GATHERING 2018

JELUNE 9 - JEDOONEE 15 JERREY SOUREE / MONDAY 9 - SUNDAY 15 JULY

HOW AMAZING TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF YN CHRUINNAGHT.

For those of us who remember that far back, well, I think it was fair to say that in its very early years, nobody really knew how it would develop - except the great of course, its founder and inspiration. Well, people come and go and things change but the festival is still going strong. This year there are chances to savour the great talents of Manx performers such as Mera Royle, Ruth Keggin, Clash Vooar, The Lawrences, Greg Joughin, Skeddan Jiarg, Kipperceili, Bree and many others. From further afield, we have a wonderful line-up that includes Altan, Imar, Las, No Good Boyo, Breton group Glaou and Welsh Twmpath band, Cymry Cymysg.

Ceili and dance events have not been forgotten, and neither have the traditional music sessions and informal community events, the craft events and workshops, which were always such a strong part of previous festivals. Many of these events are free. With so many events planned, I am sure that this year’s Yn Chruinnaght will be better than ever. I hope you will join us. Gura mie eu.

Annie Kissack Eaghtyrane Yn Chruinnaght PRESIDENT OF YN CHRUINNAGHT

Yn Chruinnaght skull design by Ruth Devine | Programme design by Pete Jones

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 01 SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

Nyn Mwooise Mooar - Our Grateful Thanks

Yn Chruinnaght is grateful to their wonderful sponsors: | ARTS COUNCIL | 2018 YEAR OF OUR ISLAND CULTURE IRELAND | THORNTON CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNERS MALCOLM SCOTT DICKINSON CHARITABLE TRUST

Yn Chruinnaght would also like to thank the following organisations for their invaluable support: PEEL TOWN COMMISSIONERS | EVENT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS | NOA BAKEHOUSE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE ISLE OF MAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT FOR ENTERPRISE HOUSE OF MANANNAN &

YN CHRUINNAGHT

Olteynyn y Ving / Committee Members Bob Carswell, Bob Orr, Dave Rowles, Laura Rowles, Chloe Woolley, Paul Boulton, Jo Callister, Grainne Joughin, Cori Philips, Steve Jackson, Ruth Keggin, Paul Salmon, Cara Rowles

Cur Eam Orrin / Contact Us

Yn Chruinnaght, Fairfield House, Main Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3NA

Telephone: 07624 302200 | [email protected] | www.celticgathering.im

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

02 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 TICKETS & PASSES

Save with our Festival Pass Our festival pass is available online only and is priced at just £55 for ALL four evening concerts at Peel Centenary Centre. It also entitles the pass holder to FREE admission to the ceilis at Peel Masonic Hall on Friday and Saturday evening.

Purchasing Tickets Tickets for all individual events are available online at www.celticgathering.im/tickets or from Celtic Gold, Michael Street, Peel. Festival passes must be purchased online...... The Festival Office can be found at Peel Centenary Centre and will be open from Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th July, 12pm till late.

FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE

Grab your brand new YN CHRUINNAGHT CELTIC GATHERING merchandise which will be available to purchase at the Festival Office.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 03 04 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 Va’n Chruinnaght currit er bun ’syn aght noa-emshyragh liorish Mona Ghoolish ’sy vlein 1978. Neayr’s y traa shen ta shin er vakin ymmodee caghlaaghyn çheet stiagh. Agh ta cree yn eailley kiart myr v’ee – dy chur er y hoshiaght as dy eaillaghey shennaghys Vannin ayns aght cooie, mastey caarjyn.

Yn Chruinnaght was founded in its modern guise by Mona Douglas in the year 1978. Since that time we have seen many changes coming in. But the heart of the festival is just as it was – to promote and to celebrate the traditional culture of the Isle of Man in an appropriate way, amongst friends.

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY EVENT

Taishbynys: 40 bleeaney jeh’n Chruinnaght / Exhibition: 40 years of Yn Chruinnaght Visitors to Peel Centenary Centre can enjoy a very special exhibition celebrating 40 years of Yn Chruinnaght. The exhibition runs throughout the festival and is free admission. You can also join long term committee member Bob Carswell at 5pm on Thursday 12th July for the Ian O’Leary Lecture as he shares his memories of the last 40 years.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 05 St Patrick’s Isle

Peel Castle

Fenella Beach

D ROA EY MS RA A4 2 Peel Masonic Hall

N ST AEL ST RISTIA MICH CH A1 TYNWALDCentenary ROAD House of Centre Manannan 4 1 A24 DERBY ROAD 3

A1 DOUGLAS ROAD

1. Centenary Centre 2. Peel Masonic Hall Venue Location Map 3. The Whitehouse 4. House of Manannan

06 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 Enjoy Music from the Celtic Nations!

