Chairman of the Shennaghys Jiu cultural festival, Juan Garrett, tells us this weekend's events.

We also hear about a fun and funny film, Teeval: Ben-phrinse ny Marrey / Teeval: Princess of the Ocean, newly available in both Manx and English on line, made by Dario Leonetti for Culture Vannin with the help of the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee. It was written by Bunscoill Ghaelgagh students Olivia and Nora, who tell the story of as we see them acting it out in costume including wonderful papier mache heads against a backdrop of Niarbyl. You can enjoy the short film (a little under 4 minutes) online at the Culture Vannin website, www.culturevannin.com

The Director of Culture Vannin, Breesha Maddrell, shares some of her thoughts on Manx culture and the role of Culture Vannin with Phil Gawne, and also explains the process of awarding the annual cultural honour, Reih Bleeaney Vanannan.

Kate Jerry and Collette Gambell run the Artreach Studios in Peel, where they have a wide range of events, with great opportunities to enjoy getting involved in hands-on, creative work. There are many workshops for adults and youngsters, and Kate tells us of Artreach Studios involvement in creative opportunities for talented teenagers. With so much going on, keep an eye on their website - www.artreachiom.com

We also look ahead to performances on Thursday 14th, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th November at the House of Manannan in Peel by Labyrinth : History in Action, bringing stories of life and death round Manx shores, in association with the All at Sea exhibition currently on show.

Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, has been co-ordinating the work which goes into making the Cooish Manx Language Festival, running this year from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th November. Ruth outlines the history and purpose of the Cooish and who all is involved with it this year.

In a week's time it'll be Hop tu Naa. Whilst there's a feeling that it remains a strong Manx tradition, that's never been evaluated. This year Culture Vannin's Online and Educational Resources Officer, James Franklin, is encouraging people to take part in what will be a baseline survey to look back on and compare with in 10, 20 or 50 years.

However, our main focus is on 15th August, which is Laa'l Moirrey Toshee, the principal feast day of St Mary, who remains an important figure for the church in Man. A well-known song in Manx, collected by Mona Douglas, invokes 'blessed Mary' to increase the milk of a cow that's being milked, and with that idea in mind we also hear some Manx poetry about cows!

This is the final programme in this series of Shiaght Laa.

This week, Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol is taking place in Pontypridd, and Manx delegates Nicola Tooms and Matilda Watson were welcomed to the stage by the Archdderwydd.

Lorient in Brittany will again be abuzz with music, and from Monday 12th to Sunday 18th August, a large contingent of Manxies will be taking part in the city's huge Festival Interceltique. We hear about it from Grainney Sheard, her sister Ealee, Breeshey Kermode of Biosphere Isle of Man and Blue Badge guide Jacqueline Yates, who will all be there as part of a contingent of about 60 people from the Island, performing music, song and dance and promoting the Island's unique culture.

We hear from the duo, Tarmac, James Green (from Port St Mary) and Suzie Wilcox; two young women from Switzerland; Fiona and Anna from the USA; and members of the group of Irish musicians, singers and dancers, The Len Collective.

Visitors to Yn Chruinnaght this year from Brittany, mother and daughter Brigitte and Katell Kloareg tell us about the situation with Breton-medium education and about their background and repertoire.

Plus an overview of just some of the many events happening round the Island.

Two members of the organising committee, Jo Callister and Chloe Woolley, give us an overview of the whole inter-Celtic festival, before we look particularly at what's happening from Monday to Thursday.

You can find out more at the website : Yn Chruinnaght | Celtic Gathering – Yn Chruinnaght | Celtic Gathering ; or the Facebook page : Celtic Gathering Isle of Man - Yn Chruinnaght | Peel Isle Of Man | Facebook

The North American Manx Association (NAMA) again awarded silver medals to young recipients to celebrate their cultural achievements, and there were also two prizes in respect of the Manx language presented by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture just before Tynwald Day.

