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RESEARCH ARTICLE - Mrs Clague of Niarbyl

01 Mar 2016

Mrs Clague of The Niarbyl

In 1958, Mona Douglas when writing of her collecting of Manx song and dance

mentioned that “[o]n the west side of the Island I found most of my material coming

from women” and mentioned as one of two names, a “Mrs Clague of The Niarbyl.”

She recalled her in some detail:

Mrs Clague of The Niarbyl was another well-known character. Wife and mother of

fishermen, she lived in a thatched cottage on the beach, where in summer she

made teas for visitors and told them tales of mermaids and fairies and warning

spirits of the storm. She was also a good herb-woman, and though well over

seventy when I knew her had hair black and shining as a young girl’s, wound in

thick plaits round her shapely head, sparkling, snapping dark eyes, and a body still

lithe and slender. She knew many songs and dances, and was always kindly and

patient about instructing the persistent youngster who was continually worrying

her for details of words, steps and figures.