Those who have been enjoying my photos know that Ive just returned from two weeks in the Isle of Man, Dublin and the West of Ireland — visiting Inis Meáin (Inishmaan) and Galway. This was really three trips rolled into one: My first visit to Ellan Vannin, as the Isle of Man is known in Manx, my first stay in Dublin in 26 years, and a return to Inis Meáin and Galway, where I was last in 2009. Three places geographically close, but each different. The Isle of Man, of course, isnt part of Ireland, but it isnt part of the United Kingdom either. The island is a self-governing crown possession, with its own tricameral parliament, Tynwald, and customs authority. It has significantly more self-government than Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland do within the current structure of the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man is also the third, and least known, country with a Gaelic language, Manx or Gaelg, now spoken by about 2% of the population. Thats a vast improvement over a few decades ago, when the language was near extinction. The language is making a small but significant comeback as a result of grassroots efforts and substantial government support for Manx language and culture. Its not hard to find Manx on the island now, Adrian Cain, the Manx Language Officer, told me during a drive from Purt ny hInshey (Peel) to Purt le Moirrey ) Port St. Mary. Manx is quite visible in the public space through bilingual signage of all types (Ill create an album of such signs). Most important, Manx has been a highly popular voluntary subject in the island school system since the early 1990s. A Manx-medium primary school in which all subjects (including English) are taught through Manx has been turning out accomplished young speakers for several years now and has an excellent academic rating. And the popularity of the Manx language - among newcomers as well as the Manx-born - may be linked to the growing popularity of Manx music, song and dance on the island as well. I was able to speak Manx with many people, including six to eight fluent or near fluent speakers on my first night on the island at The Albert Hotel in Port St. Mary (see my FB page cover photo). Bob Carswell interviewed me for his Claare ny Gael program on Radio Vannin - Manx Radio. I interviewed Breesha Maddrell of Culture Vannin (look for a video in Manx from that shortly) and met singer Ruth Keggin. I very much enjoyed attending Adrian Cains Manx class in Peel - look for more about that on the Kiarkyl ny Gaelgey FB page eventually. The trip will lead to a revival of the Washington-area Manx class, which has been dormant for about a year, largely because of my other responsibilities. The main reason for visiting the island this year, as opposed to any other, was the North American Manx Association biennial convention there - the first time NAMA has been back to the island since 2000. Altogether, about 65 people attended the convention, along with several Manx guests and guest speakers. It was a brilliant event - I met many old acquaintances and made many new friends. And somehow, I was named to the NAMA board as a trustee (they told me about it afterward). The next NAMA convention is in Annapolis in 2016. Other highlights: * Visiting Creneash (Creigneash), the Manx equivalent of Cape Bretons Highland Village Museum (thanks to NAMA) * Tea with the Dean of the Isle of Man Cathedral in Peel (NAMA) * The Tynwald Ceremony and Tynwald Garden Party (NAMA) * A tour of the Tynwald chambers led by the President of the Tynwald (NAMA) * Trips on the electric and steam railways * Touring Castle Rushen and the Nautical Museum in Castletown (NAMA) * Manx Gaelic concert with Cliogaree Twoaie and Ruth Keggin * Hours in the Manx National Heritage Museum in Douglas * Other NAMA events, including dinners and a tour of the Gaiety Theatre In all of this, I owe great thanks to NAMA president and long-time friend Kelly McCarthy, who organized the convention and introduced to many people on and from the island, including her father Dollin Kelly and her late aunt Esther. Ill deal with the Irish portion of my trip in a separate post - look for Part II. wbc
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:59:44 +0000
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