The Cooish, Manx Language Festival, returns this October after a few years’ absence and in a very different format to previous years.

Re-launching, thanks to the work of the Yn Chruinnaght committee and with support from the Manx Language Development Office for Culture Vannin, this year will see a two-day series of events on the 20th and 21st of October.

This year’s Manx music concert on the Friday night at 8pm in the Masonic Hall in Peel will feature a quiz and book launch. Organised by Yn Chruinnaght, the concert which will feature well established favourites, The Mollag Band and youth group Scran, highlights the quality of the Manx Gaelic music scene.

Saturday will see a series of workshops based at Culture Vannin’s Cultural Centre in St John’s and two might be of general interest. Adrian Cain will be running a session for parents who would like to use some basic Manx with their children. As well as this, Yn Chruinnaght will be running a workshop for songwriters keen to enter the Arrane son Mannin competition, the winner of which will represent the Island in the Pan Celtic Music Festival in Ireland next Easter.

According to Adrian Cain, the Manx Language Development Officer for Culture Vannin, the aim of this year’s activities is to broaden the vision for the Festival and ‘to share ideas on growing the Cooish in the years to come in ways which reflect the new dynamism and excitement that lies behind the language revival.’

Much more will also be going on in the Island’s schools and on social media, and for more information on how to get involved or find out about the language in general, contact Adrian Cain: adrian@culturevannin.im or on 451098

Tickets for the concert in Peel Masonic Hall must be bought in advance (?5 adult/free for under 18s) and are available at info@ynchruinnaght.com.