Claare Ny Gael - Manx Radio

We hear how HMS Racehorse came to grief on Langness on 14th December 1822, which unfortunately resulted in the loss of six crewmen and three of the crew of a boat from Castletown that had made four trips, rescuing the rest of those on board, before being swamped as it returned from its fifth mission.  Our short story in Manx is the first part of one written by well-known author, Richmal Crompton, about a Christmas Present, translated into Manx for the programme. As nyn giaull - ISLA CALLISTER - Arrane ny Killey IEUAN AP SION - Gwn Dafydd Iwan MARY BERGIN - The floggin reel/The ivy leaf/Trim the velvet ANNE KENNEDY TRUSCOTT - Farwel NITEWORKS, feat. SIAN - Ar fair an la JEAN-CLAUDE JEGAT & LOUIS YHUEL - Les filles de Quiberon (kas abarh) PHIL GAWNE - Va billey beg gaase DANGEROUS AGE - Can i mam KEITH DONALD & MAIRE NI BHREATHNACH - Aisling gheal

On 6th December 1878, there was a great concourse of more than 700 people who assembled in the new premises of the Philip Christian Endowed School in Peel, funded by the Clothworkers' Guild of the City of London, of which Philip Christian had been a Warden, and had left London property in his will to the Guild's trust to use the rental to pay for education in his native Peel, where he'd been born in 1593. Our short story in Manx was written by Japanese writer, Matsuo Basho. It's about an old woman whose ingenuity leads to the reversal of a tyrannical law which would otherwise have led to her death. As nyn giaull - SKEEAL - Billey MARIE-CECILE CHARRIER & JACQUES-ANDRE PRAUVERT - Toutouig  EOGHAIN O CEANNABHAIN - The merry twists of fate ACOUSTIQUE - Canu Myfanwy NA GATHAN - Ga bruidhinne lan-uine BOLINGEY TROYL BAND - Woolly monkey ALAN BURKE - Idir Corcaigh 'gus Dughlais NEEAR NESAN - Kilgallon's dream TRIP - Farewell

In a short programme this time because of a Covid briefing, we hear how a case of mistaken identity brought a second celebration of St Maughold, with Shenn Laa'l Maghal Geuree, the old style St Maughold's winter feast day, on 26th November - the day when people elsewhere, particularly in Brittany, celebrate the feast day of St Malo. And only time for part of a story in Manx this time, from one by Matsuo Basho.  As nyn giaull - MACGREGOR, BRECHIN, O hEADHRA - A chailin alainn ARFON GWILYM & SIONED WEBB - Nid wyf yn llon MORWENN LE NORMAND & ARZ NEVEZ - Yr yarig CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Yn maarliagh mooar NITEWORKS - Coisich

Belle Vue was a very popular resort presenting circuses, model villages, a replica of HMS Victory and much more at a site about a mile from the centre of Douglas, beween the Rivers Doo and Glass just before they converge to become the Douglas River. We get a glimpse of what was there as we hear of the destruction of quite large parts of it in a fire on 23rd November 1895. It's not so much a story as a study or sketch by Cornish writer, Arthur Quiller-Couch, that we hear in a Manx translation of an unusual family living in Yorkshire. As nyn giaull - SHAE APLAND & SHARON WISHART - The end of the world (a Manx spiritual) KATIE KIRK & RICK WILLIAMS - Morwenstow RIOBO - Foliada '85 ELIN FFLUR A'R MONIARS - Papillon CALUM KENNEDY - Morag a Dunbheagan TYMAO - Plinn MOOT - Graih my chree ARFON GWILYM - Hen benillion GRANIT - Till far

