Claare Ny Gael - Manx Radio

In 1933 Mr J B Keig published a booklet of nicknames used in Ballaugh to distinguish between so many people who had similar surnames (though probably unrelated) and forenames. It provides an interesting social history of the parish in the period from 1860 to 1900. In our Manx translation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Dr John Seward has been summoned by an urgent need for his patient, Renfield, to talk to him. Having read the transcript of Dr Seward's diary, three of his companions accompany him to talk to Renfield - Professor Van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood (Lord Godalming) and Quincey Morris. As y kiaull ain 'sy chlaare y cheayrt shoh - NORTHERN LIGHTS - The deemster's daughter TONY TRUSCOTT - A didjan for bucca CONNLA - Pilot BRAN - Y gwylwyr KARINE POLWART - Follow the heron BROCELIANDE - Airs a la marche RUTH KEGGIN - Arrane saveenagh TREVERVA MVC, acc. RUTH BRAY - The Newquay fishermen's song CONNLA - Escaladarium

J B Keig published a booklet in 1933 of nicknames used by the inhabitants of Ballaugh between 1860 and 1900, when there were unrelated families with the same surname and forenames were often of a small range, so people were identified individually, often in relation to their father and grandfathers. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, Professor Van Helsing is explaining the history of Count Dracula to the friends who have come together to try to hunt him out and, if possible, to destroy him. But who might be listening in? As y kiaull ain - FRANCIS AR MOAL & GEORGES SELLERS - An deiz all o pourmen e oan bet BUNSCOILL Y DHOON - Geay jeh'n aer KERENSA - Quay fair/Gelasma EMMET SPICELAND - Ta na baid ELLEN WILLIAMS & DAVID GEORGE HARRINGTON - Lisa lan RACHEL HAIR & RON JAPPY - The proofreader ALAN STIVELL - Son ar chistr MANDY GRIFFIN, PATRICIA CULLEN & SIMEON WOOD - The crows DAVEY & DYER - Elsie's harmonium

We've looked at a Forward that was added by Charles Craine and Mark Braide to a booklet that was republished in 1940 about Nick Names of Ballaugh, and we've also looked at the original Preface by J B Keig when the booklet was published in 1933. We now move on to the text, though it's not really a text as such. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, Professor Van Helsing has returned from Amsterdam, intending to stay now whilst he and his friend, Dr John Seward, are joined by Mina and Jonathan Harker and Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris in hunting down and destroying Count Dracula. As y kiaull ain (reesht son yn Chooish) - JOHN NELSON - Ennym noa BUNSCOILL GHAELGAGH - Ushag veg ruy BIRLINN JIARG - Juan y jaggad keeir/Jerrey yn theihll STAA - Illiam boght MUCCYN CAGGEE - Lhig da'n seihll chyndaa mygeayrt BUNSCOILL Y DHOON - Green hills of Dhoon CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Eubonia soilshagh SKEEAL - Mannin veg veen CLASH VOOAR - Ta Cashen ersooyl gys yn aarkey

We hear the Forward added to a small booklet in 1940 by two fine Manx speakers, Chalse y Craine and Markys y Braide, and then we hear the Preface by Mr J B Keig to his original 1933 publication of 'Ballaugh Nick Names', but the nick names take us back to the 1860s. Professor Van Helsing has returned from Amsterdam and now intends to devote time to tracking down and destroying Count Dracula. However, he thinks this is no work for a woman - although Mina Harker has been at the centre of things and has helped enormously in collating all their information. Another episode from Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. As y kiaull ain (as yn Chooish 2023 cheet er y chiaghtin) - MONA'S ISLE : THE LEGACY OF MONA DOUGLAS - Kiaulleeaght kiune BRIAN Mac STOYLL - Inneen jeh bochilley boght SKEEAL - Jerrey y funk KATE DOWMAN - Arrane y niee THE MOLLAG BAND - Fin as Oshin BRIAN Mac STOYLL & SHORYS Y CREAYRIE - Shenn eirinagh cheerey CLASH VOOAR - Isabel foalsey SKEEAL - Mannin veg veen TIM PRICE - The Chasms

