Claare Ny Gael - Manx Radio

Our short story in Manx takes us to New York, where Craig is besotted with Brede but loses her close affection, though they remain friends.  When Brede becomes the victim of violence, Craig steps in to help.  Laa'l Vial, the Feast Day of St Michael the Archangel - Michaelmas - (which falls on 29th September, but continued to be celebrated by the old style, on or around 10th October) was an important time in the Island, not just in Kirk Michael, as you might expect, but also in Castletown, Ballasalla and Douglas.  As y kiaull ain 'sy chlaare y cheayrt shoh - DENIS ALLEN - Limerick, you're a lady PLETHYN - Ymryson canu CNUIMHEAGAN - The baravan CLAUDINE FLOC'HIG & YANN FANCH KEMENER - Ar verjelig MOOT - Ushag veg ruy KERENSA - Now the summer is over/Tregonning Hill/Ewon an vor SEAMUS O'DOHERTY - Limerick is beautiful YR HWNTWS - Bachgen bach o dincer SGOIL CHIUIL NA GAIDHEALTACHD - MacArthur Road/The mouth of the River Tobique/Zito the bubbleman

The Bank of Mona had its head office in Douglas and branches in Castletown, Peel and Ramsey. However, it was a subsidiary of the Bank of Glasgow. However well-run the Bank of Mona was, the Bank of Glasgow crashed, and so the Bank of Mona also shut down, on Wednesday 2nd October 1878. Its former Douglas head office today forms the 'Wedding Cake' of the Island's Legislative Buildings. And in our story in Manx, whilst y Kyaghan and y Roddan Ushtey do their best to sort out the wreck of the gypsy cart, Mnr Toad is infatuated with the vehicle that frightened the horse and caused the damage. As nyn giaull y cheayrt shoh - EIEN - Bar a pluie KATE DOWMAN - The fairy washing song (Arrane ny niee) NANSI RICHARDS - Pant corlan yr wyn CIARAN BOURKE & LUKE KELLY - Peab san ol GWENNYN - Bravig CNUIMHEAGAN - Good drying/The Ness pipers FESTIVAL OF CORNISH MALE VOICE CHOIRS - Hail to the homeland PAUL REYNOLDS - Snuff the Wind EIEN - Kabanera (hanter dro)

The Laxey Wheel is iconic, but combines a pleasing appearance with a serious purpose and some outstanding engineering. We hear how the London Illustrated News reported - and illustrated - the official opening on 27th September 1854. In our story in Manx, we take the road in the canary yellow gypsy caravan so beloved of Mnr Toad - for the time being, at any rate. As nyn giaull y cheayrt shoh - THE STATIONARY WILLBERRIES - The Laxey Wheel GEORGIA RUTH & ALAW - Y G'lomen FIANA NI CHONAILL, PEDDYR CUBBERLEY & KIRSTY LAWRENCE - Tamo's frolics AN TRI DIPOP - Tri artilheur ANNE MARTIN - Oran leannan sithe TAN HA DOWR - Can scoswas HORSLIPS - Trouble with a capital 'T' GENOD DROOG - Dal ni lawr MICHAEL SPRIGGS - Laxey's wheel

In the wreck of the herring fleet at the mouth of Douglas Harbour on 21st September 1787, 21 men died. The number injured is not recorded. In the longer term, there were serious economic consequences because so many fishing vessels were damaged beyond repair. The herring fishery was important domestically as part of the Manx crofting way of life and in international trade.  We look at the Manx traditional song about that tragedy and another about loss at sea.  As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - ANDREW WILLIAMSON & FENELLA BAZIN - The wreck of the herring fleet PLETHYN - 'Fuoch chi 'rioed yn morio?  CEILIHOUSE - Out on the ocean NOLWEN LEROY - Tri martolod youank DONALD ROSS & WILLIAM BURNETT - Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrovan THE BOLINGEY TROYL BAND - The Newlyn fishermen's reel THE VOICE SQUAD - Willie Taylor MEIC STEVENS - Can Walter RIVERDANCE - Reel around the sun