We're just about half way through November by now. Or are we? And are we at the start of a new year? For many years, the Hop tu Naa tradition was celebrated on 11th November and on the northside, leases took effect from 12th November. These are the dates as they appear on the modern calendar, but by the unreformed calendar, these would be 31st October and 1st November. Our story in Manx is another written originally by Neel Rana in English, but that's not his native tongue, so the story has been edited in translation - a strange tale of a mad scientist and his wife. As nyn giaull - CARREF LAFAR - Cwyn mam-yn-nghyfraith GWENNO - Tir ha mor JOHN RODGE - Angel falling GWILYM BOWEN RHYS - Da gennyf air o ganu BRIAN WEBB - Ow avon splann CAMBORNE TOWN BAND - Trelawny (concert march) KANERION PLEUIGNER - Suite laride DIAOULED AR MENEZ - Botkol STEVAN VINCENDEAU & THOMAS FELDER - Awen 

The Douglas and Isle of Man Bank was opened on the South Quay in Douglas in 1815. It was run by the Holmes family, a Liverpool-Manx family. The death of John Holmes in Liverpool was followed very shortly by the death of the last surviving brother, James Holmes, in Douglas. Their bank had been greatly trusted, but its affairs were found to be in disarray. This was uncovered on the death of James Holmes on 7th November 1853. Our story in Manx is a translation of a modern version of a faux-mythological tale by Indian-American author, Neel Rana. As y kiaull ain, dy yannoo ard eailley jeh'n Chooish - SKEEAL - Mannin veg veen EMMA CHRISTIAN - Manannan CAROL WALKER - Ta'n bock, aboo! ersooyl THE MOLLAG BAND - S'laik lhiam bine dy yough RUTH KEGGIN - S'feayr yn oie BERNARD OSBORNE - Car ny ferrishyn/Car Juan Nan BERNARD CAINE & CHARLES GUARD - Arrane Ghelbee CLASH VOOAR - Lhiggeyder folley MEC LIR - Earthbound

Colonel Robert Duckenfield led a large force against the Isle of Man, but their arrival was dogged by bad weather. By the time they arrived, Illiam Dhone had led a rising against Charlotte, the Countess of Derby, and was able to conclude terms with the Parliamentarians on behalf of the people of the Island, rather than allowing the Countess to use them as pawns in trying to save her husband, not knowing that he had already been executed. The Countess surrendered Castle Rushen in return for safe passage of her household and retainers on 31st October 1651. Our short story in Manx is a translation of one by American writer Alison Pearce and is a time-travelling tale as a guilty conscience is assuaged.  As nyn giaull - CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Irree shiu SKIPPER'S ALLEY - Ta me i mo shuidhe KEEP IT UP - Pants CAPERCAILLIE - Oran sugraidhe BRIAN MAC STOYLL - Arrane sooree CAOIMHIN O RAGHAILLE & BREANNDAN O BEAGLAOICH - Dha pholca Dalaigh MARY DEADY & SIAMSOIRI NA RIOCHTA - Cait ni Dhuibhir RUNRIG -

It's a lucky dip of news as we look through the pages of the Manx Sun newspaper, in the edition for Saturday October 21, 1871. We've looked at pieces of history in and around that year, but we get a glimpse of what was exercising the minds of people in general, with the launch of Isle of Man Railways two years before its first line opened, an unflattering view of the harbour works which gave us the Victoria and Battery Piers in Douglas, and the perhaps surprising shopping hours in Castletown. Our story in Manx is by David Barber, taking a wry look at the work of a jobbing author engaged in a 'vanity project' for a lottery winner. As y kiaull ain - BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA, Cond. Gavin Sutherland - A Manx pastoral scene (Haydn Wood) DIAOULED - L'aquadrature du rond THE CHIEFTAINS - Hewlett MIKE O'CONNOR - The best of autumn FLAIR - Tillidh mi fhathast PATRICK RIMES & ANGHARAD JENKINS - Beth yw'r haf i mi? NEEAR NESAN - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee ELIN FFLUR - Dim gair THE TANNA