The Island’s workers get their fix with this exciting event. Staged in the heart of the Island’s capital at Noa Bakehouse, these mini concerts provide an exciting new platform to promote some of the Island’s most accomplished and entertaining Celtic artists in a relaxed cafe environment. And with Noa’s famous breads, cakes and bakes available to purchase as normal, what better way to discover the music of the Isle of Man!

Monday 9th July at 1pm Manx music session led by Yn Chruinnaght Committee

Tuesday 10th July at 1pm Irish music session led by Mary Molloy and friends

Wednesday 11th July at 1pm Inter-Celtic music from Mabon members Jamie Smith on accordion and Paul Rogers on guitar

Thursday 12th July at 1pm Manx and original music from singer/songwriter Greg Joughin and flautist Peddyr Cubberley with Malcolm Stitt on guitar

Friday 13th July at 1pm Welsh music session with guests from NoGood Boyo and Cymry Cymysg ()

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 07 Concerts & Workshops for Schools Supported by The Malcolm Scott Dickinson Charitable Trust

YN CHRUINNAGHT has taken great care over recent years to inspire the Island’s school children, often taking visiting artists into the classrooms and school halls to perform, play and teach. Again, for 2018, we are bringing the kids to the concerts!

Peel Centenary Centre will host 800 local school children as our guest artists give a number of free concert performances to inspire a generation. Students will also receive unique insight, hints and tips to guide their own playing and song writing. This year’s line up boasts inspiring acts including Welsh trad stars NOGOOD BOYO, Breton danceband GLAOU, Irish & group LAS plus clog dancers CYMRU CYMYSG from Wales.

08 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 2018 Dance Bands

Glaou () Ceilis + The Gathering, Friday 13th to Sunday 15th July

Glaou (Breton for ‘the glow of a coal fire’) is a band with a lively repertoire of Breton dances with a strong vocal element. Glaou brings together Janick Penvern (fiddle, mandolin, vocals) from the St Malo sea-song tradition and professional music teacher Marc Jacquier (guitar) with established fest noz duo Mike James (melodeon, vocals) – originally from Wales, but a Breton resident for over 40 years – and Yves Leblanc (clarinet, vocals).

Yves and Mike have played as a duo for over 25 years, with three highly-acclaimed CDs of Breton dance music from Breizh Uhel (Haute Bretagne or Higher Brittany) with a strong vocal element in Gallo. The border between Breizh Uhel to the east and Breizh Isel (Lower Brittany) to the west is very indistinctly defined. In Gallo, the eastern area is known as Haùtt-Bertaèyn. Mike has also performed on solo albums by Yves. In addition to being greatly in demand in Brittany, they have toured Russia and Eastern Europe. The pair also play as part of a four-piece band called Jacal. Glaou will be leading the fest noz dancing at the Saturday night ceili

Cymry Cymysg (Wales) Noa Bakehouse Session + Ceili, Friday 13th July

Cymry Cymysg (‘Mixed Welsh’!) is a group which has come together to present Welsh clog dancing and to bring a twmpath, a Welsh ceili, to Yn Chruinnaght’s Celtic Gathering. Rhys Morris and Osian Gruffydd are both award-winning clog dancers – Osian has taken national honours on the stage – as well as being talented musicians on guitar and fiddle respectively. They have danced with Dawnswyr Nantgarw, and are both members of Welsh band Morfa.

