manx celtic music and dance

WINNERS of the Arrane son Mannin!!

12 Jan 2016


Arrane son Mannin

Concert and New Song Competition

A full house enjoyed a great evening’s Manx entertainment for the 11th Arrane son Mannin in Peel. The New Song Competition in Manx attracted two contrasting entries, from Glashtyn and Adhene, round which there was Manx music, song, dance and recitation.

The evening began with music from Tree Cassyn Vannin (actually Daa Chass Vannin as there were two), Isla Callister-Wafer, fiddle, and Paul Rogers, guitar, which got the evening off to a rousing start. They were followed by John Kilgallon dancing Gorse Sticks and dancers from Skeddan Jiarg, a new Manx dance group for adults and children formed by Grainne Joughin and based in Peel, with musicians for the event, David Kilgallon and Cinzia Yates.

Cliogaree Twoaie, the long established north based Manx Gaelic choir, performed the first part of their set and then Bob Carswell stepped out of his comfort Gaelic zone into an English and dialect performance to great applause.

Marlene Hendy and Dilys Sowrey, who have recently released a CD ‘Fy-Yerrey’ made a sparkling end to the first part of the concert.

Three adjudicators, James Harrison, Dot Saunders and David Kilgallon, then made ready for the competition entries, the winning one of which goes to the International Pan-Celtic concert in Carlow, Ireland to perform against the top songs from the other Celtic nations on 31st March in Easter week. The song can be in any genre but must be newly composed and performed in the native language of the country.

First came Glashtyn, a six piece band, whose vibrant, foot tapping entry ‘Pynt dy Lhune’ (A Pint of Ale), written and sung by Andy North, with Manx lyrics by Paul Rogers, was an instant hit with the audience. It was followed by Adhene whose lovely tune ‘Awin Auldyn’ (Auldyn River) was written by Paul Cringle, a great guitarist who has been on the local folk scene for many years, with English words by Wendy Hurst, translated into Manx by Fiona McArdle, and sung by Margaid Bird.

This year the new song to go forward to Ireland will be ‘Pynt dy Lhune’ by Glashtyn and they received the £300 prize money, sponsored by Culture Vannin, from Dot Saunders, who was also happy to announce that ‘Awin Auldyn’ by Adhene qualified for a Pan-Celtic prize of £50 to enter the competition in Ireland for a new song in traditional style, and this year they will also be going to represent Mann in Carlow. Glashtyn played their winning song again, this time with many of the audience dancing along enthusiastically

The second part of the concert began in great style with Owen Williams, accordion, accompanied by Paul Rogers, guitar, followed by a set of song and guitar from Adhene. Ruth Keggin and Sarah Hendy’s beautiful duets, some accompanied by David Kilgallon on keyboard, held the audience’s rapt attention, while Cliogaree Twoaie gave a spirited finale to the evening, singing three of their favourite songs.

The event was free, thanks to sponsorship from Culture Vannin and all the performers who gave freely of their time and talents to make it a memorable evening. Gura mie mooar eu.

Fiona McArdle, Pan-Celtic International Council (Mannin Branch)

For more information on this year’s Pan-Celtic Festival in Carlow visit  

www,panceltic.ie 

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