We recap on our short story, written in English by American author Joe Giordano and translated into Manx for Claare ny Gael, and then follow it to its sad conclusion. Meanwhile, we trace the circumstances that led to 800 armed Manx militia men assembling at the house of Illiam Dhone, William Christian, to take an oath of allegiance to him to make a stand against Charlotte, the Countess of Derby, and negotiate directly with the Parliamentarians to protect the rights and privileges - and the lives - of the Manx people. That took place on 18th October 1651. As nyn giaull - PADDY MOLONEY & THE CHIEFTAINS - Drowsy Maggie PETER DEMPSEY & GUY ROWLAND - It is only a tiny garden THE CHIEFTAINS - Morgan Magan FESTIVAL OF CORNISH MVCs - The song of Cornwall MANRAN - Latha math THE CHIEFTAINS - Morning dew EUGENIE GOADEC & LOUISE EBREL - Seomp d'an unvet DRYMBAGO - Daw'r dydd THE CHIEFTAINS - Manx music

Our short story in Manx takes us to New York, where Craig is besotted with Brede but loses her close affection, though they remain friends.  When Brede becomes the victim of violence, Craig steps in to help.  Laa'l Vial, the Feast Day of St Michael the Archangel - Michaelmas - (which falls on 29th September, but continued to be celebrated by the old style, on or around 10th October) was an important time in the Island, not just in Kirk Michael, as you might expect, but also in Castletown, Ballasalla and Douglas.  As y kiaull ain 'sy chlaare y cheayrt shoh - DENIS ALLEN - Limerick, you're a lady PLETHYN - Ymryson canu CNUIMHEAGAN - The baravan CLAUDINE FLOC'HIG & YANN FANCH KEMENER - Ar verjelig MOOT - Ushag veg ruy KERENSA - Now the summer is over/Tregonning Hill/Ewon an vor SEAMUS O'DOHERTY - Limerick is beautiful YR HWNTWS - Bachgen bach o dincer SGOIL CHIUIL NA GAIDHEALTACHD - MacArthur Road/The mouth of the River Tobique/Zito the bubbleman

The Bank of Mona had its head office in Douglas and branches in Castletown, Peel and Ramsey. However, it was a subsidiary of the Bank of Glasgow. However well-run the Bank of Mona was, the Bank of Glasgow crashed, and so the Bank of Mona also shut down, on Wednesday 2nd October 1878. Its former Douglas head office today forms the 'Wedding Cake' of the Island's Legislative Buildings. And in our story in Manx, whilst y Kyaghan and y Roddan Ushtey do their best to sort out the wreck of the gypsy cart, Mnr Toad is infatuated with the vehicle that frightened the horse and caused the damage. As nyn giaull y cheayrt shoh - EIEN - Bar a pluie KATE DOWMAN - The fairy washing song (Arrane ny niee) NANSI RICHARDS - Pant corlan yr wyn CIARAN BOURKE & LUKE KELLY - Peab san ol GWENNYN - Bravig CNUIMHEAGAN - Good drying/The Ness pipers FESTIVAL OF CORNISH MALE VOICE CHOIRS - Hail to the homeland PAUL REYNOLDS - Snuff the Wind EIEN - Kabanera (hanter dro)

The Laxey Wheel is iconic, but combines a pleasing appearance with a serious purpose and some outstanding engineering. We hear how the London Illustrated News reported - and illustrated - the official opening on 27th September 1854. In our story in Manx, we take the road in the canary yellow gypsy caravan so beloved of Mnr Toad - for the time being, at any rate. As nyn giaull y cheayrt shoh - THE STATIONARY WILLBERRIES - The Laxey Wheel GEORGIA RUTH & ALAW - Y G'lomen FIANA NI CHONAILL, PEDDYR CUBBERLEY & KIRSTY LAWRENCE - Tamo's frolics AN TRI DIPOP - Tri artilheur ANNE MARTIN - Oran leannan sithe TAN HA DOWR - Can scoswas HORSLIPS - Trouble with a capital 'T' GENOD DROOG - Dal ni lawr MICHAEL SPRIGGS - Laxey's wheel

