manx celtic music and dance

Manx representation at the 40th Pan-Celtic Festival Dingle, Co. Kerry

05 Apr 2011

This year sees the 40th Pan-Celtic Festival, which will be in Dingle from 26th April – 1st May. As it's a special occasion, the local Committee have added some special events, including, on the May Bank Holiday weekend, their local craft May Festival with many and varied workshops to interest all. Our own Phil Gawne, MHK, has agreed to talk at the inter-Celtic seminar organised by Micheál de Mórdha, Director of the Blasket Islands' Heritage Centre, on 'The Role of Local and Regional Authorities in developing Minority Language Areas'.

In the New Celtic Song competition the Isle of Man will be represented by 5-piece band 'Ny Jinnyn' with their song ' 'Sy Ghrianane' which won the Arrane son Mannin Manx Heritage Foundation sponsored local competition for entry to the Pan- Celtic in November 2010. It will be sung by Dave McLean who shared in the work of composing both tune and lyrics with his wife Lizzie, and Laura and David Rowles. The latter couple, Steve Kerrison and Peter Woodman, together with Dave himself, make up 'Ny Jinnyn'.

Traditional singing has its competition too, where a slightly re-formed group 'Falga' of Clare Kilgallon, Fiona McArdle and Margaid Bird will be participating. All will be playing at the Manx / Cornish hosted evening ceili on Thursday 28th April as well as at several other events. Isle of Man Arts Council has generously given financial assistance to the Manx representatives, as has the Pan-Celtic Festival itself, for which we are most grateful – Dingle is a long way from Mann, especially with the lack of convenient sea transport to Dublin.

Every six years a representative from each Celtic country becomes President of Pan-Celtic – you can only be President once! – and this year Margaid Bird will be Vice-President before her Presidential year at Carlow in 2012. Illustrious names such as Mona Douglas and Brian Stowell have been past Presidents.

If you'd like to compose a new tune and Manx lyrics for this year's Arrane son Mannin in November and go to the Pan-Celtic to represent the Island in 2012 if you're a winner, now is a good time to start – email Fiona. Help is at hand for non-Manx/learner Manx speakers. Aigh vie da Ny Jinnyn myleeaney!

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