On Tynwald Day, a member of NAMA was in St John's. Bill Cassidy explains how it is he's a speaker of the Manx language. We also hear of another Manx speaker, Steve Kayll, who lives in Yorkshire. He recently made his first ever trip to the Island, and came along to a Manx conversational evening in Peel.

There's a lot of Manx now being spoken from Tynwald Hill, apart from the fencing of the court in Manx, and we hear His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Lorimer and His Honour the Second Deemster, John Needham.

After a look at some forthcoming events, we find out about Charlotte de Tremoille, the Countess of Derby, wife of James Stanlagh (yn Stanlagh Mooar), the 7th Earl of Derby, and the siege of Lathom House in Lancashire - as described in song by Steeleye Span. The Countess staunchly resisted and the siege was lifted by the arrival of her kinsman, Prince Rupert, on 27th May 1644, when she and her family came to join her husband in Castle Rushen.

We hear a brief overview of motorcycle racing in the Island, with racing on the Billow Circuit this weekend (24th, 25th & 26th May) and the commencement of the TT Races on Monday 27th May. This time of year used to bring showings of a 1935 film, 'No Limit', with George Formby "Riding in the TT Races". There's perhaps a reason it's not been shown in more recent years.

we hear about some of the opportunities to enjoy events in the week ahead;

we hear of a new publication by Dr Peter Davey about 'Rushen Abbey : one hundred years of excavation';

we try to find out about why to the Manx people the 18th May was called Laa'l Spitlhin Souree; and

we look at the lyrics and hear the song, 'Baatey Pabyr', written by Matthew Warren and performed by Sarah Mercer and Mera Royle, which won Arrane son Mannin this year and represented the Island in the Pan Celtic International Song Competition, and of which a Ballagroove Studio recording by Gyp Buggane has just been published on Soundcloud Baatey Paybr (Paper Boats) - Gaelg by Matthew Warren (soundcloud.com).

A recording of Dollin Kelly's performance of T E Brown's 'Betsy Lee' has just been made available online at Culture Vannin's website, and we hear a famous extract from that. 

As what appears on the modern calendar as 12th May would have been Shenn Laa Boaldyn, May Day by the old-style calendar, we hear some music associated with the season and the words of some traditional songs mentioning it. 

We hear an overview from: Lauren McCoy, curator of natural history at MNH; Lucy Chapman of the Manx Wildlife Trust; and Jo Overty of UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man. We then join MWT's Community Ranger, Hannah Phillips, who tells us about some of the things the Trust is involved in during the week.

We also hear about the Luke Jerram installation, Gaia, in St Thomas's Church in Douglas from Aly Lewin of Net Zero Isle of Man of which the website can be found at - https://www.netzero.im/

The other is 'Strandings & Sinkings : Shipwrecks in Manx Waters' published by Loaghtan Books, for which Sara Goodwins and George Hobbs took as their starting point more of Ray Stanfield's archive of images. 
This is very resonant in a year in which the choice of Adrian Corkill as Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2024 was for his detailed database of shipwrecks in Manx waters, and in which the RNLI is celebrating 200 years since its founding in 1824 by Sir William Hillary. Manx National Heritage curator of archaeology, Alison Fox, talks about Sir William and the foundation of the service, and also about some of the Island's maritime history and heritage in an ongoing exhibition, 'All At Sea', at the House of Manannan in Peel.

Will Price of Port Erin has set up Amity Publications Ltd and has just published a bilingual edition of The Amazing Adventures of Tom and Charlie / Ny Contoyrtyssyn Yindyssagh ec Tom as Charlie. He explains how the book came about, with the Manx translation by Chris Sheard and illustrations by Grainney Sheard.

Fiona McArdle herself was instrumental in setting up Arrane son Mannin in 2005, a competition to choose a song in the Manx language to represent the Island in a contest for songs in the Celtic languages of each of the Celtic nations taking part in the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland. This year's Arrane son Mannin is on Friday 12th January.

We hear from yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, about workshops at Thie dy Vea in Peel for Manx in worship, and also more general another workshop there for Manx songs. She will also be leading Manx classes on Zoom during the coming year.

