In true Celtic spirit musicians and dancers will gather on the Isle of Man in July to celebrate the Yn Chruinnaght Inter-Celtic Festival with an explosion of colour and sound across the Island.
This will be a special year for Yn Chruinnaght as 2012 marks the 25thanniversary of the passing of the festival’s founder Mona Douglas, a dynamic life-force behind the modern development of Manx culture and staunch believer in its cultural identity. Although other events have been organised to celebrate her life later in the year Manx language guru Bob Carswell will set the ball rolling with the annual Ian O’Leary Lecture which will highlight the extensive achievements of Mona’s life.
But it’s the music which will take centre stage in the festival with an opportunity to celebrate the Island’s individuality with ceilis (dances) and music events such as the outdoor displays at the Mooragh Park in Ramsey or the ‘food and folk’ sessions which this year will take Celtic music to The Highwayman in Peel.
A new concept for 2012 will be the introduction of a festival pass which at £30 (£20 concessions) is great value for money securing entry for all paid events (except for Blazin’ Fiddles concert at The Gaiety) and only available online or from the festival office.
Yn Chruinnaght will be offering a colourful palette of professional entertainment from each Celtic nation, brightening each corner of the Island with music and dance from Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany, Ireland, Wales and the Isle of Man. There’ll be some dazzling renditions from Blazin’ Fiddles with their regional fiddle variations, Pentorr a progressive Cornish folk band and Scotland’s Rua Macmillan Trio featuring Rua Macmillan, one of the rising stars of the folk world. But with just one opportunity to hear Welsh BAFTA award-winning vocalists Caryl Parry Jones and Christian Phillips it’s a good excuse to sit down at a free concert in St German’s Cathedral as events move to the west of the Island. A variety of Manx musicians will be supporting our talented visitors, which includes a free bands’ night at a new venue The Institute in Laxey.
The climax of the festival, however, is likely to be the sensational Forzh Penaos who have been at the forefront of the Breton music scene for twenty years, inspiring the formation of local band King Chiaullee.
Supported by the Manx Heritage Foundation, the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx Telecom and the Malcolm Scott Dickinson Charitable Trust, tickets may be purchased from Peter Norris Music, Mostly Manx, Celtic Gold, Shakti Man and Thompson Travel.
Further details available online, or by texting your name to 425957 to activate a free festival SMS service.
Valerie Caine
© July 2012
(Courtesy of Manx Tails)
