Yn Chruinnaght, the Isle of Man’s biggest annual Inter-Celtic festival, is delighted to announce this year’s programme and line-up, with an exciting variety of music, dance, language, and arts and crafts events on offer in Peel, Ramsey, Laxey and Douglas. Since 1978, the festival has celebrated the cultures of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man, and the Celtic spirit is still going strong!
A major coup for the 2015 festival is a concert with sensational Irish band Flook (Fri 17 July) who are described as "sheer musical magic... one of the most enthralling sounds around" (The Scotsman). Another major star secured by the festival is young Scottish harpist and “Gaelic singer of the Year” Mischa MacPherson: “Her voice is soft as rain, swooping as a seabird, rooted in the traditions of the Hebrides” (The Independent). As well as leading a Puirt-a-beul singing workshop (Thurs 16 July), Mischa will be headlining an atmospheric concert in St German’s Cathedral (Wed 15 July) with support from Bulgarian piper and singer duo, Vladimir and Ivelina, and the innovative Manx trumpet and organ duo Chronicles.
The festival will welcome back brilliant traditional fest noz singer Lors Landat and virtuoso accordionist Thomas Moisson who will be leading Breton dancing at the dance night (Thurs 16 July) and performing in an Inter-Celtic Celebration concert (Sat 18 July).
Another highlight of the Inter-Celtic Celebration concert will be the premiere of a specially commissioned piece by local composer David Kilgallon, entitled “The Gathering” (translation of Yn Chruinnaght). Sponsored by the Malcolm Scott Dickinson Trust, this new work will encompass the music, dance and languages of the six Celtic cultures celebrated by Yn Chruinnaght and it will be performed by artists from those countries. The piece will also be performed at a prestigious gala concert at the Festival Interceltique Lorient in Brittany this August.
A special guest this year is Celtic lovespoon carver Sharon Littley from Wales who will lead two workshops (Sat 18 or Sun 19 July). Sharon will share the secrets of this rare skill, and participants will be able to take home their own wooden lovespoons. Places are limited and must be booked directly with the festival (?30 for 4 hours): 695787 or ynchruinnaght@manx.net for more details.
Local artists and craftspeople including Bruno Cavellec, Nicola Dixon, Collette Gambell, Kate Jerry, In with the Old, Out with the New and Apple Orphanage will also be featured in the Artisan Craft Fair (Sat 18 July), a family friendly event with live music and beautiful gifts to buy.
Talented youngsters will be represented at the festival in a ‘Rising Stars’ music and dance concert which will feature harpist Arabella Ayen, singer-songwriter Frankie Greenwood, music and dance duo Owen and Ailish Williams, plus accordionist Jack McLean. Young Bree buskers, the fantastic Bree Supergroup and Rachel Hair’s young harp group Claasagh will also be performing at the festival.
Dance fans will enjoy displays from Irish dancers Scoill Daunse Yernagh Ellan Vannin, Rhythm of Bulgaria, Manx groups Perree Bane, Manx Folk Dance Society and Ny Fennee and representatives from Cornish dance group Keskowethyans. There will be opportunities to join in, too, during workshops and an Inter-Celtic ceili (Thurs 16 July) featuring Manx, Breton, Cornish and all sorts of other dances.
There will also be upbeat music to dance to from popular Manx band Mec Lir, plus local acts The Mollag Band, Strengyn, Malcolm Stitt, Matt Creer, Scammylt, Ruth Keggin, Greg Joughin and many others.
Precursor events will also be held in the run-up to the festival with free outdoor displays and storytelling at the Mooragh Park in Ramsey (Sun 5 July), live music at Yn Chruinnaght’s stall (Tynwald Fair, Mon 6 July), a lecture about Manx antiquarian and historian PMC Kermode by Dr Peter Davey (Thurs 9 July), and a concert with Manx Gaelic choir Cliogaree Twoaie and dance group Perree Bane at the IOM Arts Council summer season concert in the Villa Marina Arcade, Douglas (Thurs 9 July).
Tickets for Yn Chruinnaght events start at just ?5 for adults (available from the Yn Chruinnaght website or from local shops Celtic Gold, Peter Norris Music, Shakti Man and Thompson Travel and the YC Tynwald Day stall). A special festival pass to access all events is just ?40 (only available online). There are many free events, including lunchtime concerts, workshops, sessions, outdoor displays and talks, in addition to the festival’s community outreach programme.
Yn Chruinnaght is grateful for the generous support of Culture Vannin, the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx Telecom and the Malcolm Scott Dickinson Trust.
