President’s Greeting
A Homecoming trip
to the Isle of Man has been planned for this summer of 2005. After such a successful North American Manx
Association convention this past summer, a group of Wisconsin Manx Society
members decided they needed to visit Mannin again. After discussing this with John and Brad Prendergast- the hosts of this past convention- and
Laurence Skelly our NAMA board member living on the IOM., it was decided to
officially declare the trip a Homecoming.
We want to be
present for Tynwald and Laurence Skelly has planned various activities to add
further enrichment. The group of us
from Wisconsin will be leaving on June 29, 2005 from Chicago to Dublin on Aer
Lingus. We will stay for two days in
Ireland and travel on July 2 on Aer Arann from Dublin to Douglas. We will
return to Chicago via Dublin on July 9. The fact that we taking two separate
airlines gives us some flexibility in staying in Dublin. The Aer Lingus price was also the most
economical at the time of booking this December. We did book on line and compared Aer Lingus to many travel sites.
We want to be
present for Tynwald and Laurence Skelly has planned various activities to add
further enrichment. The group of us
from Wisconsin will be leaving on June 29, 2005 from Chicago to Dublin on Aer
Lingus. We will stay for two days in Ireland
and travel on July 2 on Aer Arann from Dublin to Douglas. We will return to
Chicago via Dublin on July 9. The fact that we taking two separate airlines
gives us some flexibility in staying in Dublin. The Aer Lingus price was also the most economical at the time of
booking this December. We did book on
line and compared Aer Lingus to many travel sites.
We have many happy
memories of the Welbeck Hotel in Douglas and look forward to returning there
for our stay. It has not been decided
at this time where the Illinois folks are staying but the Hilton has been
discussed. For those thinking about
flying Aer Arann they do have a luggage limitation so we are traveling
“lite”. This may prove to be challenge
for some of us.
All but one of our
six Wisconsin and Minnesota members have visited the Isle of Man before and
look forward to spending time in our own activities when we do not have planned
activities. I’m looking
forward to introducing my husband to the island of my ancestors.
- Georgene Voutilla
Spring
Meeting-April 24
View the IOM video
of Tynwald ceremony and hear short travelogs of members’ favorite IOM
places.
Make your
reservations for the Spring Meeting by calling Judith Bonnett at the number in the print copy of your newsletter. You may also email Andrew Ravenscroft at andrew_ravenscroft@hotmail.com. The cost is $10.00 per person, payable at
the meeting. TJ’s Catering from Sauk
City continues to provide us an excellent soup and sandwich lunch buffet.
Please call by April
18th. When leaving a message,
include the number of reservations, your name, the spelling of your
name, and your phone number.
The History of
Mann
Excerpt in full
from: http://webservice.mcb.net/iom/
The name of the
Island, Man, has long
been a puzzle to philologists, and it cannot be said with confidence that the
right solution has been found. The present local name is Ellan Vannin, or, more
affectionately, Ellan Vannin Veg
Veen, "The Dear Little Isle of Man" Caesar in 54
B.C. called it Mona.
Nennius in A.D. 858 referred to it by the name of Eubonia, while the Welsh Annals
of A.D. 1154 call it Manaw
and the Scandinavian Sagas use Mon
or Maon.
Broadly speaking all of these appear to be derived from a
root meaning mountainous or hilly
land.
It has been suggested that the Island took its name from
Mannanan, the Celtic Neptune, but the reverse is more probably the case.
The Islands story could almost be guessed from its
situation. The lot of the grain between the millstones is rarely
a happy one. Overrun from time to time by its powerful
neighbours, the Island has been successively Irish, Scandinavian, Scottish and
English, and yet today is politically independent of them all. Quocunque jeceris stabit is its
motto: Whichever way you throw me I
shall stand.
Up to the fifth century all accounts agree that the Island
was the abode of a necromancer with the holy name of Mannanan-Beg-Mac-y-Leir who kept
strangers away by covering the Island with mist. People who approached closely
were made by his magic
to see a hundred times the number actually opposing their landing.
