Episodes
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We finish off the tale in rhyme about 'The Manxman and his Visitor' which appeared in the magazine, Bentley's Miscellany, round about the middle of the nineteenth century, as the Manxman's guilty memories are punished by a robin which pecks him beneath the eye. In Gowaltys ny Beiyn, Boxer has collapsed and a van arrives to take him, according to Squealer, to a hospital. Squealer gives a moving account of his final words. As nyn giaull Yernagh - dy yannoo ard-eailley jeh Noo Pharick : THE DIVINE COM...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. An anthology was published in 1858 of stories in rhyme which had appeared over about fifteen years of a magazine called Bentley's Miscellany. One of those pieces was 'The Manxman and his Visitor', which is not ascribed to anyone, but seems to have been someone with at least some local knowledge. And Boxer returns to his labours, collecting enough stone for the windmill before his expected retirement. Musically we celebrate Dy'Gool Piran, the feast day of St Piran, 5th March : HOLMAN-CLIMAX MALE VOI...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. With this weekend containing a leap day, we look at the legislation which introduced the Gregorian Calendar - in retrospect here in the Island. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', whilst the other animals are on short rations, the pigs are getting fatter, on a diet which now contains beer. They also get other perks over other animals. Nevertheless, things are better than they were under Jones - aren't they? And, celebrating Dydd Dewi Sant, y kiaull ain : COR ORPHEUS TREFORYS - Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd : ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We return to some advertisements published on the front page of the Manks Advertiser and Weekly Intelligencer, published by Jefferson in February 1820. They contain some striking language and interesting glimpses of life at that time. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', the pigs are filled with the spirit, whilst Boxer struggles on with his split hoof, and the future of retired animals becomes something to think about. As nyn giaull : GWENNYN - En tu all : WILLIE KEMP & CURLY MacKAY - The ball of Kirriemuir : ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We hear Stephen Miller RBV explaining to an audience at Culture Vannin in St John's about the inspiration for his own work and what he's been involved in. Having been cheated by Frederick, who has paid for a pile of timber with forged banknotes, Frederick and twenty men with cudgels and six shotguns have now attacked the farm, and the newly-finished windmill is the centre of their attention. As nyn giaull : MAEVE MacKINNON - Silver dagger : FESTIVAL OF CORNISH MALE VOICE CHOIRS - Sing a song of Cor...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We join the presentation of the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2020 award to Stephen Miller RBV. We hear from Director of Culture Vannin, Dr Breesha Maddrell, Chair of Culture Vannin, Chris Thomas MHK, and from Stephen Miller RBV himself. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', Napoleon surprises the animals by suddenly becoming friendly with Frederick, Pinchfield, but it turns out that they've been duped and are soon facing attack. As y kiaull ain : SGOIL CHIUIL NA GAIDHEALTACHD - Fhuair mi pog : VC10 - Edward H Dafis :...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. Something new in English - as we dip into an edition of a newspaper published in Douglas on 3rd February 1820 and enjoy the rich diction of some advertisements. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn' there's the culmination of a huge effort on the animals' part as they finish rebuilding the windmill with walls twice as thick as the original. As y kiaull ain : EMMA CHRISTIAN - Breeshey, Breeshey, tar gys my hie : THE NEW SCORPION BAND - Dogger Bank : THE BOLINGEY TROYL BAND - An dufunyans/Woolly monkey : MARLENE HE...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We come to the end of James Chalenor's Short Treatise on the Isle of Man, written by him in 1653 and published in book form in 1656. The edition we've been looking at was edited by Rev J G Cumming and published by the Manx Society in 1864. After the bloodshed in Gowaltys ny Beiyn, the animals console themselves with a slow and mournful rendition of 'Beiyn Hostyn' - only to find out that it has now been banned. A new song written by the poet pig, Minimus, it to take its place. Meanwhile, the hard wo...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. At the time that James Chalenor was writing in 1653, there was very little exported from the Island. There was also an involved system of importing goods, with four Island merchants appointed to negotiate with each 'merchant stranger' about prices and distribution of goods. The Stalinist purges were the catalyst for this episode of George Orwell's satire, as we hear of what happened and the effect on the inhabitants of Gowaltys ny Beiyn. As nyn giaull : SGOIL NA CHIUIL NA GAIDHEALTACHD - Puirt-e-be...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We go back to the main text of James Chalenor as we conclude our look at the offices of state in 1653. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn' Boxer is inclined to believe the evidence of his own eyes and evidence, but the authority of Napoleon persuades him otherwise - and Napoleon then shows his ruthless hold on power. As nyn giaull : BUNSCOILL GHAELGAGH - Arraneyn veih ny showyn oc ; ROBERT BARTLETT & BRENDA WOOTTON - Delyo syvy : CALENNIG - Llantrisant/Y Bregeth : MIKE WADE & IAN ALLEN - Oie vie my chree : GWEN...