Rhys and Osian are joined by another young clog dancer, Osian Evans, who is only eight years old but has already become a seasoned performer with Dawnswyr Gwerin Pen-y-Fai. Ceri Evans is a dancer, clogger, teacher and experienced caller for the twmpath. She calls with half-a-dozen or more bands, as well as dancing with Pen-y-Fai.Joanne Lewis initially played fiddle for Pen-y-Fai, but now plays accordion for them, and is their musical director, as well as playing in a number of twmpath bands. Roger Bulcraig is a drummer who originally brought his bodhran to play for Pen-y-Fai, but now plays flute for them, as well as for Welsh band Cat’s Claw.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 09 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2018 Jelune 9 Jerrey Souree / Monday 9 July

13:00 Noa Bakehouse Lunchtime Sessions Manx music session led by Yn Chruinnaght committee. All welcome to join in with some tunes! / Free event

Jemayrt 10 Jerrey Souree / Tuesday 10 July

13:00 Noa Bakehouse Lunchtime Sessions Irish music session led by Mary Molloy and friends / Free event

Jecrean 11 Jerrey Souree / Wednesday 11 July

13:00 NOA BAKEHOUSE LUNCHTIME SESSIONS Inter-Celtic music from Mabon members Jamie Smith on accordion and Paul Rogers on guitar / Free event

19:30 THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERT Winners of the 2018 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Horizon’ prize, Manx/Irish/Scottish supergroup Imar will be joined by fellow award winner, young folk musician of the year, Manx harpist Mera Royle. This event is supported by Thornton Associates Ltd, Chartered Financial Planners. Centenary Centre, Peel / £18 (or free admission with your Festival Pass)

Aftershow Sessions Trad music session at The White House, Road, Peel / Free event

Jerdein 12 Jerrey Souree / Thursday 12 July

13:00 Noa Bakehouse Lunchtime Sessions Music from singer/songwriter Greg Joughin and flautist Peddyr Cubberley with Malcolm Stitt on guitar / Free event

17:00 The Ian O’Leary Lecture: 40 Years of Yn Chruinnaght Long-term committee member Bob Carswell share memories and highlights of the festival over its 40 year history. Centenary Centre, Peel / Free event

19:30 The Thursday Night Concert Scottish/Irish Gaelic songs, tunes and dance from Las, plus Manx Gaelic gypsy-folk from Clash Vooar. Centenary Centre, Peel / £12 (or free admission with your Festival Pass)

Aftershow Sessions Trad music session at The White House, Tynwald Road, Peel / Free event

10 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2018 Jeheiney 13 Jerrey Souree / Friday 13 July

13:00 Noa Bakehouse Lunchtime Sessions Welsh music session with guests from NoGood Boyo and Cymry Cymysg / Free event

19:00 The Friday Night Ceili Manx, Welsh and Breton dancing for all the family! Peel Masonic Hall, Stanley Road / £5 adults £3 under 16s * Family weekend ceili pass available £20 | After-concert access included in the Festival Pass *

19:30 The Friday Night Concert Welsh folk-pop from NoGood Boyo plus Manx songs and tunes from Kirsty, Katie and Mark Lawrence. Centenary Centre, Peel / £12 (or free admission with your Festival Pass)

Jesarn 14 Jerrey Souree / Saturday 14 July

12:00 - 17:00 The Gathering The first of two days of free music and dance displays, workshops and children’s activities. Please see pages 20 and 21 for a full schedule of the weekend’s events and activities. House of Manannan, Peel / Free event

19:00 The Saturday Night Ceili Breton and Manx dancing for all the family! Peel Masonic Hall, Stanley Road / £5 adults £3 under 16s * Family weekend ceili pass available £20 | After-concert access included in the Festival Pass *

19:30 The Saturday Night Concert Superb Irish band Altan who are celebrating their 30th anniversary, plus inter-Celtic songs and tunes from the Isle of Man and Scotland from Ruth Keggin & Malcolm Stitt. This event is supported by Culture Ireland. Centenary Centre, Peel / £20 (or free admission with your Festival Pass)

Aftershow Sessions Trad music session at The White House, Tynwald Road, Peel / Free event

Jedoonee 15 Jerrey Souree / Sunday 15 July

12:00 - 17:00 The Gathering To close the festival, an afternoon of free music and dance displays, workshops and children’s activities. Please see pages 20 and 21 for a full schedule of the weekend’s events and activities. House of Manannan, Peel / Free event

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 11 12 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 Wednesday 11th July

Imar is a Manx/Irish/Scottish quintet which is amongst Glasgow’s hottest folk property, bringing a diversity of background and influences to their music, centered on the overlapping cultural heritage between Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. The name Ímar comes from a 9th-century king who reigned across this combined territory – and a similar kinship endures between their musical traditions. Tomás Callister on fiddle and Adam Rhodes on bouzouki are well-known on the Manx music scene, Murphy from Cork plays uillean pipes, whistle and flute, Mohsen Amini from Scotland plays concertina, and Adam Brown from Suffolk provides percussion on bodhran.