S'feayr yn oie (Annie Kissack);
Carval Chreneash (Annie Kissack);
Christmas Star (Marilyn Cannell);
Shinyn ny deiney (Annie Kissack);
Deiney creeney (Bob Carswell);
Yn Joarree (Philip Leighton Stowell, trans. Colin Jerry); and
Yeesey Creest (Bob Carswell).

Margaid Bird is a founder-member of Ramsey-based Manx Gaelic choir, Cliogaree Twoaie, and she takes us back to the early days and some of the many highlights since then, as they prepare a third album.

We also look ahead to one of the opportunities to sing traditional Manx Gaelic songs, to be presented by Yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin Gell. It's not till Saturday 13th January 2024, but it would be as well to contact Ruth and book a place now.

The Isle of Man Poetry Society has monthly meetings at the Archibald Knox public house in Onchan, and there's one on Sunday 3rd December at 7.30pm. Chair of the Society, Bethany de Legh Runciman, talks about poetry and about opportunities to write and perform it.

And as the programme goes out on Laa'l Andreays, St Andrew's Day, we look at the Scotch Kirk and St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Douglas and, of course, at the parish and its church on the north of the Island - one of the seventeen ancient parishes, though now part of the Parish of the Northern Plain. We return to a recording of churchwarden, Michael Ellis.

It's the final day by which to nominate a person or a group for the prestigious annual award, the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, to be awarded early in the New Year. Breesha Maddrell of Culture Vannin tells us about that.

Coming up from 10th February to 10th March will be another of the Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trails at ten locations in Douglas city centre. However, ten poems have to be chosen by a panel of judges, and the closing date for entries is 1st December! Chair of the Society, Bethany de Legh Runciman, has all the important information for us. 

As we often say in Shiaght Laa, people in the Island are active in many pursuits, and there are regular music sessions of all sorts, and the visual arts are extremely popular. This coming weekend, The Creative Network hold the final part of their biennial Isle of Man Art Festival, in which they're joined by the Manx Mural Fest.

This coming Wednesday, 23rd August, there's a return visit by Professor R Andrew MacDonald, who'll be giving a talk in the Manx Museum Lecture Theatre in Douglas in association with his new publication, 'A Visitor's Guide to the Medieval Kingdoms of Man and the Isles, 1066-1275'. Shiaght Laa heard about Professor MacDonald's work some years ago on a previous visit.

Loaghtan Books have published a book that takes us to many unexpected corners and fascinating facts about the Island and its people. It's called 'Manx Myths, Mysteries and Miscellanies'. It's based on the research and articles of journalist and author, the  late Robert Kelly. We hear about Robert and his work from his friend, Neal Hanson, and from Matthew Richardson of Manx National Heritage, who undertook the editorial work. 

We also hear from Grainney Sheard, who organises the Manx presence at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient which is now taking place, and briefly from Annie Kissack, speaking from the stage of the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol earlier in the week.

Almost on the eve of the Southern District Agricultural Show, we hear from show Secretary, Zoe Hampton, this year's President (and former Secretary), Sarah Comish, and from immediate past President, Briony Vernon.

IOM Post Office has just issued a set of ten stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Manx Wildlife Trust with designs by MWT Artist in Residence, Clare Payne. We hear more about the work of MWT from Community Ranger, Hannah Phillips, including its role in The Manx Nature Show in Cathedral Isle of Man, about which Outreach and Education Manager of Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch, Jen Adams, reminds us.

One of Florrie Forde's hit songs was 'Flanagan' from 1910. It brought a response from another Australian performer in Britain, Billy Williams, who in 1911 announced that 'I'm the Man that Buried Flanagan'. However, that can't have been true because Florrie Forde was able to say, 'Hello there, Flanagan!' as he returned to the Isle of Man in 1919.

Taking part in The Manx Nature Show will be 22 environmental organisations, including the Manx Wildlife Trust. Community Ranger Hannah Phillips tells us about the Love Your Beach initiative and a chance to take part in a Bug Hunt in the Trust's Ballachurry reserve in Rushen.