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. When the Manx Society published an edition of James Chalenor's 1653 treatise in 1868, the editor was Rev J G Cumming. A lengthy note by him quotes an Act of 1610 about the garrison's regular duties in Peel Castle and Castle Rushen. It's to that we turn this time. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', the animals are shocked to hear that Snowball is regularly sneaking in by night to do damage. As nyn giaull : BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Baase Illiam Dhone : MARY BLACK - Mo ghile mear : ERIC RIGLER - Braveheart theme : GRE...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. This time James Chalenor is telling us particularly about some officials who no longer feature in the Island's administration of justice and other functions. However, in 1653 when Chalenor was writing, the office of Receiver (later Receiver-General and Collector, but no longer referred to after 1948) and the Water-Bailiff (coming to an end in 1885) were still in existence. There's a hard winter on Gowaltys ny Beiyn, with the weather making rebuilding of the windmill difficult and food shortages to ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. James Chalenor dated his report to Thomas, Lord Fairfax as December 1653, so there's a lot of interesting historic information about how justice was administered from the parish level, to the sheading and the Deemsters, through to the Governor as representative of the Lord of Man. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn' the other animals have qualms about some of the things that are happening, but the pigs have an effective mouthpiece in Squealer. Meanwhile, windmill building goes on. As ta paart dy chiaull ain son...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. James Chalenor has us up in court again. It can be an expensive business, even with fees in shillings and pence - they just keep mounting up. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn' the animals are surprised by Napoleon's announcement of trade with neighbouring farms. Surely it means going against resolutions agreed right at the outset? But no, Squealer is there to assure them it's just a figment of their imagination after all. As nyn giaull : LUCIENNE VERNAY ET LES QUATRES BARBUS - Le pont du nord : LAIDIN - Ocum ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. Yet more courts of law that operated in the Island in 1653 when James Chalenor was writing about them. The editor for the Manx Society edition, Rev J G Cumming, also tells us about the oaths of office of the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor and of the Deemsters, plus some stern penalties for upsetting the Governor. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', the animals find that work is getting tougher as they embark on a difficult task - but at least the work is for their own benefit. As nyn giaull: SGOIL CHIUIL NA G...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. Once again James Chalenor gives us our day in court - or, in fact, several days in several courts, as he reviews the administration of justice as it was in 1653. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn' the conflict between Snowball and Napoleon comes to a head, and things take a definite change of direction for the other animals as Napoleon and the pigs secure the reins of power with support from a new force. As nyn giaull : STAA - Kishtey ny yindyssyn : ROGER BRYANT - The miner's anthem : MARCAS O MURCHU - An fear...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We go to appeal this time, as James Chalenor explains how court verdicts could be challenged - but it cost £3 to appeal, which was an enormous sum of money in 1653. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', the arguments continue about Snowball's plans for building a windmill. Napoleon, needless to say, has been dead against it from the start. As y kiaull ain: THE MOLLAG BAND - S'liack lhiam bine dy yough : GWENAN GIBBARD - Cysga di, fy mhlentyn tlws : HARRIET BARTLETT - Leaving Stoer/Reel Beatrice/Stomach Steinway ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. What's changed, what's the same, in the open air sitting of Tynwald between 1653 and today? James Chalenor gives us an opportunity to compare, before giving us the same opportunity with regard to how the law was administered. The animals start by celebrating their victory over Jones and his cronies and award medals. Mollie, though, causes problems. In the winter, Snowball is full of ideas, but there's continual friction with Napoleon. As nyn giaull : MALICORNE - Le chant des livrees : SLAINTE - A M...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. Rev J G Cumming, as editor of the 1868 edition for the Manx Society of James Chalenor's 1653 report, points out that Chalenor's chronology is a bit suspect. We pause to trace something of the history of Godred Crovan, then jump ahead to Chalenor's own time, and he starts to tell us about how the Island is governed. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn', the animals defend the farm against Jones and his cronies in their attempt to retake it. As nyn giaull : SONERIEN DU - Bonsoir, maitre de maison : MAIRI NIC AONG...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. This time, James Chalenor turns to the Island's history, revealing that he took part in some early archaeological exploration of a round mound during his time here in the 1650s. In 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn' the pigs are reserving the milk and apples for themselves - but it's all for the noblest of reasons. Meanwhile, the neighbours try to stop the revolution from spreading. Our music is based round the recent winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards: THE TRIALS OF CATO - Gloria : MADDIE MORRIS - Please jus...