We come to the final part of David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History', and he goes out with a bang - rather as he went in with a bang when a cell door closed behind him after his closing, heartfelt words were adjudged to be dangerous republican sedition by the nervous, late eighteenth century British monarchy. In the latest developments in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Mina Harker has gone with Dr John Seward to talk to his patient, Mr Renfield, whose violent outbursts, they now realize, coincide with times when Count Dracula is nearby, having been delivered in a consignment of boxes of earth from Transylvania to an empty house next door to John Seward's asylum. As nyn giaull - TANNAS - Sabbal Iain ic Uisdean YANN FANCH KEMENER & DIDIER SQUIBAN - Duhont'ar ar mane CAROL WALKER - Eileen, my vyrneen KEUR HEB HANOW - Kostentin THE WOLFE TONES - Rosc catha na Mumhan CARREG LAFAR - Llef Harlech FLAIR - Duan an t-seoladair FANCH GOURVIL - War bont an Naoned SCRAN - Yn Gaaue

We're coming towards the end of David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History', published in 1794, but his footnotes are getting longer, so he's still got plenty to tell us before we reach his closing remarks. In this week's episode from Dracula, Mina Harker has just been comforting Arthur Holmwood in his distress, and warns Quincey Morris that he, too, may need to find some comfort after he has read the typescripts she has made of various journals and letters. She also persuades Dr John Seward to let her talk to his patient, Renfield. As y kiaull ain - HERGEST - O'n hamgylch CHRISTINE PRIMROSE - 'N ath bhanais bhios agam YVES LEBLANC - Avant-deux des chiffoniers BISKEE BRISHT - N'abbyr ny smoo A FESTIVAL OF CORNISH MALE VOICE CHOIRS - Cornwall, I love thee BEOGA - Fly fishing Y MELLT - Mari, Mari ANDY STEWART & JIMMY BLUE - A good Scotch night EBEN - Son an ibil gwer (Rond de Landeda)

We've come to the final chapter of 'A Review of the Manks History', David Robertson's addendum to his 1794 publication in which he describes the Island as he saw it when he revisited it - having been based in Douglas as a revenue officer of the Crown - in the summer of 1791. Robertson's gives an overview and  draws some conclusions. As we're reading through the translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's Dracula, we've heard of Jonathan Harker's visits to Whitby and London to trace Count Dracula's cargo of boxes, delivered to an empty house in Carfax, next door to Dr John Seward's asylum, to where Jonathan has come to work with his wife, Mina, on tracing the strange events.  As nyn giaull - REALTA, with MYLES McCORMACK & CATHY JORDAN - The wind that shakes the barley SIAN JAMES - Merch ei mam JIM MACLEOD & HIS BAND - Grand march ANDREA AR GOUILH - Ar bugel koar MATT CREER - North northwest BAGAS AN OOL - Mary Kelynack's polka EMMET SPIC

Despite the loyalty of the Stanley family to the Royalist cause, Charles II treated them rather poorly on the Restoration. However, they did come into the Lordship of Man again, and David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' then takes us through to the advent of the Murrays, Dukes of Atholl, and the sale of the Island's regalities to the British Crown. Mina and Jonathan Harker are staying with Dr John Seward, and through analysing dates and occurrences, have seen that Dr Seward's patient, Renfield, seems to have outbreaks when Count Dracula is in the vicinity. Dr Seward goes to see his patient, whilst the Harkers continue their collating. Another episode from out translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's famous book. As y kiaull ain - SUE WHITE & GARETH HEDGES - Pencarrow SWEENEY'S MEN - Dicey Riley CROMLECH - Cerrig yr afon ARCHIE MACLEAN - Ar falbh thu lean, a ribhinn og? NOLWENN KORBELL - Da belec'h? TOMAS CALLISTER & DAVID KILGALLON - Hop jigs JOHN