The coxswain of Douglas lifeboat, William Curphey, said that the lifeboat station on the corner of the Harris Promenade and Church Road Marina was in the wrong place for launching into stormy waters. Unfortunately, he was proved right. Three men drowned whilst the lifeboat was delayed in going to the rescue of the smack 'Hero' on 13th September 1873. William Curphey resigned as a matter of principle. In our story in Manx, Mnr Toad has given up boating as a waste of time. He's now for the open road in a gypsy caravan - and it seems he expects y Roddan Ushtey and y Kyaghan to go with him. As y kiaull ain - RUSHEN SILVER BAND - Ellan Vannin THE BOLINGEY TROYL BAND - Margh dall HEVIA - Gaviotes MAGGIE MacINNES - Gura mise tha fo eislean PIGYN CLUST - Cariad cywir BILL WHELAN, DONAL LUNNY, LIAM O FLYNN & ANDY IRVINE - The Ballymun regatta LOUIS CAPART - Marie-Jeanne-Gabrielle CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Gow yn bayr glass FORZH PENAOS - TKTK

A large crowd assembled near the foot of Castle Street in Peel on Thursday, 6th September 1906 for the laying of the foundation stone of the Ward Public Library, a presentation by the hugely successful entrepreneur, James Kewley Ward to the people of the town of his birth. In our Manx translation, the Roddan Ushtey takes Kyaghan to meet Mnr Toad in his fine house - only to find out that he's now given up messing about in boats. As nyn giaull - RUNRIG - Meadhan oidche er yn acairseid AR C'HOAREZED GOADEG - La garde-robe du mari defunt RUSHEN SILVER BAND - Ellan Vannin AC ERAILL - Tua'r gorllewin LIAM O MAONLAI - Cathain? DAVEY & DYER - An lanow SEONAG NIC CHOINNICH - Hion dail-a horo hi ALAN STIVELL - Brezhoneg raok SHOOGLENIFTY - Black dog

The Battery Pier in Douglas was opened with an official "handing over" of the Battery by the designer, Sir John Coode, and Resident Engineer, William Powell, to the Receiver-General, Ridgeway Harrison, who was the Chairman of the Harbour Commissioners, on 29th August 1879. In our story in Manx we come to the end of the first chapter with the whisper of the wind, not in the willows, but in the rushes, as Mole spends the summer learning to swim and to row and to enjoy running water. As y kiaull ain - PAUL REYNOLDS - Wave song AVEL DRO - Les endives DUDACI Z CZESKEHO IESA - Lazenska stajdyse OLL AN GWELLA - Men of Cornwall CHRISTINE PRIMROSE & ALISON KINNAIRD - O'n chuir mo leannan culaibh rium/Do chrochadh a thoill thu  CARREG LAFAR - Llef Harlech/Aberdulais BRENDAN BEHAN - Preab san ol SOLDAT LOUIS - Fils de Lorient (FC Lorient-Bretagne Sud) BIRLINN JIARG - Animal farm

The fierce King Magnus Olafson of Norway, better known as Magnus Barefoot or Barelegs, came and took the throne of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles from the dynasty of Godred Crovan from 1098 until his death on 23rd August 1103 in Ulster as he set out to conquer Ireland. Our two animal friends, yn Kyaghan as y Roddan Ushtey, enjoy a picnic alongside the river and are joined by another friend, yn Moddey Ushtey, there's a brief encounter with Brock, and Kyaghan hears all about Toad.  As nyn giaull - NORWEGIAN-MANX PROJECT - Ta mee nish keayney CILMERI - Ffarwel i blwy Llangywer DALLAHAN - Hurley's house THEO LE MAGUET & PIERRE BEDARD - Dessous un rosier blanc TOMAS O NEACHTAIN - Piopa Andy mhoir CAMBORNE TOWN BAND - Calling Cornwall (Goff Richards) BRIAN O hEADHRA & CRUINN - Ceilidh na bliadhna THE ROWAN TREE & AGGIE BOYS CHOIR - One and all NORWEGIAN MANX PROJECT - Finale