In association with a piano recital by George Todica, Pip Rolfe of the Erin Arts Centre has organized a masterclass earlier in the day in which George Todica will talk about his repertoire and his experience as a leading young professional musician.

Monday 13th February is the deadline for entries to Aundyryn Kiaull Theay Vannin, the Manx Folk Awards, and we hear about that from Jo Callister of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and from Chloe Woolley of Culture Vannin. 

As we approach the end of the month, we look ahead to folklore associated with Laa'l Breeshey, the celebration of the saint to whom Kirk Bride is dedicated. Laa'l Breeshey is 1st February.

Wednesday 25th January sees a presentation by David Bellamy of the Manx Wildlife Trust about the Agri-Environment Scheme, and we hear from him about that. It's also the first night of three when Rushen Players will perform Peter Gordon's comedy, 'Secondary Cause of Death'. We hear from director, Catie Angus, and cast members Juan Bridson, Graham Roberts and Sharon Roberts.

As a perk, here is a programme presented by Fiona McArdle as an extra at the end of the series of programmes this time. In this seventh programme (in a series with six programmes in it!) we hear about the importance of Old Hollantide (11 & 12 November), and then we head off to 'Ramsey - Past and Present', for the fourth book in a series by Loaghtan Books about changes in the towns over the years, based on old images in the collection of Ray Stanfield, with modern photographs by George Hobbs and text by Sara Goodwins.

Charlotte Jane Henry took us through the etching process in Shiaght Laa some time ago, using nitric acid and zinc sheets. Throughout November she has an exhibition at Studio 42 in Port St Mary, not only of etchings, but also of some of her paintings. Her 2023 Etchings calendar is also available. The exhibition also includes pieces by Shane Lucas.

Yn Greinneyder, Ruth Keggin Gell, tells us of the Cooish Manx Language Festival, running through to Sunday 6th November. 

'Museum 100' is an exhibition at the Manx Museum in Douglas to celebrate 100 years of the Manx Museum in that very building. The exhibition is now open, ready for the centenary, but there was a preview, at which we hear Director of the Manx Museum, Connie Lovel, and the Chairman of the Manx Museum and National Trust, Jonathan Hall. The centenary actually falls on 5th November, so more next time.

There's an opportunity to find out more about the Manx language, learn something of it, and to use what you know during the Cooish Manx Language Festival, 2nd-6th November. Yn Greinneyder, the Manx Language Development Officer of Culture Vannin, Ruth Keggin Gell, gives us an overview and tells us what's on in the opening couple of days.

We heard last time about the recent official re-starting of the Great Laxey Wheel. Whilst the Wheel was being re-started, historic building architect and project leader, John Paul Walker, gives an overview of the Wheel and a commentary on its re-starting.   

Museum 100 is a new exhibition opening at the Manx Museum in Douglas on Saturday 22nd October. Art and Social History Curator of Manx National Heritage, Katie King, tells us about the background to it and what we can expect to see.

Another engineering feat was the launch of an iron-hulled ship, the Euterpe, from Ramsey shipyard in 1863. Renamed Star of India, she is now the oldest, sea-going iron-hulled ship in the world. Heather Ruffino, the writer, producer and director of the Ramsey theatre group, Cloiederyn, tells us about her vision of telling the story of the Star of India in a musical, being presented Friday 14th and Saturday 15th October and Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd October.

The major part of the programme is given over to Brian King talking about he became involved in research about HMS Racehorse, which went down with loss of life, including three of the rescue party, in 1822. Brian researched historic documents and led an underwater team to plot and recover artefacts. His research work, including charts and photographs, is now published by Loaghtan Books in a timely book for the 200th anniversary of the loss of the vessel, simply called 'The Wreck of the Racehorse' and is available now at £14.95.

We hear from Professor Hugh Davidson about William Milner, known mainly in connection with the iconic tower on Bradda Head. An exhibition about his life and work, 'William Milner : The Man and the Tower', can be seen in St Catherine's Church Hall until 4.00pm on Sunday 31st October. 

