaght.com. Y chiaull ain : DAVID KILGALLON, MERA ROYLE, THOMAS MOISSON & LORS LANDAT - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee/La violette : MEINIR DAVIES, ANGHARAD EDWARDS & ADAM BEHRENS - Bugeilio'r gwenith gwyn : E...
It's Yn Chruinnaght's Celtic Gathering 2020 from Monday 20th-Sunday 26th July, so we hear all about that, with plenty online - search for celticgathering.im or go to ynchruinnaght.com or look for it on Facebook. We hear the first of three parts of 'Mollyndroat' the musical production by the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh in lockdown, and also five very short stories - flash fiction. As nyn giaull : MANDY GRIFFIN & FRANK WOOLLEY - Molly Charrane : LORS LANDAT & THOMAS MOISSON - Ar paotr youank kozh : TIM EDEY - The wrong trousers : BAND Y BETWS - Sawdl y fuwch/Cath Sion Dafydd : RICHARD TRETHEWEY - We ...
We haven't had an out-and-out tragedy in Claare ny Gael for some time. A boating accident in Douglas Bay in July 1833 claimed the lives of a mother and her three sons aged 20, 15 and 11. A ten-year old daughter was rescued, and her three sisters were taking tea with friends at the time. Our story takes us to the world of fairy tale and the unexpected outcome for the longtail who drove Cinderella's coach. As y kiaull ain : BRAN - Caled fwlch : MURDO MacLEOD & JOHN MURRAY - Fiollaigean : THE PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA - Music for a found harmonium : IWAN B - Fulenn : MARGARET BURKE-SHERIDAN - Bel...
Looking at the ceremony of Tynwald Day, an office was created of Yn Lhaihder, meaning The Reader to promulgate (read aloud) the laws in Manx from Tynwald Hill. This was in the early twentieth century, from 1910 onwards. The programme traces the changes that have taken place since then. Our story in Manx is based on the idea of the famous Sword in the Stone - in this case, it's a talking one. As nyn giaull : RUTH KEGGIN - Irree ny greiney : BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Berree Dhone : MacTULLAGH VANNIN : Arrane y ghuilley shesheree/Yn ratch rannag : MATT CREER - Signal fire : CLASH VOOAR - Lhiggeyder f...
We come to the end of William Kennish's autobiographical poem, 'Mona's Isle', the title poem of his collection published in 1844 and hear another short autobiographical poem, 'The Manxman's Farewell'. Our story in Manx is about Vanessa. Who is she and what sort of partner is she in this relationship? As nyn giaull : NORWEGIAN-MANX PROJECT - Nordic brunch : LES OURS DU SCORFF - Jean Renaud a sept pommiers : MAIRE NI CHATHASAIGH & CHRIS NEWMAN - The humours of Ballyloughlin : MAC-TALLA - Illean, bithibh sunndach : JOHN BOLITHO - Nancy : SEAMUS ENNIS - Ask my father/Pat Ward's hornpipe : FLORR...
William Kennish takes us back to the Corrany in Maughold, describing how, in the wild winter weather, stories of the supernatural were told which he, as a young lad, believed and still recalls, despite his Christian upbringing. Our story in Manx takes us once again to Queensland, Australia, and tells us all about Old Peg Leg - Shenn Chass Vaidjey. As y kiaull ain : PLANXTY - The good ship Kangaroo : ELIANE PRONOST - Kousk, Breizh Izel : CAROL WALKER - Ta'n bock, aboo! ersooyl : BRAN - Wrth y ffynnon : SEAN 'AC DHONNCHADHA - A spailpin fanach : DEAF SHEPHERD - Damsadh Cainnach : FIRIL - Ei b...
The Maughold parish fiddler is revealed as Illam Nelly, as Peg Kennish brings the Corna Chesgia mheillea celebrations to an end. But there are more celebrations for sailors at mother Quayle's in Ramsey at their journey's end. In our story in Manx, Jason is a grudging returnee to his dreary home town in Florida, where his friend Alan has a surprise in store. As nyn giaull : PLETHYN - Oes yn y ty 'ma gwin ar werth? : THE ALBION COUNTRY BAND - Hanged I shall be : DAVEY & DYER - Cornish girls : MOOT - Ushag veg ruy : ALAN STIVELL - Hunvreou : DUDACI Z CESKEHO LESA - Hadava polka : ROBERT TEAR &...
The singing at the Corna Chesgia harvest home after the 1809 mheillea continues with two songs in Manx. The applause wakes the fiddler, who is very annoyed to find that the singer of those songs is also mocking the fiddler's playing by aping his actions with a poker and the firetongs. And we have a story from Australia about a young girl's boldness after her brothers mess about with the paper and sawdust of the thie veg in the garden. As nyn giaull : THE MORETON BAY BUSHWACKERS - Brisbane ladies : AOIFE NI FHEARRAIGH - Ansacht na nansacht : JOSEPH TAYLOR/HALLE ORCHESTRA - Brigg Fair : HEATH...
After the mheillea at Corna Chesgia there is dancing, but the fiddler gets drunk, so the party fall to singing instead. William Kennish provides some lyrics for love songs, one sung by Ewan Looney to William's sister, Kitty, and another reaper serenades Etty of Renwee so touchingly that he gets an encore. Our story in Manx is all about a young girl who, knowing her grandmother is a witch, asks for a love potion to attract the boy she fancies. Her grandmother may be more of a psychologist than a pharmacist. As nyn giaull : BERT JANSCH - Blackwaterside ; NOLWENN LEROY - Tri martolod ; RTE ORC...
