manx celtic music and dance

Shennaghys Jiu 2013 was a Snow Storming Success!

03 May 2013

Irish musicians at the festival (photo Bob Fennell)
Irish musicians at the festival (photo Bob Fennell)

As often is the case for all festival committees, the final few days of preparation for a festival is making sure that all the little bits and pieces that need to be organised are in fact in place to ensure everything runs smoothly. Often someone has a cautionary glance at the weather, largely for the wind forecast to make sure that there are no significant delays to the boat. This year’s worries were however slightly more concerning and went from, “She’ll be right!” to “Stop talking about it!” In the end even the most pessimistic views on the weather came to fruition and we were left wondering on what type of festival, if any, could take place. This was made worse on the opening day, as the weather did indeed deteriorate so significantly that all education venues had to be cancelled and our opening concert abandoned! Such, however, is the spirit of Shennaghys Jiu that even when things become difficult, people rally together and formulate plans and alternatives and indeed that was the case that day. We managed to scrape together enough of a sound system and microphones etc that it was decided that even without the concert we could indeed hold the opening ceilidh, albeit with reduced group participation! The night turned out to be a success and although numbers were affected, takings behind the bar were only £100 down on previous years! The committee would like to express its thanks to all who answered the call for help, and for all those brave souls who faced the weather and turned up to support the festival in what can only be described as horrendous conditions.

It had been planned that Shennaghys Jiu 2013 was to be, in part, a dance based weekend and we were not let down by our visiting groups, who had managed to brave the elements on Friday. The Brim from Cornwall, Meini Gwirion, The Tarroo Marroo Ceilidh Band and Awry all contributed both excellent music, but also provided us with an array of ceilidh dances from around the Celtic World from Scotland, to Brittany and back to Mann. The success of holding the weekend at the Masonic Hall was confirmed on the arrival of The Kerry Dancers on Saturday, and despite missing a night due to cancelled flights that disappointment was short lived as their lively and well choreographed dance sets had everyone on the edge of their seats and raring to get involved in both the workshops and ceilidh that were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday nights. The dance element of the weekend had certainly been a great success and had enabled many more adults and children to participate in the events than at any other years previously. It had also given those who had never experienced dances from Cornwall, Scotland, Wales and Ireland the experience to have a go, and the opportunity for those of us who grew up with the full range of Celtic countries represented at the Island during the summer to both reminisce and remember muscles we had forgotten existed! The final night this year was left to the wide range of talent that we have on the Island, and with a return to Bar Logo, we were once again assured of a intimate but fantastic night of music and great company. The night again was a great success and enabled, solo acts of Adam Melvin and Juan Hendy to demonstrate their song writing skills and Malcolm Stitt to remind us of just how lucky we are to have such an accomplished and professional and talented musician living on our doorstep. We were also extremely lucky that the weather had improved slightly in the west of the Island and enabled Tree Cassyn, Scammylt and the Mollag Band to brave the roads and entertain us so excellently on the final night with a range of music from wonderfully played traditional music, to the exciting new sounds of Scammylt and their blends of trad and jazz to the final act of the night, The Mollag Band, who once again proved their reputation for providing fantastic music and song but also being young at heart. It really was a great way to end what had been a fantastic few days of music and dance.

Thanks must go to all our visiting musicians, but also to our local groups who braved the weather and roads to make the different venues. Thanks also to all those who turned out to watch and participate in the concerts and ceilidhs, without whose presence the festival would not have taken place. Shennaghys Jiu would like once again to place on record their heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, in particular The Manx Heritage Foundation, The Isle of Man Arts Council, Ramsey Town Commissioners and Island Aggregates, without their continued support the festival could not take place.                                                                                       by Juan Garrett

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