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. We're visiting the Island's 17 ancient parishes with James Chalenor, and his sometimes slightly off-beam explanations of their dedication. He's also telling us who were the clergy there in 1653. As usual, it's an opportunity to explore history, people and places as Chalenor conducts us round the Island. And it's another visit to Gowaltys ny Beiyn, as we hear how the animals start to take on the work of the farm. As nyn giaull: RUTH KEGGIN - Mish as y cheayn : BOB ROBERTS - Gwenno Penygelli : THE OU...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. James Chalenor continues with his tour of the seventeen ancient parishes, trying to identify the dedication (sometimes rather more imaginatively than accurately), and tells us of the incumbents in 1653, when he was writing. Our story in Manx continues as the animals begin the work of farming Gowaltys ny Beiyn for themselves. As nyn giaull - CLIOGAREE TWOAIE - Carval ny drogh vraane : JOHN AC ALUN - Fy fydd yn un : FOUR PLAY - Villapourcon : MACMASTER/HAY - Tha mi fo churam : AN TRI DIPOP - Tri arth...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. James Chalenor is telling Thomas, Lord Fairfax about the Island's ecclesiastical history - at least, as far as he understood it in 1653, and whilst his ideas were sometimes ingenious, they weren't always accurate. We hear various notes by the editor of the Manx Society's edition published in 1868, Rev J G Cumming. And in our story in Manx, the former Gowaltys y Vannor owned by Mr Jones becomes indeed Gowaltys ny Beiyn. As nyn giaull : GWENAN GIBBARD - Gwenni aeth I Ffair Pwllheli : BARNEY MacKENNA ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. James Chalenor tells us of Bishop John Phillips, about whom Rev J G Cumming contributes a biographical note in the Manx Society edition of Chalenor's report to Thomas, Lord Fairfax in 1653. Chalenor then moves on to Bishop Richard Parr. In our instalment of our story in Manx, Gowaltys ny Beiyn, the Revolution arrives sooner and easier than any of the animals of Gowaltys y Vannor were expecting. Musically, we follow the September edition of Culture Vannin's Kiaull Manninagh Jiu, compiled by Chloe Wo...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. After James Chalenor's comments about the Manx people being full of wind because of their diet heavy in fish, he turns to higher thoughts with the history of the Manx church this time. In our Manx story, the pigs develop a whole political theory from old Major's ideas, and set about educating the others. As nyn giaull: THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - Puppies : MARJANIG LARC'HANTEC - La complainte de la blonde biche : MONA DOUGLAS - Arrane y vlieaun : LIAM O'FLYNN - The dogs among the bushes/Jenny's we...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. James Chalenor tells us more about the translation into the Manx language carried out by Bishop John Phillips, apparently taking his knowledge of written Welsh as a starting point for what seems to have been a writing system of his own invention. Chalenor also reveals that the Manx people of 1653 suffered from flatulence from eating fish all the time! In our story in Manx, wild animals are decided to be friends, whilst Man is the enemy whose ways must never be copied. Shortly after this, old Major ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. This week we hear from academic Zoe Russell of the University of Stirling, who's been spending a week in the Island finding out about how the Island's culture and the natural world come together in the UNESCO Biosphere status, which she'll be comparing with the situation in the Wester Ross Biosphere in Scotland. More from 'Gowaltys ny Beiyn' as Major incites the animals to Rebel. As nyn giaull : AALIN CLAGUE & PETE WHITEHEAD - Vuc Ghoo : ALAN STIVELL - Eliz Iza : ROBERT TEAR & PHILIP LEDGER - The b...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. In telling Thomas, Lord Fairfax about the rocks and minerals of the Island in his account written in 1653, James Chalenor refers to a mine at Bradda exploited by Captain Edward Christian. The editor of the Manx Society Vol X (1864) reprint of Chalenor's work is the Rev. J G Cumming, and his note on this important figure in Manx history takes up most of our attention this time. We start on a version in Manx of George Orwell's satire on Stalinism, Gowaltys ny Beiyn. As y kiaull ain : FLORRIE FORDE - ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. James Chalenor's written report of December 1653 to the man appointed to the Lordship of Man by the Commonwealth, Thomas Lord Fairfax, is describing the Island's natural resources, and we hear of birds and beasts before moving on to the bedrock. Our story in Manx is of two brothers, whom we discover obliquely are elective mutes, and their relationship with their father, ten years before he hanged himself in his barn. As nyn giaull : KATE DOWMAN - Ashlin y cheayn : SWOP - Robert : LINDA GRIFFITHS - ...
Bob Carswell delivers a weekly programme of great Manx Gaelic broadcasting and entertainment. This time we turn to some historic prose, written by James Chalenor, who came to the Island after it was placed in the hands of Thomas, Lord Fairfax by the Parliamentarians in 1651. We hear how he describes the coast, the harbours and the agriculture and natural resources of the Island at that time. Our story in Manx deals with a young man's confession of what he has done when a tortured past becomes too much for him. As nyn giaull : ALAW (with Gwilym Bowen Rhys) - Lisa Lan : NEIL MULLIGAN - Barr n...