From the Island's transport history, we hear of the Upper Douglas Tramway, a cable-car system that went from the Jubilee Clock, up Victoria Street and the steady climb to upper Douglas, then back down via York Road and Ballaquayle Road to the foot of Broadway. The line opened to the public at 8.00am on Saturday 15th August 1896.  Our story in Manx tells of how y Kyaghan as y Roddan Ushtey meet and get to know one another on the river bank and then on the river itself - not any river, but THE river. As y kiaull ain - NEEAR NESAN - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee/La violetta ARFON GWILYM & SIONED WEBB - Nid wyf yn llon THE BOYS OF THE LOUGH - Captain Carswell DALLA - Seventeen come Sunday/Not too young to marry yet SEAN MAC DONNCHADHA - An spailpin fanach ANTON DAVILA - Suite patelas THE THOLTAN BUILDERS - A farmer's life for me ELIANE PRONOST - Kousk, Breiz Izel THE MAGNUS BAREFOOT QUARTET - Fathaby jig/My henn ayr/Jem as Nancy

The Mooragh estate was a rough wilderness when Ramsey Commissioners first bought it. However, plans were drawn up for it and the first stone of the North Promenade was laid - and the promenade was named - and the first sod of the Mooragh Park was cut by the Lieutenant-Governor Spencer Walpole on 11th August 1887. We look at the opening of a translation into Manx of The Wind in the Willows, a book of which Kenneth Grahame's original English version has far more of poetry about it than prose. As nyn giaull - COR MERCHED EDEYRNION - Dim ond meirch y mor BILL CORLETT & PHIL GAWNE - Y ghraih my chree 's my stoyr BAGAD CAP CAVAL NICOLSON INSTITUTE GAELIC CHOIR - Foghnan ny h-Alba/Puirt e beul RICHARD TRETHEWEY - Smoking chimneys BAGAD KEMPER ELIANE PRONOST - An hani a garan NA CASADAIGH & THE LENNON FAMILY - Peigin Leitir Mor KEVRENN ALRE

The opening of the steam railway line between Douglas and Port Erin was very much a case of will it/won't it, perhaps/perhaps not. We hear about the reasons for difficulties and delays before it eventually did open for public travel - without ceremony - on Saturday 1st August 1874. Sean O Bradaigh made a translation into Irish of one of Dora Broome's stories of Manx folklore. We hear a translation into Manx, with one eye on Sean's Irish translation, and the other on Dora Broome's English original. As y kiaull ain: JIM FLANAGAN - Taimse na arrears CHRISTINE BREGAZZI & FENELLA BAZIN - White foxglove KEVRENN ALRE - Gavotte Pourlet JIM WEARNE - Maggie May FRIBO - Svarttrosten DA CAMERA - Cock up your beaver ROGER HELFRICK - The washing song THE MIDDEN - How to breathe THE MORDEKKERS - Y folantein

With elections to some of the local authorities during the week, it also happens to have been the anniversary of the first local authority election held in the Island. It took place in Douglas on 24th July 1860 - ironically as the result of legislation at a time when the House of Keys was unelected and unaccountable. Neddy Beg Hom Ruy's reminscences of the herring fishery bring us to the end of the season. As nyn giaull - FLATS & SHARPS - Boat CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Harrish y cheayn HELMUT ZACHARIAS & HIS ORCHESTRA - Tokyo melody MACMASTER/HAY - Reason and love GAI TOMS - Haul hydref y Moelwyn STRIICHMUSIG ALPEGRUESS - De blend Appezeller CAROL WALKER - The maid of Port y Shee BRIAN GULLAND, ROBIN JEFFREY, TIM LAYCOCK & ROBERT ALEXANDER WHITE - Sailing over the Dogger Bank KOHANN - Wendyland