With the change of clocks this weekend and shortening days, dark skies are very much in evidence. We hear from Howard Parkinson about his recent publication, 'Space for Dark Skies : An astronomical miscellany from the Isle of Man'.

The Cooish Manx language festival will be taking place 4th-7th November, and Yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx language development officer, Ruth Keggin Gell, outlines the programme of ten events.

Culture Vannin is inviting nominations for the Island's highest cultural award, Reih Bleeaney Vanannan. Culture Vannin's Director, Breesha Maddrell, tells us about the award, how to go about making a nomination, and what happens next.

The Isle of Man Poetry's Society Poetry Trail 2021 consists of 30 poems on display in Douglas, Peel and Ramsey. We've heard 24 of the poems so far in Shiaght Laa, and in this edition we hear the remaining six winning entries. All 30 poems will be on display until 31st October.

Thanks to James Franklin of Culture Vannin, we have an opportunity to hear a little of the theatre pieces by Cori Philips and Annie Kissack, with the prospect of being able to enjoy the videos of them soon.

The latest publication by Loaghtan Publications is 'Castletown : Past and Present', based on Ray Stanfield's collection of postcards and other images, paired with modern photographs by George Hobbes and information researched and written by Sara Goodwins, who tell us about working on the book. 

We hear two more of the successful poets who have contributed to this year's Isle of Man Poetry Society's Poetry Trail, including Peel and Ramsey as well as Douglas this time.

Jerry Carter is a saxophonist and jazz lover who has been involved in organising the first Port Erin Jazz Festival. He tells us about special guests, Alan Barnes and Dave Newton, Beccy Rork and the Leeds College of Music Jazz Band, as well as about the many Island musicians who'll be performing. 

The Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival is into it's 13th year. Food Marketing Executive to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture, Hayden Armour, gives us a preview of this year's event. 

Adrian Cain tells us about Brian Stowell, about the Aundyr Brian Mac Stoyll, a prize to be awarded for creative work incorporating the Manx language, and about the group which awards it, Pobble. 

By the end of September, entries have to be in for Aundyr Brian Mac Stoyll, an award for creative work incorporating the Manx language made by the group, Pobble, in honour of the late Brian Stowell. Adrian Cain tells us about the sort of work that can be submitted.

Over the long bank holiday weekend, Rushen Heritage Trust is organising a series of exhibitions and events to reflect Port Erin's experiences in the Second World War. Pam Crowe describes the events and some of the history on which they're based.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway was opened on 21st August 1895, and we hear from Andrew Scarffe about its history and a description of the day itself.

Then it's over the mountains from Laxey to Peel, and Peter Jones tells us about Cycle 360's Corrin's Folly Challenge, taking place on 22nd August, including a tough ascent from the Coastguard Cottages at Knockaloe Beg, up to Corrin's Tower. 

We hear about Manx-Breton musical collaboration of David Kilgallon and Mera Royle with Lors Landat and Thomas Moisson, their forthcoming CD and how they will be taking to an international stage. 

And the first Sunday in Harvest - Matt Creer explains what it's all about, and he plays guitar and Josephine Evans her cello in a piece recorded by Culture Vannin.

Online and Educational Resources Officer for Culture Vannin, James Franklin, tells us about the film, Island Utopias, by Sarah Mercer, which has been shortlisted for an award in the Celtic Media Festival.

We also hear a little more about Gaelg 21, including an award-winning song in praise of the Manx language, Gaelg Aboo!

After a summary of events over the weekend, we look ahead to this year's Laa Columb Killey event in Kirk Arbory with Secretary of the event, Julie Young. Head of Arbory School, Jonathan Ayres, explains how it fits into the wider Colmcille events, though the issue with Covid-19 has prevented link-ups with other school communities elsewhere.

St Barnabas's, in the heart of old Douglas, could seat up to 1,500 people. It's congregation dwindled and it was closed for worship in 1959, and it was demolished in 1969. The foundation was laid on the Feast Day of St Barnabas, 11th June in the year 1830.

