Claare Ny Gael - Manx Radio

David Robertson tells us the exciting tale of Ivar and Matilda, and the dastardly King Reginald, though the death of Reginald at Ivar's hand is not quite as told in the Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles, which we dip into in a translation by Professor P A Munch. In this episode from Bram Stoker's Dracula, translated into the Manx Gaelic,  we hear more about the wolf, Bersicker, as told to animal keeper, Thomas Bilder, to the reporter from the Pall Mall Gazette. The story is far tamer than the one revealed in Dr John Seward's diary, as his patient, Renshaw, comes into his study. As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - THE MOLLAG BAND - Graih my chree CILMERI - Mae 'nghariad i'n Fenws THE BONFIRE RADICALS - The bonfire PETER DEMPSEY & GUY ROWLAND - Love's garden of roses SALT AND SKY - The Egloshayle ringers HEVIA - Gaviotes THE CORRIES - Westerin' home GWENNYN - Kenavo FRASER FIFIELD & GRAEME STEPHEN - Emigrant eyes

Our tour through the Isle of Man in 1791 with David Robertson brings us to Rushen Abbey, where we also admire the Crossag bridge and hear something of the history and the start of an ancient tale associated with it.  A wolf has escaped from a zoological gardens in London, and keeper Thomas Bilder is questioned about it by a reporter for the Pall Mall Gazette, in another episode from Bram Stoker's Dracula. As y kiaull ain - FIONA McARDLE - Ny strooanyn Nancy aalin NEEAR NESAN - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee/La violette CALAN - Dawns y pelau/Welsh processional morris SELKIE - Rantin' rovin' Robin GWENNYN - Bravig MEC LIR - Repeal the union CALAN - Can y dyn doeth CIARAN BOURKE - The Limerick rake FORZH PENAOS - Ronds de Loudeac

The Manx people of 1791 were notable for instigating court cases, and David Robertson gives us a fairly unedifying picture of how they proceeded. In our version in the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's Dracula, once again Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward have to save the life of Lucy Westenra. With the Professor keeping watch over her, Lucy enjoys several nights of good sleep, and she quite enjoys the smell of garlic now! Y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - EMMA CHRISTIAN - Invocation to St Bridget MERA ROYLE - Moirrey ny gainle LORS LANDAT & THOMAS MOISSON - Me n'ouzon ket SHOOGLENIFTY - Nordal rumba PENDERYN - Cwm Rhymni MARGARET BURKE-SHERIDAN - When he who adores thee PYBA - Fer Lyskerys/Heva/Heva vean/Bodmin riding GRAHAM & NIGEL CROWE - Orry the Dane QUINQUIS - Netra ken THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS - Bass strathspey set 

Our 1791 tour guide, David Robertson, takes us out of Douglas and through Santon to Ballasalla. It gives us an opportunity to explore something of the history of Newtown (now Mount Murray) and an early industrial  enterprise in Ballasalla, using the power of the Silverburn to drive a cotton mill. Dr John Seward can't understand what Professor Van Helsing's reason is for his elaborate precautions involving garlic flowers all round Lucy Westenra's bedroom and even in a wreath round her neck. However, the Professor is satisfied that this will give Lucy an undisturbed night. Our version in the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' brings a dramatic surprise for the Professor. As y kiaull ain - FOSTER & ALLEN - The old rustic bridge by the mill BRENDA WOOTTON - De Sul vytyn RACHEL HAIR TRIO - The Duke of Fife's welcome to Deeside ELLEN WILLIAMS & DAVID GEORGE HARRINGTON - Sea song BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Berree Dhone PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA cond. GEORGE WELDON - Suo gan AN TUA

We learn a little more about Captain John Taubman of The Nunnery, before David Robertson points out other fine houses for hospitality in the neighbourhood of Douglas - Captain Southcote's Ballaughton, Lord Henry Murray's Atholl-lodge on Port-e-Chee and The Hague in Onchan, formerly the home of the late Richard Betham. We return to Captain Taubman for his work in agriculture. Professor Van Helsing has arranged for some flowers to be sent for Lucy Westenra from his friend's glasshouse in Haarlem. Lucy is rather nonplussed to find that they're garlic, but the Professor assures her it's no joke and that he and Dr John Seward will decorate her room with them and make a wreath to wear round her neck. As y kiaull ain - RON KAVANA - The sea around us ELIANE PRONOST - Kousk, va lellig, kousk NEVILLE DILKES & ENGLISH SINFONIA - Lord Peter's stable boy BUNSCOILL GHAELGAGH - Ellan Sheeant STEVE EAVES - Pa le yw hwn RACHEL HAIR & RON JAPPY - Lochinver RICHARD TRETHEWEY - We be ANGELA MURP