In his 1794 'A Review of the Manks History', David Robertson has given quick overviews of the various members of the Stanley family who were Kings, and later styled themselves Lords, of Man. However, he has a lot more to say about Yn Stanlagh Mooar, James Stanley, the Seventh Earl of Derby. In the latest episode from Bram Stoker's Dracula in translation into Manx, Mina Harker has said that no-one ought to hear the heartfelt anguish in Dr John Seward's voice as he describes the death of Lucy Westenra in a recording on his phonograph diary. John Seward agrees - but then is surprised by Mina Harker's change of mind when she declares that they must. As y kiaull ta shin dy chlashtyn 'sy chlaare shoh - UN CHORAA - Skeealyn Ellan Vannin 1 PYBA - Plethen a dri (re an lever) HUGH GILLESPIE - Dowd's favourite GWENAN GIBBARD - Dod dy law GEORGE CLAVEY - Duanag an t-seoladair FORZH PENAOS - Roc (Ronds de Loudeac) UN CHORAA - Skeealyn Ellan Vannin 2 DALLA - St Ives fer moh/Pig fair FIANA

We fairly rattle through the members of the Stanley family who had been given the Kingship of Man, which became known as a Lordship to protect the neck of Thomas Stanley in the court of Henry VIII. David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' has now come to Yn Stanlagh Mooar, James Stanley, the tenth Stanley king/lord of Man and Seventh Earl of Derby.  Professor Van Helsing has to return to Amsterdam overnight, so Dr John Seward goes to meet Mina Harker at the station. Each finds out more about the grisly happenings by swapping their personal diaries of events. As y kiaull 'sy chlaare y cheayrt shoh - AWEN AN DOUAR - Pile menu BREE SESSION - The ballad of Arthur Caley KERENSA - Avel nadder PADDY TUNNY - Blackwaterside PEDAIR - Can crwtyn y gwartheg DEAF SHEPHERD - The glen house/Mrs Jean Campbell, BSc LIAMM - An tourmant BERNARD CAINE - Ushag veg ruy GWENNO - Hi a skoellyas lyf adhagrow

David Robertson picked his way through the 1300s in his 'A Review of the Manks History', associating events from both early and late in a rather disjointed narrative. We've now reached the advent of the Stanley family in 1405. Arthur Holmwood has done the deed of driving a stake through Lucy Westenra's heart. Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward have a little more to do, and then they make vows for the future - and the hunt for Count Dracula himself. Shoh ta'n kiaull ain - MALINKY - Pad the road wi' me SIMONE ALVES & YANN GOURVIL - Tri martolod An Oriant SHEILA CORKILL & CHARLES ALWAY - Car Juan Nan THE CHANGING ROOM - Roev so roev LUCY CHAMPION & ANUNA - Siuil, a ruin CROMLECH - Meillionen EBEN - Ar yarig BARRULE - Irree ny greiney

Whatever texts David Robertson was using to compile his 'A Review of the Manks History' in 1794, he seems to have got his timelines in a muddle for the period he's writing about, racing through the 1300s. His references to people and incidents seem to concertina back and forth through the century. In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Professor Van Helsing takes various objects from his long, leather bag, including a sharpened stake and a hammer. He explains what is necessary to bring rest to Lucy Westenra and her betrothed, Arthur Holmwood, undertakes to do the grisly deed. As y kiaull ain - THALLO (ELIN EDWARDS) - Pluo CALUM JOHNSON & FLORA MacNEILL - Mhic Iarla nam bratach bana FORZH PENAOS - Doub'Doub' (Beer Time!) MAEVE CALLISTER & SCRAN - Polca Ffrengig/Arrane y Ven Vlieaun THE CHANGING ROOM - Delyow sevi PETER BROWN - Round the lighthouse/The swallow's tail CERYS MATTHEWS - Y gwcw fach ARRAGH - Snag chiaull Ghelby FORZH PENAOS