They all came together on the vibrant music scene in Glasgow. Individually and collectively as members of other bands, they have garnered a number of awards. Most recently in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Ímar won the Horizon Award for the best emergent band, whilst concertina maestro Mohsen Amini won the award for Musician of the Year.

Mera Royle began playing the whistle and violin at seven years of age, and in the following year was introduced to the harp by inspirational teacher Mike Boulton RBV. Mera has been thoroughly immersed in Manx traditional music through Mike Boulton and Culture Vannin’s Bree sessions, and has been tutored by the great Scottish harp player and teacher Rachel Hair, with whom Mera and other young Manx harp players performed at this year’s Edinburgh Harp Festival. In April Mera was awarded the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award at a ceremony in The Waterfront Concert Hall in Belfast.

IMAR + MERA ROYLE Centenary Centre | Wednesday 11 July at 7.30pm | Tickets £18 WEDNESDAY’S CONCERT KINDLY SPONSORED BY THORNTON CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNERS

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 13 PROMOTING, SUPPORTING AND CELEBRATING MANX CULTURE

14 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 Thursday 12th July

Las means ignite in the Gaelic languages of Scotland and Ireland. Three of the five members of Las are from Ireland – Edel Ní Churraoin plays Connemara-style tin whistle, button accordion and piano and is also a sean-nós dancer; Gráinne Brady is a fiddle player and composer from Co. Cavan; and guitarist and singer Catherine Ní Shúilleabháin comes from the Rath Cairn in Co. Meath – and two are from Scotland – Joy Dunlop is a multi-award winning Gaelic singer and Scottish step- dancer, originally from Connel, Argyll. With Suzanne Fivey having a baby, Joy has called on her internationally-trained, award-winning pianist and harpist brother, Andrew, to complete the line-up. They are all established performers in their own right and have come together to perform Scottish and Irish traditional music and song in the two branches of Gaelic. As well as their music and song, they also perform Scottish step dance and Irish sean nòs dancing.

Clash Vooar is a Manx band featuring the soaring vocals and cornet playing of Aalin Clague, who also writes many of their songs. She’s joined on vocals by another prolific composer and flute player, Breesha Maddrell. With Rob Cain preparing atmospheric samples and playing ukulele for the songs, there’s solid support from the eponymous groove (Clash Vooar means ‘big groove’) laid down by the talented rhythm section of Anglin Buttimore on keyboards, Dave Mclean on bass and Danny Kneale on drums. The result has been described as Manx Gaelic gypsy jazz blues!

LAS + CLASH VOOAR Centenary Centre | Thursday 12 July at 7.30pm | Tickets £12

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 15 manxnationalheritage.im

House of Manannan Here, the Island’s mythological sea god, Manannan, welcomes you to his fascinating Kingdom. Let him guide you through the Island’s rich Celtic, Viking and maritime past.

Open Daily 10am - 5pm | Adults £10.00 | Children £5.00 Peel Castle Set on St Patrick’s Isle and overlooking Peel Marina is the Island’s majestic fortress, Peel Castle. Within its magnificent walls you will find layer on layer of Manx history.

Open Daily 10am - 5pm | Adults £6.00 | Children £3.00

16 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 GO LOUD OR GO HOME, BOYO! Friday 13th July

NoGood Boyo is a Welsh five-piece band named for a character in Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood. The band includes Bethan Rhiannon (Williams) on accordion and vocals, Sam Humphreys on guitar, Aneirin Jones on fiddle, Jordan Williams on double bass and Jordan Dibble on drums. Bethan also includes her award-winning Welsh clog dancing in NoGood Boyo’s performances. With their uncompromising tagline, ‘Go loud or go home, boyo!’, NoGood Boyo are helping to take Welsh traditional music onwards and upwards.

The Lawrences are a highly-talented musical family group of Kirsty (whistle and cello), Katie (fiddle and keyboards) and Mark (guitar). They have represented the Isle of Man in a range of inter- Celtic and international events, but have only joined musical forces as a trio comparatively recently. With a background in traditional music of all sorts, they also perform their own compositions – Katie is a particularly prolific composer. They will be representing the Isle of Man at Festival Interceltique de Lorient this August.

