manx celtic music and dance

Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Festival 13-17 July 2016

23 Jun 2016


Strongest ever line-up for Peel’s Celtic festival this July

With a firm focus on top quality Celtic music, Peel’s Centenary Centre is the place to be this July. The Gathering – or Yn Chruinnaght, in Manx, as it is generally known – is the Island’s largest Celtic festival, and celebrates everything Celtic from music and dance to language, crafts and craic.

Have a look at the programme.

The festival programme includes everything from mellow singer-songwriters to fast and furious tunes and dancing. From Wednesday 13 until Sunday 17 July, you can enjoy a whole load of energy, attitude and talent from Dublin’s finest folk miscreants Lynched, Welsh superstars Calan, exceptional Cornish singer-songwriter Kezia, and Brittany’s delightful An Tri DipoP. And this line-up of visiting acts is nothing without the all-important backdrop of the über-talented Manx music and dance scene, including internationally acclaimed Manx singers Christine Collister and Ruth Keggin. That’s a whole host of fiddles, harps, whistles, clogs, guitars and singers, with the occasional trumpet and double-bass thrown in for good measure!

Yn Chruinnaght wants to make sure that the next generation is connected to our rich Celtic heritage and has teamed up with Sure to provide two already sold-out schools concerts in the Centenary Centre on the Thursday of the festival. Children are welcome throughout the festival, and youngsters will specially enjoy the ceili and the outdoor events. For the first time, we’ll even have free sessions suitable for pre-school children and their parents, as well as an after-school ceili for those of primary school age.

For quite a few years now, the festival has made its base in Peel. This year, local artist and illustrator, Alice Quayle, has been commissioned to come up with the festival design which celebrates what that means. Alice says, ‘the unique selling point of Yn Chruinnaght is that it’s now based in Peel…this means that if you visit you don’t just get music, there’s the seaside, castle, ice cream, kippers, seals, narrow winding streets, pubs, etc – a whole seaside experience!’

Alice will join other Manx artists and producers for an Artisan Craft Fair in Corrin Hall on Saturday 16 July, where you can also learn the art of Pictish ribbon interlace and key pattern design in two workshops with Greg Joughin. For more information and to book places, email info@ynchruinnaght.com

Yn Chruinnaght is taking to the airwaves, too, taking over Manx Radio’s AM service on Saturday 16 July for a mix of music and talk, all with a Celtic twist.

The festival will also feature formal and informal, indoor and outdoor performances from the Island’s talented musicians, singers and dancers including Ruth Keggin, Perree Bane, Ny Fennee and Birlinn Jiarg plus Manx bard, Stacey Astill.

Yn Chruinnaght is a not for profit event and is supported by Culture Vannin and the IOM Arts Council, Sure, as well as local businesses; Conister Bank, Shoprite, Paradise & Gell. With online ticket sales, as well as a walk-in service at usual Centenary Centre ticket outlets, make sure you don’t miss out! Just Google ‘Manx Celtic festival’ and you’ll find Yn Chruinnaght top of the list!

www.ynchruinnaght.com

 

Recent News

Archive by Year