Colum Killey, St Columba of the Church, was born in 521, so is being celebrated in Ireland and Scotland with a year-long initiative, Colmcille 1500. The Island also celebrates Colum Killey, with the parish church of Kirk Arbory dedicated to him. From his feast day on 9th June until 9th July, the Island is holding a celebration of the Manx language, Gaelg 21, and Yn Greinneyder, Culture Vannin's Manx Language Development Officer, Ruth Keggin, tells us about that.

Belle Abbey in Colby takes its name either from an Irishman called Bell or from a Sarah Bell of Douglas, both of whom are said to be former owners of the property. It used to be the venue for an annual fair which involved the ritual funeral procession and burial of a hen. However, this Sunday it hosts the Southern Vintage Engine and Tractor Club Rally.

9th June is the feast day dedicated to Colum Killey, St Columba of the Church. That will be the date of the opening  event of a month-long celebration of 1500 years since the birth of Colum Killey. Yn Greinneyder (Manx Language Development Officer to Culture Vannin), Ruth Keggin Gell tells us about Yn Chruinnaght's contribution on that opening evening with an Oie Vingo event, family bingo called in Manx, from 6.00pm at Sunset Lakes in Peel.

And we find out the background to the song in Manx written by Doolish y Karagher, Brian Mac Stoyll and Shorys y Creayrie, 'Birlinn Ghorree Chrovan', about the arrival of Godred Crovan in the Isle of Man from Islay, with the tune based on a song in Scottish Gaelic by Duncan Johnston (1881-1947) of Islay, whose song described the arrival of Godred Crovan in Islay from the Isle of Man. 

Saxophonist Jerry Carter and trombonist Jacqui Morrey-Grace are members of jazz group Blue Vannin, which will be holding what they hope will be the first of a regular Erin Arts Centre Jazz Club event on Saturday 29th May - tickets £10, u-18s £2.

Last time we heard a Scottish song translated into Manx by Doolish y Karagher. This time we find out the story behind the song.

This coming Sunday afternoon, 23rd May, the Port St Mary branch of the RNLI will be holding an all-Island knockout tug of war tournament on the sand in Chapel Bay. The tug of war used to be a feature of the flag day, but the branch hopes the new format, with something for all the family, will become an annual event.

And Doolish y Karagher (Doug Fargher) tells us about how he heard song in Scottish Gaelic which he translated in Manx - and he sings it for us.

After the first get-together of the Manx Fiddle Orchestra, Katy Lawrence talks about the inspiration for it and how it went.

By the modern calendar, we're almost halfway through the month of May, but by the old style, it's barely begun. We explore the traditions of Shenn Oie Voaldyn, Old May Eve (corresponding to the modern 11th May) and Laa Boaldyn hene, May Day itself (now 12th May) with archive recordings by Juan y Geill, Ned Maddrell, Tommy Leece, Sage Jane Kinvig and John Dan Kinvig, as well as modern recordings by Paitchyn Vannin, Jamys Kinry as Robard y Carsalagh.  

Sara Goodwins is the author and illustrator of a fourth book in the series Tram Tales of the Manx Electric Railway, 'To the Rescue'. She tells us how she came to produce the story about tram number 14 which she has called Fenella.

Chloe Woolley, Culture Vannin's Greinneyder Kiaullee (Manx Music Development Officer) reminds us of how to involved in the Manx Fiddle Orchestra and its first practice session in the Centenary Centre in Peel at 3.00pm on Saturday 8th May.

David Callin's excellent selection of poems is available by contacting David by email - dcallin2bvc@gmail, or you can contact him through Facebook. We hear again the poem which gives its title to the collection, 'Always'.

Dr Jennifer Kewley Draskau is a brilliant academic and writer who has has used her research as a foundation on which to develop exciting novels. Her latest novel is based on the history of one of a dozen Manx felons held in Castle Rushen and facing the death penalty. In 1698, these twelve instead accepted transportation to Britain's comparatively recently-acquired plantation colonies in Jamaica. Jennifer tells us more.