David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' was added to his description of a return visit he made to the Island where he had worked as a British revenue officer some years previously. His combined volumes were published in 1794, and he's reached the reign of Magnus, the last of the dynasty of Godred Crovan. Professor Van Helsing has brought the three men who each proposed to Lucy Westenra to her grave, and shows to them that she is indeed one of the Undead. She throws aside a young child she's been sucking the blood of, and turns her attention to her former fiance, Arthur Holmwood. As nyn giaull - MUIREANN NIC AMHLAOIBH & IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA - Mallai San Seoirse Y TRIBAN - Dilyn y ser THE GLENCRAIG SCOTTISH DANCE BAND - Foursome reel GWERZ - Ma mestrez 'oa ken kaer ANNOUK PETTIT & AALISH KILGALLON - Dagh laa as oie APHEX TWIN - Hy a scullyas lyf adhagrow LISA HANNIGAN - Amhran na farraige GALWAD Y MYNYDD - Niwl y mor MANRAN - An da la

Is there something about the name, Reginald? Every time we hear of one in Manx history, he seems to have been something of a bad lot. We start and finish our dip into David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' with two such flawed characters. Professor Van Helsing has brought Arthur Holmwood, Quincey Morris and Dr John Seward to the graveyard at Kingstead, and the empty tomb of Lucy Westenra. Here they keep watch. And oh! what a sickening spectacle awaits them. As y kiaull 'sy chlaare - BWNCATH & MEINIR GWILYM - Gyrru ni 'mlaen MONROE - Am bothan a bh'aig Fhionnghuala KOUERIEN - Suite des branles Maraic MUIREANN Nic AMHLAOIBH & IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA - An tseanbhean bhocht SUE WHITE & GARETH HEDGES - Fish and tin and copper, boys MARK LAWRENCE, BEN GIBBS, KATIE LAWRENCE & RUSSELL COWIN - George Slade's/Keppel Gate/Dog Mills GEORGIA RUTH - Etrai WILLIAM MATHESON - Ceann Traigh Ghruinneard MARI-ELEN POUPON-TONNERRE - Sabat ar Gelted

The rule of the dynasty of Godred Crovan was interrupted as King of Man and the Isles by the arrival of the exiled but powerful King Magnus of Norway. On his death, as David Robertson's 'A Review of the Manks History' outlines it, the former line was invited back, in the form of Olave. Unfortunately, he had three troublesome nephews who took advantage of his absence to foment trouble. His return didn't go well. In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of 'Dracula', Professor Van Helsing is broaching the difficult subject of the state of Lucy Westenra and what he wants to do to resolve the situation with the man to whom she was engaged in marriage, Arthur Holmwood, who has now assumed the title as Lord Godalming. As nyn giaull - KANERIEN BRO LEON LANDIVIZIAU - Ar yarig wenn BERRAGUETTO - Fusco LESKI - Three spires CHRISTINE PRIMROSE - Do Ghaidheil Shiatail PLU - Sgwennaf lythyr XUACU AMIEVA Y DOBRA - Xota de Clemente/Xota del Rebollar FRANK O'DONOVAN - The road by the river GARETH

In his 1794 publication, 'A Tour Through the Isle of Man', David Robertson has added 'A Review of the Manks History', and we've reached events detailed in the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles with the arrival of Godred Crovan. Professor Van Helsing has written a farewell note for Dr John Seward, just in case Count Dracula should come looking for Lucy Westenra whilst the Professor is keeping watch on her burial place during the night. The following day Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris begin to hear of what the Professor intends to do. As y kiaull ain - CALUM KENNEDY - Mary of Skye MAGI TUDUR - Lon bost AR GABALERIEN - Ar c'hloareg youank ENDA REILLY - Pocai stroice THE ALEXANDER BROTHERS - Flower of Scotland LINDA GRIFFITH - Cannwyll BAGAD CAP CAVAL - Lorient suite x 3

