The team behind Manx Litfest has thanked the Manx public and its sponsors for supporting this year’s festival and making it the most successful since it started in 2012.

Manx Litfest 2015 ran for six days and saw authors such as Alan Johnson MP, Joanne Harris, Matthew Kneale and Darren Shan visit the Island.

The festival featured 25 school visits, illustration workshops for adults and children, an Enid Blyton-themed family day at Mooragh Park in Ramsey, a celebration of the life and work of legendary Manx screenwriter Nigel Kneale, a poetry slam and short story slam, and the unveiling of the first ever living Manx Bard, Stacey Astill - to name but a few of the events. Around 2,000 people attended public events during the festival, with school visits likely to at least double that amount.

Festival Director John Quirk said: ‘Last year’s audience figures were really pleasing, particularly after they dipped in our second year. But this year’s festival has taken things to another level. There is a real buzz about Litfest now, and it’s great that the Manx public is supporting what we are trying to achieve. It’s never a quick job establishing a festival, as it takes time to raise public awareness and build a reputation. But looking at the kind of support we received this year, we’re well on our way - although there is still much we can do to further widen the reach and impact of Manx Litfest.’

John added: ‘The feedback we have received from our visiting authors has been really strong, not just for the festival, but for the Isle of Man in general - we did hit it lucky with some fantastic weather, and several are now looking to return with their families for a holiday. We’re now keen to build on this success; next year will mark our fifth festival, and we’re starting planning straight away to ensure we put on a good show for fans.’

Manx Litfest is a registered charity (#1100) and was supported by Isle of Man Arts Council and Culture Vannin, along with several corporate sponsors, including Isle of Man Bank (schools visits and poetry trail), Pokerstars (writers’ day) and Sure (family day at Mooragh Park). Others events were sponsored by Assist Consultancy, Ambitions, Lingua Franca and ManSat.

‘It’s been a real community effort,’ said John. ‘We’ve had companies back us financially, but also by offering services in kind - such as Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, who brought two of our authors over, Tower Insurance, who looked after our public liability insurance, and use of venues, such as St Bridget’s Chapel (The International Centre for Technology), Bath & Bottle, Claremont Hotel, Noa Bakehouse, King William’s College, Laxey Pavilion (The Children’s Centre), Mooragh Park, Family & Mobile Library, Quirks Croft at Cregneash, House of Manannan and Manx Museum (Manx National Heritage), and the Youth Arts Centre. We’d also like to thank John Wannenburgh and the Sporting & Dining Club for kindly allowing us to include the Evening with Alan Johnson MP at the Gaiety Theatre as our opening event.

‘So many individuals and organisations pulled together to help us out, including many Island-based authors and poets, and that’s such a wonderful position to be in, to be able to count on that support. However, we’d be nowhere without the efforts of the individuals on the Litfest committee and all those who volunteer, both in the run up to the festival, and while it’s taking place. They all contribute so much to making it happen, and we’d be lost without them.’

John added: ‘We are always on the lookout for more volunteers to help out – if you would like to get involved, please email manxlitfest@gmail.com.’ 

Photo - Joanne Harris reads from her latest novel "The Gospel of Loki at Noa Bakehouse".  Courtesy of Steve Babb Photography.