Due to circumstances beyond its control, Shennaghys Jiu Festival has had to make some last minute changes to this weekend’s events.

Now in its 18th year, Shennaghys Jiu – Manx Gaelic for ‘Tradition Today’ – will take place from Friday 27th to Monday 30th March at various venues in Ramsey. Events that were due to take place in Ramsey Masonic Hall (on Lezayre Road) have been relocated.

In making the changes the festival committee has tried to maintain the number of opportunities to get involved in ceilidhs and workshops, and see local and visiting artists perform.

Details of the changes are as follows:

Friday 27th March the ceilidh will now be at Bunscoill Rhumsaa
Saturday 28th March the concert and ceilidh will now be at Andreas Village Hall (7.30pm - 11.30pm)
Sunday 29th March the concert and ceilidh has now been cancelled

Details of the changes can be found on their website: www.shennaghysjiu.com. 

Planned performances throughout primary schools in the north of the Island on Friday will go ahead, and an art exhibition is already on display in Ramsey Town Hall, showcasing artwork by over 450 local schoolchildren.

With the exception of the Friday night concert which is almost sold-out, events will no longer be ticketed, and access to all events now on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis. A collection will be taken at events to contribute towards festival costs.

Speaking about the changes festival director Juan Garrett said:

“It is unfortunate that we have had to make changes to the festival programme at such short notice. We have tried to go ahead with as many of the planned events as possible. It is the aim of Shennaghys Jiu to provide as many opportunities to experience music and dance culture as we can, particularly for the benefit of children. I’d like to express the festival committee’s sincere gratitude to those at the Mitre Hotel, Andreas Village Hall and Bar Logo, all of whom have kindly agreed to accommodate festival events at short notice. Without the generous support of these venues, and all our sponsors, there would be no Shennaghys Jiu festival.”