The latest publication by Loaghtan Books is 'Peel : Past and Present', and writer Sara Goodwins and photographer George Hobbes tell us about how images from the extensive postcard and photographic collection of Ray Stanfield have provided a springboard for their work.

In 1662, Charles Stanley, the Eighth Earl of Derby, manipulated the law and the judicial process to bring charges against Illiam Dhone for his actions in 1651. Illiam Dhone was condemned and executed by firing squad on 2nd January 1663.
 

The Manx Music Development Officer of Culture Vannin, Chloe Woolley, tells us about a way to help musicians get ready to play in sessions or for dancing, as Laura and Dave Rowles play tunes 'Steady as She Goes'.

Finally we enjoy the peace in St Luke's on the slopes of Injebreck with Sue Sayle, who tells us about the church and about the Friends of St Luke's.

Culture Vannin began its Bree sessions in 2006 to inspire young musicians, singers and dancers. This year's Big Bree Weekend will be coming up at the end of this month, but this week was an important deadline. Manx Music Development Officer, Yn Greinneyder Kiaullee, Chloe Woolley, tells us about that.

With the importance of the Island as the birthplace of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, we hear about a stirring and gallant rescue on 6th October 1889 - when Charlie Cain and the Peel lifeboat crew saved all aboard a Norwegian ship, the St George - you can still the figurehead in Peel Lifeboat Station today.

Fiona McArdle presents this programme, and it it we hear about the Rev John Quine again from the author of a new book about him, Julie Quine. Then we hear about a story from the Island's history that was such a great love of John Quine, and we find out from Allison Fox of Manx National Heritage about a troublesome time for the Kings of Man and the Isles, and the way a battle that wasn't too important per se in Largs between the Norwegians and the Scots, constituted the beginning of the end for King Magnus and his kingdom.

A popular book about Manx life was 'The Captain of the Parish' by Canon John Quine. Julie Quine has been researching his life and times and has just published 'Manx Patriot : the Life of Canon John Quine, Antiquarian, Author and 'Captain' of his Parish'.  

We dip into the Manx Radio archives to hear something about Mona from Annie Kissack, who was a member of Aeglagh Vannin and later a friend of Mona, and who was greatly inspired by her.

We hear, too, from Derek Winterbottom, author of 'Sophia Morrison, Mona Douglas & their Enchanted Isle' in which he emphasises Mona's importance.

We also hear from Mona herself, singing excerpts from some songs in Manx and taking part in a radio phone in programme hosted by David Callister in which she recalls the history of charms and other forms of folk medicine. 

Now in its third year, Our Island : Our World celebrates the Island's cultural diversity with people from many traditions now resident here. The festival was the inspiration of Dave Mclean, who tells us about this year's events.

After dipping into a little of the history of the Douglas Choral Union, Jude Fullerton tells us something about her own background in stage make-up and the work that goes on in the background for productions staged by the DCU. 

It's now coming up to the new school year, and we look at the history and the future of the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh with former teacher, Annie Kissack, founder of Mooinjer Veggey, Phil Gawne, and the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Dr Alex Allinson.

We join Sara Goodwins, author of the book 'Cross Purposes : An Introduction to Mediaeval Manx Crosses', as she illustrates the range of decorative styles with examples from the specially-constructed cross house in Kirk Maughold.

Moving southwards, we visit Port St Mary, where there is a joint initiative between Port St Mary Commissioners and Rushen Heritage Trust to add information to the name signs of the Port's byways. We find out more from Chair of the Commissioners, Michelle Haywood, and Trust member, Staffan Overgaard.

One of the Maughold stone crosses was found at Keeill Woirrey in Maughold. Author Sara Goodwins talks about it and what interested her in the Manx stone crosses and led her to produce her book, 'Cross Purposes : An Introduction to Mediaeval Manx Crosses' (Loaghtan Books, £5.95).