Yn Chruinnaght's Celtic Gathering 2021 will be taking place from Monday 19th July to Sunday 25th July. We look ahead to what will be happening with Chloe Woolley and Jo Callister. You can find out more at  https://ynchruinnaght.com/ or at https://www.facebook.com/pg/CelticGatheringIOM/ We also hear more about the nineteenth century herring fishery from a first-hand source, the reminiscences of Neddy Beg Hom Ruy. As y kiaull ain - KATE REID - Caroline BRETON-MANX COLLABORATION - War Enezenn Manav/Abraham Juan SCRAN - Our ship did sail/Dhooraght POL HODGE, BERT BISCOE & ANGUS LAMOND - An goel meur a vernans DAOIRI FARRELL - Bound for Van Diemen's Land BAND Y BETWS - Sawdl y Fuwch/Cath Sion Dafydd CHRISTINE COLLISTER - Point Scarlett BRYHER'S BOYS - Little Lize DEAF SHEPHERD - The Braemar Gathering

A parish and the ancient and modern cathedral are dedicated to Noo Carmane, St German, and he is celebrated in the Island on 13th July.  His story is an inter-Celtic one, starting in Brittany, and coming to Mannin via Ireland and Wales. Neddy Beg's reminiscences, written by him in Manx, continue to focus on his time at the fishing. Some of them were included in letters he wrote whilst he was away on a fishing trip, and he also recalls stories told to him by other fishermen. As nyn giaull - CALUM KENNEDY - Brochan lom ANNIE EBREL - Robardig THE SKYMASTERS DANCE ORCHESTRA - The dear little shamrock DALLA - Dean younk o Gernow DAVID FISHER - Eisht as nish UNKNOWN ORGANIST - St Garmon (Edward Meredith Price) MANAU - Mais qui est la belette? DE DANANN - Two Jewish reels LUNASA - Freylech Yitzikel

Reform of the calendar in 1753 - deemed to have been backdated to 1752 - means that the Great Midsummer Fair is held in St John's on 5th July by the modern calendar, but 24th June (formerly reckoned to be midsummer) by the old style. Midsummer was a fire festival associated with Manninan, but the church made it St John the Baptist's Day. However, the Tynwald ceremony includes links with the old god. We hear more about Neddy Beg's time as a youth at sea with his father as skipper and a crew much given to drink. As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - NY SLOMMAGHYN - O Vanninee CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Eubonia soilshagh CHRONICLES - Mylecharaine's march TWISTED ANGELS - Ellan Vannin BRIAN MAC STOYLL & SHORYS Y CREAYRIE - Mannin veg veen JOHN TURNER & KEITH SWALLOW - Ode to Mananan (Peter Crossley-Holland) GREG JOUGHIN & BARRULE - In search of Manannan SKEEAL - Manannan CZECHO-SLOVAK RADIO SYMPHONY ORCH, Cond Adrian Leaper - Rhapsody Mylecharane (Haydn Wood)

Robert Corteen was born in 1790 and was something of a polymath, successful in many fields of study and achievement, and not only in the Isle of Man. Whilst working for Messrs Gelling in Douglas, he constructed machinery to supply gas to light St Matthew's Church and other businesses on Douglas quayside. This was first used on 27th June 1832. We continue to hear about the exploits of Neddy Beg Hom Ruy at the fishing out of Port St Mary when he was still young, among crewmen who were much given to drink.  As nyn giaull - CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Y folliaght ANNETTE WYN MERRIMAN & JENNIFER JONES - Y cobler du bach NEIL CLARK - Troy’s Wedding/Glasgow City Police Pipers/Kenny Gillies of Portnalong, Skye OLL AN GWELLA - The white rose KISTINIDIZ - Kerfank NEIL MULLIGAN - The Newport Lass/Port an Bhrathair GWERINOS - Mynd yn ol MARGARET BENNETT - Gaoil ise gaol i BREE - Gaelg aboo! MEC LIR - Chase the ace