David Robertson takes us on further from Captain Taubman's residence, The Nunnery, to Kirk Braddan. He introduces us to 'Graveyard Poetry', and also to a story told by another visitor, Colonel Richard Townley - to whom it sounds as though Robertson had something of an aversion. In the excerpt from our Manx translation of 'Dracula', Lucy Westenra arranges for Dr John Seward to sleep on a sofa in a room adjoining her bedroom, with both doors open so she can call for him if necessary. The following morning, Professor Van Helsing wakes John Seward and they go through to Lucy's room. As nyn giaull - ANNA MURRAY & IAIN F MACLEOD- O co thogas dhiomh an fhadadh THEO LE MAGUET & PIERRE BEDARD - Ma douce Marianne JASMINE'S JIG - Ian Hulme, Stephen Dodds & Dave Moss YSBRYD - Yr Olwyn JOSEF LOCKE - Galway Bay SHEILA CORKILL, ALAN PICKARD, CHARLES GUARD & CHARLES ALWAY - Peter O'Tavy KRIS DREVER - The call and the answer EINIR DAFYDD - Enfys yn y ffenest JOE STRUMMER &

David Robertson has returned to Douglas in 1791, and gives us a description of the town and its inhabitants, before taking us a little further afield. However, there are tensions and difficulties as well as beauties and pleasure. In an episode from our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Arthur Holmwood has given blood to save the life of his fiance, Lucy Westenra. As he is about to leave, Professor Van Helsing has another thought to share with him. The Professor sets Dr John Seward to keep close watch while Lucy sleeps. As y kiaull ain y keayrt shoh - GERARD JAFFRES - Bloavez mad CALUM KENNEDY - Cailin mo ruinsa MIKE O'CONNOR - An awesyth/Nine brave boys BETH PATTERSON - Keayrt va mee aeg TECWYN IFAN - Paid rhoi fyny DAVE MOSS & STEPHEN DODDS - Briddy's farewell to farewells GERALLT LLOYD OWEN, ELWYN WILLIAMS & GWYN JONES - Gwlad y caledi BARBARA MULLEN - The Garten mother's lullaby EIEN - Kabanera

David Robertson gives us a view of society in Douglas as it was in 1791, where some indulged in luxuries whilst others suffered destitution. We meet some characters whom we've encountered in other descriptions of the Island in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In our translation of Dracula into the Manx Gaelic, Professor Van Helsing and Dr John Seward agree that Lucy Westenra's life depends on a blood transfusion. John Seward offers his, but just then Lucy's fiance, Arthur Holmwood, arrives and is only too glad to give his blood to save Lucy. As y kiaull ain - RUTH KEGGIN - Fin as Oshin SHAE APLAND & SHARON WHISHART - I love your eyes of grey SULBY PHANTOM BAND - Spooyt Vane KATE DOWMAN & CHRIS CRAKER - A sea vision GREG JOUGHIN & MONA'S ISLE - Thie ny Garee RACHEL HAIR TRIO - Jigs for Mann BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Arrane sooree MACTULLAGH VANNIN - Eunyssagh Vona MACTULLAGH VANNIN - Arrane ny niee ARRAGH - Arrane Ghelbee

David Robertson guides us round some of the sights of Douglas as it was in 1791, and we look into the background of them with the help of later historians and more modern research. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, Professor Van Helsing has returned to examine Lucy Westenra, whose rapid deterioration since the previous day shocks Dr John Seward. Urgent action is required. As y kiaull ain 'sy chlaare shoh - CLARE KILGALLON & MONA'S ISLE - The garden MEREDYDD EVANS - Trip i Aberystwyth IRRSEEBLASER - Salzkammergut MICHAEL HANLY & MICHEAL O'DONNELL - An bothan a bha' ig Fhionnghuala AHANAN - Henn yw an prys JON FAUKSTAD & MUSICA FOLCLORICA NORUEGA - Byrkveen (reinlender) DELIA MURPHY & THE KERRY BAND - The wake in Kildare DOM DUFF - Ar bleizh diwezhan MOUTH MUSIC - He mandu

David Robertson was an English customs officer who had been based in Douglas in the late 1780s. He returned to tour the Island in the summer of 1791, and subsequently published a book about it. From it, we get a view of the Island about 230 years ago. In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Dr John Seward has a patient called Renfield in his care whose case interests him, though he doesn't understand it. He also now has another patient in Lucy Westenra, and he has called in his old friend and mentor, Professor Van Helsing, to examine her. As nyn giaull - MANNIN FOLK - Ellan Vannin tragedy TRIO FROGER - Marguerite au bord de mer JIMMY SHAND - The punch bowl/My love, she's but a lassie yet/The fair maid of Perth DALLA - Hoer dres an mor JOHN McCORMACK - My Lagan love WALTER & DAISY BULWER, BILL COOPER, MERVYN PLUNKETT & RUSSELL WORTLEY - Red Wing polka ALAN STIVELL - Ar chas donv 'yelo da ouez CRUINN - Ceilidh na bliadhna 9BACH - Llwybrau