In the wreck of the herring fleet at the mouth of Douglas Harbour on 21st September 1787, 21 men died. The number injured is not recorded. In the longer term, there were serious economic consequences because so many fishing vessels were damaged beyond repair. The herring fishery was important domestically as part of the Manx crofting way of life and in international trade.  We look at the Manx traditional song about that tragedy and another about loss at sea.  As y kiaull ain y cheayrt shoh - ANDREW WILLIAMSON & FENELLA BAZIN - The wreck of the herring fleet PLETHYN - 'Fuoch chi 'rioed yn morio?  CEILIHOUSE - Out on the ocean NOLWEN LEROY - Tri martolod youank DONALD ROSS & WILLIAM BURNETT - Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrovan THE BOLINGEY TROYL BAND - The Newlyn fishermen's reel THE VOICE SQUAD - Willie Taylor MEIC STEVENS - Can Walter RIVERDANCE - Reel around the sun

The coxswain of Douglas lifeboat, William Curphey, said that the lifeboat station on the corner of the Harris Promenade and Church Road Marina was in the wrong place for launching into stormy waters. Unfortunately, he was proved right. Three men drowned whilst the lifeboat was delayed in going to the rescue of the smack 'Hero' on 13th September 1873. William Curphey resigned as a matter of principle. In our story in Manx, Mnr Toad has given up boating as a waste of time. He's now for the open road in a gypsy caravan - and it seems he expects y Roddan Ushtey and y Kyaghan to go with him. As y kiaull ain - RUSHEN SILVER BAND - Ellan Vannin THE BOLINGEY TROYL BAND - Margh dall HEVIA - Gaviotes MAGGIE MacINNES - Gura mise tha fo eislean PIGYN CLUST - Cariad cywir BILL WHELAN, DONAL LUNNY, LIAM O FLYNN & ANDY IRVINE - The Ballymun regatta LOUIS CAPART - Marie-Jeanne-Gabrielle CAARJYN COOIDJAGH - Gow yn bayr glass FORZH PENAOS - TKTK

A large crowd assembled near the foot of Castle Street in Peel on Thursday, 6th September 1906 for the laying of the foundation stone of the Ward Public Library, a presentation by the hugely successful entrepreneur, James Kewley Ward to the people of the town of his birth. In our Manx translation, the Roddan Ushtey takes Kyaghan to meet Mnr Toad in his fine house - only to find out that he's now given up messing about in boats. As nyn giaull - RUNRIG - Meadhan oidche er yn acairseid AR C'HOAREZED GOADEG - La garde-robe du mari defunt RUSHEN SILVER BAND - Ellan Vannin AC ERAILL - Tua'r gorllewin LIAM O MAONLAI - Cathain? DAVEY & DYER - An lanow SEONAG NIC CHOINNICH - Hion dail-a horo hi ALAN STIVELL - Brezhoneg raok SHOOGLENIFTY - Black dog

The Battery Pier in Douglas was opened with an official "handing over" of the Battery by the designer, Sir John Coode, and Resident Engineer, William Powell, to the Receiver-General, Ridgeway Harrison, who was the Chairman of the Harbour Commissioners, on 29th August 1879. In our story in Manx we come to the end of the first chapter with the whisper of the wind, not in the willows, but in the rushes, as Mole spends the summer learning to swim and to row and to enjoy running water. As y kiaull ain - PAUL REYNOLDS - Wave song AVEL DRO - Les endives DUDACI Z CZESKEHO IESA - Lazenska stajdyse OLL AN GWELLA - Men of Cornwall CHRISTINE PRIMROSE & ALISON KINNAIRD - O'n chuir mo leannan culaibh rium/Do chrochadh a thoill thu  CARREG LAFAR - Llef Harlech/Aberdulais BRENDAN BEHAN - Preab san ol SOLDAT LOUIS - Fils de Lorient (FC Lorient-Bretagne Sud) BIRLINN JIARG - Animal farm