As it was written in the 1790s, David Robertson's 'Review of the Manks History' doesn't have the advantage of modern academic research with input from a wide range of disciplines, but still makes entertaining reading, and we can tease out some of the storylines from our own perspective. The coffin of Lucy Westenra was empty in the dead of night, but Lucy is again lying in it the next day. But she's as beautiful as she ever was, despite lying here in a tomb, but her teeth seem longer and sharper now! As nyn giaull - SOWENA - Sprig of thyme SKEEAL - She 'neen aeg mish as aalin CARREG LAFAR - Afon yr haf CAPERCAILLIE - Him bo MARIE-JOSEPHE BERTRAND - Gwerz Skolvan BEOGA - Antics STAA - Kishtey dy yindyssyn JAMIE SMITH'S MABON - Easy on the elephant

David Robertson's walking tour of the Island actually was completed several chapters ago, but he had a further four chapters of observations. However, after that, although he finishes Chapter XVIII with END OF THE TOUR, the book continues with REVIEW OF THE MANKS HISTORY, which is also interesting as he views history as understood or surmised in the 1790s. During the night, Professor Van Helsing has bored and sawed his way into Lucy Westenra's lead coffin to reveal that it's empty. However, he returns with Dr John Seward to open the coffin again during the day - and there's is Lucy, but as fresh and beautiful as she was in life! As nyn giaull - CLASH VOOAR - Lhig y bullad TRIP - The Arabic STEPHEN RENNICKS - An Cailin Ciuin KARINE POLWART & DAVE MILLIGAN - Travel these ways UN CHORAA - Skeealyn Ellan Vannin MORVRAN - Delkiow sivy/Oll an gerriow e'en beaz RUTH KEGGIN & RACHEL HAIR - Eubonia soilshagh/Yn grine veg oarn DERVISH - A stor mo chroi DERVISH - Drag her round the road

David Robertson made a walking tour of the Island on his return visit to it in 1791. His circuit began and ended in Douglas, but he added on three more chapters of his general observations, many of which are rather less than flattering, as we hear. After visiting a hospital to look at a child who had been lost on Hampstead Heath, Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward have another mission, this time in the graveyard - in the very vault - where Lucy Westenra was buried recently. It was just before children started being lost on Hampstead Heath. Another extract in our translation into the Manx language of Bram Stoker's Dracula. As y kiaull ain (ooilley cochianglt rish Yn Chruinnaght) - BRETON-MANX COLLABORATION - Abraham Juan/War Enezenn Manav CHRISTINE PRIMROSE - An till mise chaoidh? HOGIAU'R GORORAU - Gwenynen Gwent CONNLA - River waiting BUCCA - An ladr SHEEAR - Financial insecurity MABSANT - Gwlad heb iaith GLASGOW HEBRIDEAN CHOIR - Tir an airm FORZH PENAOS - Ronds de Loudeac

As a British revenue officer, David Robinson was in favour of the British Crown buying the sovereign rights of the Island from the Lord of Mann, the Duke of Atholl, in 1765 in order to suppress 'the trade' - or 'smuggling' as the British Government considered it. Professor Van Helsing is trying to persuade Dr John Seward to open his mind to strange possibilities outside of accepted science. And he has a proposal regarding the burial place of Lucy Westenra. Y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - TRIP - Turning tides PLETHYN - Ar ben waun Tredegar THE SCOTTISH FIDDLE ORCHESTRA - Medley for the Gay Gordons ANDRE-PAUL & ROBERTIS BARS - Soun ar bouesoun DERVISH - Welcome poor Paddy home KERENSA - Melyn Charlie/Ker Syllan RUTH KEGGIN & RACHEL HAIR - Vuddee veg Y MONIARS - Cofio am Cayo TRIP - Towards the storm