William Kennish's poem, 'Mona's Isle', is autobiographical. As he tells us of the harvest customs and celebrations, it includes a family celebration as his parents arrange a marriage portion for Kitty or Kate Kennish who is to marry that year's champion reaper. Maughold parish records show that Catherine Kennish married Ewan Looney in November 1809. Our story in Manx is of a surprise success for a would-be gardener who has, not green fingers, but a black thumb. As nyn giaull: AD VIELLE QUE POURRA - Ar vestrez kollet : TOP FLOOR TAIVERS - Captain Ward : CAROL WALKER - Ta'n bock, aboo! ersooy...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. William Kennish has seen a change in his native Maughold on his return after 20 years in the Royal Navy. However, he looks back to his early days, playing truant in his favourite haunts, with a surprising history of his schoolmistress. Our story in Manx is also a reminiscence, as a young widow looks back, but learns to look forward with renewed spirit. As nyn giaull : LINDA GRIFFITHS - Storm nos : CHARLES CAIN & CHARLES GUARD - Hi, Kelly! : FORZH PENAOS - Casse-croute Syldave : MacGREGOR BRECHIN O ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. The Buggane of Gob na Scute is silenced! But William Kennish's reminiscences of his early days at the Corrany are marred by his realisation that, on his return in the 1840s after a 20 year absence, things aren't the same. We have a story about Cottage Cheese by American writer Ray Malus, who uses it to explore a father-son relationship. And our music for the old-style Oie Voaldyn, May Eve, and Laa Boaldyn, May Day: FLORS ENVERSA - Calenda Maia : CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Irree ny greiney : JEM HAMMOND/DA...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. William Kennish's honest, bold mountaineer - full of brown ale from Ramsey Fair - is en route to tackle once and for all the Buggane of Gob na Scute on Barrule. We have another short story set in America - but no embarrassing attempt at the accent! This is called 'Ny reaghyssyn resoonagh' [Logistics], mychione ben-chloieder ayns filmyn as chellveeish as yn eie eck dy hayrn geill jee hene. As y kiaull ain : LINDA GRIFFITHS - Llygad Ebrill : PADDY TUNNY - The old petticoat : MIKE JAMES & YVES LEBLANC...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. William Kennish remembers the pleasures of the Sabbath day of rest, before telling us about rather more superstitious matters about the buggane of Gob ny Scute on (North) Barrule. Somehow, another of the stories that we were looking at for quite some time in Claare ny Gael managed to escape, so we finally hear a tale of a strange message from a galactic foundation to an unfortunate man in New York. As nyn giaull : THE CHANGING ROOM - Dus tre : ANAM - Ce treo anois? : KEVRENN ALRE - Gavotte Pourlet ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We hear more about William Kennish's early life as he tells it in verse : some of the jobs he had, and how he enjoyed the Sabbath day of rest. We return to The 900 Club for a story that somehow got missed, though this is a fictionalised account of a genuine event, when writer Stuart Lake talked to Wyatt Earp, and his subsequent book gave rise to the legend of the lawman which is so well-known today - though rather at odds with the truth. As nyn giaull : SKEEAL ELLEY - Oie as laa : BRYHER'S BOYS - C...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. After hearing the autobiographical Preface to William Kennish's 1844 poetry collection, 'Mona's Isle, and Other Poems', we find that his poetry is autobiographical, too, as we start Canto I of the title poem. And we come to the final instalment of 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', as the other animals eavesdrop on the party in the farmhouse where Napoleon and the pigs play host to Mr. Pilkington and other neighbouring farmers. As y kiaull ain : ARTHUR CORMACK - Solus m'Aighe : GWENNAN GIBBARD - Y deryn du : KIN...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We look at the autobiographical information supplied by William Kennish in the Preface to his 1844 collection, 'Mona's Isle, and Other Poems' and start to hear the autobiographical nature of his poetry as well. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', the pigs, by now wearing human clothes and carrying whips, have invited neighbouring farmers to visit. The other animals peek in at their party that evening. As nyn giaull : SONERIEN DU - Chenchomp tu : JOAN BAEZ - Barbara Allen : JOHN TOSE - Meillionen o Feirionydd :...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. At this time of year in the nineteenth century, the Manx fishing fleet made ready and sailed en masse to the three-month Kinsale mackerel fishery (returning in June). We hear about it in rhyme from Ambrose Maddrell, who first went as a 12 year old cook on a nickey. We also hear John Quilliam reciting Ambrose Maddrell's poem about his time on the Port le Moirrey schooners. Over the years on Gowaltys ny Beiyn the pigs are growing fatter and the dogs are well-fed, but the others are hungry, cold and h...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. Dr John Doran, the editor of 'Bentley's Ballads', published in 1858, has some background information about a story in verse which appeared, 'The Manxman and his Visitor'. We find the source from which a London publisher obtained local detail. Following the death of Boxer in 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', Squealer explains how a misunderstanding arose that Boxer was being taken to the knacker's yard. However, it's not possible to bring his body back for burial, and somehow the pigs have enough to buy another ...