The constitutional framework of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles set up by Godred Crovan in 1079 was seriously impaired by his grand-daughter’s husband Somerled, less than a century…
There used to be a wise old woman living near St. John’s on the Isle of Man, who was making charms against witchcraft, and curing many things with herbs and…
Most precious of all things in my childhood is the remembrance of my grandmother. Tall and stately even to the end, she had all the dignity of some high-bred dame…
Below is the final chapter from Lancashire Sketches (third edition) published by Edwin Waugh in 1869. It is quite lengthy but a delightful read. I do not know how accurate…
Together they sit in the eventide, A mongrel dog by his master’s side, Both of them bowed by the weight of years. A trembling hand strokes the silky ears; Brown…
Thie Ferrishyn was the name sometimes given to what was supposed to have been the first house built in a village, its oldest house, because the fairies were fondest of…
Known as ‘the Hump’, this tumulus was recorded in 1930 as being 15 yards in diameter (13.7m) and 8 feet high (2.4m). It sits in a beautiful setting at Ballaleece…
You must know that once in every hundred years the Good People hold a fair on Midsummer Day. When the gorse was bright as gold on all the Island hedges…
The Manx farmyard was known as ‘the Street’ and around it stood the stable, cowhouses, barn and pigsty. The ‘midden’ was never far from the stable and cowhouses and here…
I went to Patrick school where there were two classes – an Infants’ class and a Junior one. I was in the Infants’ class together with about 20 other children…
Lovely video by Culture Vannin on the rediscovery of Chibbyr Baltane in the parish of Rushen! This important well was visited by our ancestors for healing through the centuries but…
Boaldyn is almost here and the Manx custom of annually replacing your Crosh Cuirn to protect your home is nearly upon us. If you are a Christian perhaps you might…
In the Old Style calendar this day was celebrated on May 12 and was called Shenn Laa Boaldyn, Old May Day. Boaldyn, known as ‘Bealtaine‘ in Ireland and ‘Bealltainn‘ in…