King Robert the Bruce is a well-known figure in Scottish history. Perhaps less-known is the fact that he spent a month here in the Island, arriving on 18th May 1313 and leaving after the fall of Castle Rushen after a siege, when the Lord Dougal Mac Dowyl held out for a month. A W Moore gives the date of the end of that siege as 21st June 1313.  Neddy Beg Hom Ruy's reminiscences give us a good description of how the herring fishery was conducted in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - BREABACH - Coisich a ruin MEIC STEVENS - Ar y mynydd THE SKYMASTERS DANCE ORCHESTRA - The garden where the praties grow BRENDA WOOTTON & NICHOLAS MATTHEWS - The mermaid RUNRIG - Mairi THE FOLK DANCE BAND - Nancy's fancy                                                                          &nbs

A meeting of Ramsey Commissioners on 13th June 1928 became the cause of quite a lot of interest and sundry mocking comments, not only in the Island's newspapers, but in the British national dailies and on the BBC. Should they put out the flags on the promenade on a Sunday, or was that commercialising and compromising the Sabbath? Even the ministers of religion thought it was a minor matter. In Manx, we continue with Neddy Beg Hom Ruy's reminiscences of life at the fishing in the 1840s as a boy and later as a man, fishing round the Island and off Ireland. As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - BOB DELYN A'R EBILLION - Morgan Jones ANNIE KISSACK - Y maarliagh mooar STORVAN - Kas ha barh JOHN McCORMACK - Down by the green bushes MABE LADIES CHOIR - Maggi Me KEEP IT UP - Hector THE GENTLE GOOD - Antiffoni CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Tar shiuish ooilley ANAM - Cornish gavottes 

We find out more about Neddy Beg Hom Ruy and his work in Manx. In his Skeealyn Aesop he was translating from the English. In his letters, reminiscences and other stories, he writes the Manx as he hears it and thinks it, so it gives a window on the language in the nineteenth century. The foundation stone for Peel Breakwater was laid 6th June 1863 by the Lieutenant-Governor, Henry Brougham Loch. We hear an overview of how the day went and about some of those who took part. As nyn giaull - CAZ DOUGHERTY & PAUL ROGERS - Birlinn Ghorree Chrovan HOLMAN-CLIMAX MVC (as Sydney Mitchell) & CAMBORNE TOWN BAND - Proper job LIGHT MUSIC SOCIETY ORCHESTRA Cond. Sir Vivian Dunn - Molly on the shore (Percy Grainger) NEVER MIND THE BOCS - Ffoles Llantrisant JAMES GRAHAM & CRUINN - Gheibhin cadal math BAGAD KEMPER - Chal ha dichal LILLIS O'LAOIRE - An t-oilean ur DALLA - Anna Tremellan/Farwell, maidens all BRETON-MANX COLLABORATION - Ar plac'h a Rianteg/Jerrey yn theihll

We finish off those of Aesop's Fables that were translated into Manx by Neddy Beg Hom Ruy - twenty-five of them were published by Karl Roeder in 1901. We also hear excerpts from a letter from Neddy Beg from his son's Derbyshire  home to his friend, Rev John Kewley, in 1899. Bishop Samuel Rutter had a short episcopacy, and is well-known for the epitaph he wrote for himself, about sharing a home with his brothers, the little worms. He was a surprisingly robust existentialist when it came to his songs of drinking and carousing. He was buried in the chancel of St German's Cathedral on 30th May 1661. As nyn giaull - QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, Cond. Andrew Perry - Op 91, Four Cornish Dances (Sir Malcolm Arnold) - 1. Vivace SKEEAL - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee/Peeldog QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - 2. Andantino DONAL LUNNY, COOLFIN & CAARJYN - Dulaman QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - 3. Con moto e sempre senza parodia ANNE MARTIN - Gur tu mo chruinneag bhoidheach QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCH