manx celtic music and dance

Email Juan Garrett

Ny Fennee is a dynamic, young dance group founded in 1980 which is based in the North of the Island. Under the leadership of Juan Garrett, the group has worked to evolve traditional dances along new lines. Ny Fennee performs at local events and has strong ties to the Celtic youth festival, Shennaghys Jiu, held in Ramsey each Easter. Ny Fennee means ‘The Heroes’ in Manx Gaelic.

The group is constantly refreshed with young dancers from local Ramsey schools which means that Ny Fennee’s energy sets new standards for Manx dance performance.

Representation at festivals

Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany; Yn Chruinnaght Inter-Celtic Festival, Isle of Man; Shennaghys Jiu Celtic Youth Festival, Isle of Man; Féile Iorrais, Ireland, Lowender Peran, Cornwall and festivals in Galicia.

 

Videos

Click the image to play the video

  • Ny Fennee - Dhooraght

    Dhooraght into Tree maidjaghyn as ordaag

    Dhooraght is a tune by Katie Lawrence, which inspired a very beautiful and elegant dance for the girls in the group. Here it is paired with a stick dance for the men, the title of which translates as ‘three sticks and a thumb’ for obvious reasons! This tune was composed by Peddyr Cubberley and is titled The Belvedere.

  • Ny Fennee - Fochabers

    Members of Ny Fennee have strong connections with groups and festivals like Speyfest in Fochabers in Scotland. One of the band’s fiddlers, Katie Lawrence, composed the jig and this dance for four men and four women soon followed.