We recently heard of a visit to the Island in 1795. The previous year, a book was published of a tour of the Island made in 1791 by David Robertson, who had previously been based in Douglas as a customs officer. We look at the opening chapter of his book. In our extract from the Manx Gaelic translation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Professor Abraham Van Helsing has come from Amsterdam at the request of his friend and former student, Dr John Seward, to examine Lucy Westenra, about whose health her fiance, the Hon Arthur Holmwood, is very concerned. As y kiaull ain - RUNRIG - Meadhan oidche air an acarseid MONA KERYS & JEF LE PENVEN - Pouloupig NEIL MULLIGAN - The Leitrim slashers/The Langstern pony SUE WHITE - Pasties and cream PAUL REYNOLDS - Snuff the Wind ESTRON - Pant corlan yr wyn/Rhuad teirw'r dyffryn NA CASADAIGH - Trasna na dtonnta THE CHANGING ROOM - Gwrello glaw THE WHISTLEBINKIES - Captain Celtic

We hear from Sara Goodwins and George Hobbs of Loaghtan Books about their most recent publication, 'Ramsey, Past and Present', based round images from Ray Stanfield's extensive collection. In Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' in our translation into the Manx Gaelic, Dr John Seward reports on his brief examination of Lucy Westenra to her worried fiance, Arthur Holmwood, but is puzzled and invites his old friend and mentor, Professor van Helsing, to come from Amsterdam to give his opinion. As y kiaull ain - GWENNO - Tresor JOHN McCORMACK - Trottin' to the fair JOHN TOSE & JEZ KING - Morfa Rhuddlan/Digan y pibydd goch MANNIN FOLK - Ramsey town ANNE AUFFRET - Rouanez karet an Arvor THE IRON HORSE - The hen's march OLL AN GWELLA - The Cadgwith anthem MANNIN FOLK - King of the sea CARREG LAFAR - Seren y bore

Samuel William Ryley's family surname was Romney, but he adopted Ryley as a stage name and nom de plume some time between his 1795 visit to the Island and publication of his memoir in 1808. We've been looking at just a few pages from Volume 3 of his nine volume memoir. In our Manx translation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, we hear of Dr John Seward's experiences with his patient, Renfield, and also from Lucy Westenra's diary. Her fiance, Arthur, is so concerned for her health, he writes to his friend, John Seward - one of Lucy's rejected suitors - asking him to give his professional opinion. As nyn giaull - SEAN O hEANAIGH - Brid Thomais Mhurchadha THE STORY REPUBLIC - Cornish lads SHORYS Y CREAYRIE & BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Yn shenn eirinagh cheerey LINDA HEALY - Mae hynny'n well na dim CALUM KENNEDY - O horo mo chailin donn MIKE JAMES & YVES LEBLANC - Pays de sept CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Faagmayd nyn mannaght GWENNO - Men an tol DALLAHAN - Spicy shoes

In the autumn on 1795, Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, are in Castletown, where again Samuel chances upon Dr Jacob Hammer and invites him to dine with them. The Dr has no money and is in dread of ending up as a debtor in Castle Rushen, but an official pass is not available to leave the Island until all debts are settled. Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' is an epistolary novel, and in our Manx translation we hear Mina Murray's letter from Buda-Pesth to Lucy Westenra about Jonathan Harker's condition and their impending wedding. In fact, she's writing her letter as Mina Harker. Lucy replies to say the Whitby air has done her huge good, and that her fiance Arthur is with her. Finally, we hear more about the patient, Renfield, from Dr John Seward's diary. As y kiaull ain, ec jerrey yn Chooish - CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Arrane y ghlashtin BUNSCOILL GHAELGAGH - Moghrey mie, ghrian SHEBEGGAN - Eunyssagh Vona/Car ny rankee BERNARD CAINE & CHARLES GUARD - Arrane Ghelbee THE MOLLAG BAND - Ar

Samuel William Ryley's memoir of his three months in the Island in 1795 includes encounters with Dr Jacob Hammer. Having bearded the doctor in his den to ask him to play his violin for him, Samuel Ryley waits at the theatre for his appearance. All is not well! In our Manx translation of 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, the patient, Renfield, is found, brought back to the asylum and restrained. Meanwhile, Mina Murray is in Buda-Pesth to take care of Jonathan Harker. And there's more news, as she writes to Lucy Westenra.  As y kiaull ain - jeeaghyn er oaie gys yn Chooish (2-6 Mee Houney) - THE MOLLAG BAND - Fin as Oshin BERNARD CAINE - Ushag veg ruy MARK LAWRENCE - Arrane y chlean/Arrane y ven-vlieaun CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Gow yn bayr glass MUCCYN CAGGEE - Lhig da'n seihll chyndaa mygeayrt# SHEEAN RAAH - Balley Keeill Eoin LISA MacGREGOR & BRID CAVENEY - O ellan beg feayn BRIAN MAC STOYLL & SHORYS Y CREAYRIE - Mannin veg veen KING CHIAULLEE - Fett set

