manx celtic music and dance

New book on Illiam Dhone launched to the sound of the ballad Baase Illiam Dhone

03 Dec 2012

MHF Chairman Hon Phil Gawne MHK singing Baase Illiam Dhone at the book launch
MHF Chairman Hon Phil Gawne MHK singing Baase Illiam Dhone at the book launch

Milntown House, the ancestral home of the Christian family, was the location for the launch of the new and definitive biography of William Christian, otherwise known as Illiam Dhone, one of the most controversial figures in Manx history. The launch was in the presence of the Hon. Clare Christian, MLC, President of Tynwald. MHF Chairman, Hon. Phil Gawne MHK, led the singing of the ballad recounting the execution of Illiam Dhone with assembled guests taking up the ostinato ‘A-treih’ (alas) sung as an accompaniment alternating tonic and fourth as noted by Mona Douglas. 2013 is the 350th anniversary of the execution of Illiam Dhone by firing squad at Hango Hill outside Castletown, and this biography by Jennifer Kewley Draskau has been commissioned by the Manx Heritage Foundation to mark this occasion.

The book retails for £20 and is available throughout the Island or can be ordered online by following this link:

www.manxheritage.org/cms/publication_243566. html

Full news story online here: www.manxheritage. org/cms/news_story_243573.html

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