Valerie Caine's blog

Organised by the Isle of Man Department of Education and Children, the annual Manx Folk Awards (Aundyr yn Kiaull Theay Vannin) were held at the Kensington Road Youth Arts Centre in Douglas at the beginning of April.

Although only in its third year in this format, the competitions, aimed at school children, have grown rapidly in popularity, encompassing Manx music, song, dance and poetry and were organised in conjunction with Culture Vannin and Manx National Heritage.

The 43rd Pan Celtic Festival will cross the Irish border for the first time in its history this year as the annual celebration of all things Celtic moves to the city of Derry in Northern Ireland.

It’s a great opportunity for those from the Celtic nations to come together and celebrate the occasion through music and song, attracting a sizeable number of competitors from the Isle of Man, with the assistance of the Isle of Man Arts Council.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the world famous designer and artist Archibald Knox, with a number of events organised by the Archibald Knox Society to celebrate the occasion.

Born on the Isle of Man in 1864, Archibald Knox became one of the most influential figures in the British Art Nouveau/arts and crafts movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly in respect of his dynamic partnership with the celebrated Liberty & Co of London.

This new stamp release, in collaboration with Manx National Heritage and Lloyds Bank, marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manxman Archibald Knox and focuses on designs from his iconic work The Deer’s Cry.

An internationally renowned artist and designer, who became a leading exponent of Celtic and Art Nouveau design at the beginning of the 20th century, his work remains popular amongst collectors.

A close working relationship between the Manx Language Development Officer at Culture Vannin and the Irish Language Editor of The Irish Times has resulted in the release of the first of a trio of new books in Manx Gaelic.

Paloma was written by Pól Ó Muiri (aforementioned editor) and charts the story of a young female Garda, Paloma Pettigrew, who relocates to the peaceful Irish countryside. But she soon encounters unexpected problems and finds herself solving a complicated and dangerous crime.

With severe winter storms dominating the Island’s weather system during the past few months, it was fortunate that the day selected for the Snowdrop Walk at Dalby dawned bright and sunny.

Set on the remote west coast, the rugged coastline affords little shelter, but signs of spring were all around us as we headed towards Dalby House, where the gardens had been opened for viewing by kind permission of Mrs Clarke.

The debut CD of Manx duo Chronicles, aptly titled Prologue, is a musical preview of their forthcoming album, featuring new compositions inspired by the thirteenth century manuscript The Chronicles of the Kings of Mann and the Isles; pushing the boundaries of music in new directions and revealing what can be achieved by thinking outside conventional structures.

Bonnag is synonymous with the Isle of Man and perhaps even more so with St James Church in the village of Dalby, where the Annual World Bonnag Championships have been held for more years than the organisers care to remember!

The Isle of Man Steam Railway, which runs between Douglas and Port Erin, is always a popular mode of transport for visitors and local alike who have the time to fit in with its leisurely pace, but during this weekend there’s been an extra bonus for budding photographers.

Now in its third year, the Winter Photography Event is a joint venture between Isle of Man Railways and the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association, and attracted the support of enthusiastic local photographers, with staged sessions organised along the route of the Victorian transport system.

In true Celtic spirit two Manx groups will be heading across the Irish Sea to Wales to represent the Isle of Man at Cwlwm Celtaidd, the Celtic Festival of Wales.

Known widely for its focus as a family festival of music, song and dance, it attracts representative groups from each of the Celtic nations for a fun-filled weekend in the southern Welsh coastal resort of Porthcawl; which this year was well oversubscribed.