The fierce King Magnus Olafson of Norway, better known as Magnus Barefoot or Barelegs, came and took the throne of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles from the dynasty of Godred Crovan from 1098 until his death on 23rd August 1103 in Ulster as he set out to conquer Ireland. Our two animal friends, yn Kyaghan as y Roddan Ushtey, enjoy a picnic alongside the river and are joined by another friend, yn Moddey Ushtey, there's a brief encounter with Brock, and Kyaghan hears all about Toad.  As nyn giaull - NORWEGIAN-MANX PROJECT - Ta mee nish keayney CILMERI - Ffarwel i blwy Llangywer DALLAHAN - Hurley's house THEO LE MAGUET & PIERRE BEDARD - Dessous un rosier blanc TOMAS O NEACHTAIN - Piopa Andy mhoir CAMBORNE TOWN BAND - Calling Cornwall (Goff Richards) BRIAN O hEADHRA & CRUINN - Ceilidh na bliadhna THE ROWAN TREE & AGGIE BOYS CHOIR - One and all NORWEGIAN MANX PROJECT - Finale

From the Island's transport history, we hear of the Upper Douglas Tramway, a cable-car system that went from the Jubilee Clock, up Victoria Street and the steady climb to upper Douglas, then back down via York Road and Ballaquayle Road to the foot of Broadway. The line opened to the public at 8.00am on Saturday 15th August 1896.  Our story in Manx tells of how y Kyaghan as y Roddan Ushtey meet and get to know one another on the river bank and then on the river itself - not any river, but THE river. As y kiaull ain - NEEAR NESAN - Ushtey millish 'sy gharee/La violetta ARFON GWILYM & SIONED WEBB - Nid wyf yn llon THE BOYS OF THE LOUGH - Captain Carswell DALLA - Seventeen come Sunday/Not too young to marry yet SEAN MAC DONNCHADHA - An spailpin fanach ANTON DAVILA - Suite patelas THE THOLTAN BUILDERS - A farmer's life for me ELIANE PRONOST - Kousk, Breiz Izel THE MAGNUS BAREFOOT QUARTET - Fathaby jig/My henn ayr/Jem as Nancy

The Mooragh estate was a rough wilderness when Ramsey Commissioners first bought it. However, plans were drawn up for it and the first stone of the North Promenade was laid - and the promenade was named - and the first sod of the Mooragh Park was cut by the Lieutenant-Governor Spencer Walpole on 11th August 1887. We look at the opening of a translation into Manx of The Wind in the Willows, a book of which Kenneth Grahame's original English version has far more of poetry about it than prose. As nyn giaull - COR MERCHED EDEYRNION - Dim ond meirch y mor BILL CORLETT & PHIL GAWNE - Y ghraih my chree 's my stoyr BAGAD CAP CAVAL NICOLSON INSTITUTE GAELIC CHOIR - Foghnan ny h-Alba/Puirt e beul RICHARD TRETHEWEY - Smoking chimneys BAGAD KEMPER ELIANE PRONOST - An hani a garan NA CASADAIGH & THE LENNON FAMILY - Peigin Leitir Mor KEVRENN ALRE

The opening of the steam railway line between Douglas and Port Erin was very much a case of will it/won't it, perhaps/perhaps not. We hear about the reasons for difficulties and delays before it eventually did open for public travel - without ceremony - on Saturday 1st August 1874. Sean O Bradaigh made a translation into Irish of one of Dora Broome's stories of Manx folklore. We hear a translation into Manx, with one eye on Sean's Irish translation, and the other on Dora Broome's English original. As y kiaull ain: JIM FLANAGAN - Taimse na arrears CHRISTINE BREGAZZI & FENELLA BAZIN - White foxglove KEVRENN ALRE - Gavotte Pourlet JIM WEARNE - Maggie May FRIBO - Svarttrosten DA CAMERA - Cock up your beaver ROGER HELFRICK - The washing song THE MIDDEN - How to breathe THE MORDEKKERS - Y folantein