NOGOOD BOYO + THE LAWRENCES Centenary Centre | Friday 13 July at 7.30pm | Tickets £12

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 17 18 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 Saturday 14th July Altan have moved audiences from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle for over 30 years with their exquisitely-produced award-winning recordings, ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching songs all the way to hard hitting reels and jigs, and with their heartwarming, dynamic live performances. Throughout their distinguished musical career, there has been the unwavering commitment of the band to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences in a way that brings out all its qualities and destroys none. In fact, Altan have always believed that Irish traditional music is a modern music in every sense.

Ruth Keggin & Malcolm Stitt are an inter-Celtic duo with Manx singer, whistle, flute and keyboard player, Ruth joined by Scottish guitar and bouzouki master, Malcolm. Ruth has made two solo albums with her own band and has recently launched a new album with the band a’Nish, who will be off to Lorient again this year. She also was part of another acclaimed inter-Gaelic trio with Scotland’s Mary Ann Kennedy (Màiri Anna NicUalraig) and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin from Ireland with the project Aon Teanga: Un Chengey. Malcolm Stitt has been involved at the forefront of Scottish traditional music as a founder-member of bands such as Keep It Up and Deaf Shepherd, as well as playing with the finest folk performers from elsewhere, such as Kate Rusby and, of course, as a member of the world-renowned Boys of the Lough.

ALTAN + RUTH KEGGIN & MALCOLM STITT Centenary Centre | Saturday 14 July at 7.30pm | Tickets £20

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 19 YN CHRUINNAGHT CELTIC GATHERING Saturday 14 July at the House of Manannan

12:00 Irish dancing from Scoill Daunse Yernagh Ellan Vannin - House of Manannan Courtyard Scottish Gaelic songs with Joy Dunlop - House of Manannan Teaching Room 12:30 Manx fairytales with Sue Woolley - House of Manannan Exhibition Space 13:00 Music with Glaou - House of Manannan Courtyard Welsh clog dancing workshop - House of Manannan Teaching Room 13:30 Manx Gaelic lesson - House of Manannan Reception Area 14:00 Dance display with Perree Bane Beg - House of Manannan Courtyard 14:30 Music with Las - House of Manannan Courtyard Manx fairytales with Sue Woolley - House of Manannan Exhibition Space Welsh lesson - House of Manannan Reception Area 15:00 Music with Bree - House of Manannan Courtyard 15:30 Music with NoGood Boyo (acoustic) - House of Manannan Courtyard Breton music workshop with Mike James - House of Manannan Teaching Room 16:00 Welsh dancing with Cymry Cymysg - House of Manannan Courtyard 16:30 - 17:00 Ellan Vannin Pipes & Drums - House of Manannan Courtyard

+ Stalls from 12 noon till 5pm, Saturday and Sunday

Leigh Rogerson Jewellery | John Dog’s Bumbee Cages | Face Painting | Children’s Author Suzie Heckles

20 YN CHRUINNAGHT | CELTIC GATHERING 2018 YN CHRUINNAGHT CELTIC GATHERING Sunday 15 July at the House of Manannan

12:00 Music with Christa McCartney and the Magic Manx Choir - House of Manannan Courtyard 12:30 Music with the Mollag Band - House of Manannan Courtyard 13:00 Scottish Gaelic lesson - House of Manannan Reception Area Irish Sean Nos Dance Workshop - House of Manannan Teaching Room 13:30 Welsh dancing with Cymry Cymysg - House of Manannan Courtyard 14:00 Music with Scran - House of Manannan Courtyard Phil Woodford - meet the artist and guided tour - House of Manannan Exhibition Space 14:30 Breton language lesson - House of Manannan Reception Area 15:00 Skeddan Jiarg Manx dancers - House of Manannan Courtyard Poetry recital from Manx Bard, Sara Goodwins - House of Manannan Reception Area 15:30 Music with Skirl (pipers) - House of Manannan Courtyard 16:00 - 17:00 Glaou fest noz - House of Manannan Courtyard

END

(Please note final schedule subject to change)

Yn Chruinnaght Stall, 12 noon till 5pm, Saturday and Sunday

Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering Merchandise and artist CDs available from the Yn Chruinnaght stall

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF YN CHRUINNAGHT 21 FUTURE DATES Manx Language Festival 16 – 18 November 2018 (organised in conjunction with Yn Chruinnaght) Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering 17 – 21 July 2019