As he sails away from Douglas on 31st December 1795, Samuel William Ryley meets up with Dr Jacob Hammer. Whilst we've looked at other episodes in Samuel Ryley's memoir, published in 1808, this is by no means the first time he's encountered the doughty Doctor, so we go back to find out more. In 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, Nursing Sister Agatha of a sanitorium in Buda-Pesth has added a PS to her letter to Mina Murray. We then turn to the diary of Dr John Seward, studying his patient, Renfield, who escapes into the adjoining property, Carfax - recently purchased by a foreign client, one Count Dracula! As nyn giaull - DAFYDD IWAN - Mae hiraeth yn fy nghalon CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Cadlag APHEX TWIN - Goon Gumpas THE GAUGERS - Tatties an' herrin' MONA KERYS & JEF LE PENVEN - Me zo gannet e kreiz ar mor HUGH GILLESPIE & JACK McKENNA - Paddy Finley's fancy/Joe O'Connell's dream KAN HA DUDI  - Gouel Sant Yann SHAE APLAND & SHARON WHISHART - A breezy ballad DAFYDD I

Do you know anything about a poem about the many Kelly families of Lonan? One of them was said to have purloined something from a shipwreck. The revenue officers were told it was Kelly of Lonan - but which of so many could it be? This is a query from David Kelly of The Rhaa, who learned part of the poem from his father and has recently come across a version of it. Any information gratefully received! We hear more about Master Carr, the eccentric schoolmaster living about 2 miles from Peel, before Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, try to leave the Island at the end of 1795 - and we unexpectedly encounter another eccentric character. An excerpt from Samuel Ryley's memoir published in 1808. In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Mina Murray is writing in her journal about Lucy Westenra's improvement and at last receives a letter about her fiance, Jonathan Harker. She immediately makes plans to go to him. As nyn giaull - FIONA CAIN - Salute to Man HILARY C

Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, expected to earn money from theatrical performances in the Island in 1795. After three months, that had not happened and they were about to leave - but not before a real-life drama unfolded. In our translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', we infer what is happening from entries in Mina Murray's Journal and from letters sent between lawyers in Whitby and a haulage firm in London and the Home Counties. As y kiaull ain - BERNARD CAINE & CHARLES GUARD - Eisht as nish ALVAN, marish AHEZ - Fulenn SWINGIN' FIDDLES - Da Bousta boy/Harvest home TRIBAN - Y deryn pur BARRULE - Illiam boght JOHN REA - Jackson's: Drum; Mistake; and Coagy MIKE O'CONNOR & CORNISH SONGWRITERS - The Tregarten anthem NEEAR NESAN - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee SOLDAT LOUIS - Fils de Lorient

An actor, Samuel William Ryley and his wife, Ann, have come to the Island in 1795, obviously expecting to stay a while as they have brought their furniture with them. However, they have found a pleasant furnished cottage on the sea front in Peel - but will they be able to stay there after all? After Lucy Westenra's sleepwalking exploits ending up in the churchyard of St Mary's in Whitby, she has begged her friend, Mina Murray, to promise to say nothing. Mina is not sure whether she should give such a promise. Another episode in the translation into Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.  AS Y KIAULL AIN - THE MOLLAG BAND - Graih my chree AHANAN - Ow leski CARLOS NUNEZ, DAN AR BRAZ & L'HERITAGE DES CELTES - Aires de Pontevedra NA FILI - Inion an Fhaoit o'n ngleann LINDA GRIFFITHS & SORELA - Fel hyn mae'i fod BLOWZABELLA - Bourrees Three & Four DONALD ROSS & WILLIAM BURNETT - Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrobhain SEDRENN - Intanvez ar moraer ELIZABETH DAVIDSON-B

Samuel William Ryley (1759-1837) had a book published in 1808 : 'The Itinerant : or,  Memoirs of an Actor'. Part of the book deals with a visit he made with his wife, Ann, to the Island in September 1795. We look at some of what he has to say about his experience here. Mina Murray searches for her sleepwalking friend, Lucy Westenra, and finds her lying on their favourite bench in the churchyard surrounding St Mary's in Whitby - but there seems to be another tall, dark figure bending over her. Another piece from a translation into the Manx Gaelic of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.