Upon the arrival of missionaries from Ireland in the fifth
or sixth century, the Island was gradually Christianized. Although his name
survives in several places, it is doubtful if St Patrick ever set foot in Man.
He is said to have established the Bishopric, and to have cleared the Island of
venomous reptiles and toads, a task he had already accomplished for the sister
Isles. The old Manx Keills, or cells, were of a similar type to the Irish
oratories of the sixth and seventh centuries.
The Celtic Period lasted until the first part of the ninth
century. The came the Norsemen, raiding and plundering at first, and later
settling and making the Island an important base in connection with their
settlements in Dublin, North West England and the Western Isles.
Of the many Viking leaders of whom the sagas speak, the one
most frequently mentioned in Man is the famous King Orry. It is said that on
his landing on a clear starlit night the astonished natives asked him
"where is your country?" where upon Orry drew himself up to his full
height and pointed to the Milky Way: "That," he said "is the
road to my country." In the Manx language it is still called King Orry's Road.
The King Orry of whom the legends tell was in fact Godred Crovan who ruled from
1079 to 1095. The Gaelic form of Godred was Gorry, and this, losing its initial
'G' after the title, King, produced the familiar Orry. He is said to have got
his nickname of Crovan from the fact that he always wore white gauntlets when
going to war.
The Norse Vikings
who had carved out for themselves a kingdom in Man and the surrounding
districts owed nominal allegiance to the King of Norway, but in practice they
paid him but slight regard.
The descendants of
Godred ruled in Man and the Western Isles with varying fortunes until 1252 when
Magnus, the younger son of King Olaf II came to the throne. In 1263 King
Alexander III of Scotland having decided that it was time the Western Isles
became part of his kingdom and having tried in vain to obtain them by
bargaining, made an attack upon the Hebrides. King Haakon of Norway arrived off
the Scottish coast with a large fleet to defend them and was joined by Magnus
with the Manx ships. The Norwegians were defeated at the battle of Largs and
Magnus was allowed to retain Man only on the condition of doing homage to King
Alexander. In 1265 Magnus died, and a year later a treaty was signed between
Norway and Scotland which handed the Isle of Man over to the Scots.
This marked the
beginning of a troubled era in Manx history since it then became a pawn in the
long struggle between Scotland and
England, being alternately held and raided by both nations as well as by
the Irish.
In 1313 Robert the Bruce, being King of
Scotland, landed at Ramsey, and, marching via Douglas, laid siege to Castle
Rushen. In due course Castle Rushen was captured.
In 1334 Edward III
of England granted the Island to William
de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, who enlarged Castle
Rushen. In 1392 Montacute's son sold the Island to Sir William le Scrope (who later
became the Earl of Wiltshire) but who eventually lost his head for treason a
few years later. Then the Earl of Northumberland had a short innings of four
years. In 1405 Henry IV bestowed the Island upon his staunch adherent, Sir John
Stanley, and his heirs forever, "with all the regalities, franchises and
rights belonging thereto, with the patronage of the bishopric, under the title
of King of Man".
The only acknowledgement of the suzerainty of England consisted in the
presentation of a cast of falcons every coronation day. The line of the
Stanleys lasted for three and a half centuries, long after the decay of the
feudal power in England, but few fembers of the house of Stanley seem to have
considered it worth while to reside in, or even to visit their domain. They
were generally represented by governors responsible only to them. The second,
Sir John Stanley (1414-32) caused the ancient laws and constitutions to be
committed to writing and succeeded in subordinating the ecclesiastical power to
the civil. His grandson, Sir Thomas Stanley, who placed the crown on Richmonds
head after the battle of Bosworth, was created Earl of Derby in 1485. This
accession of family dignity seems to have made the second Earl somewhat nervous
of sooner or later exciting in the jealousy of his leige lord, and, in 1505 he
diplomatically dropped his regal title, on the ground that he would rather be a great Lord than a petty King.
Nine Earls of Derby succeeded in the direct line, the most important being the
seventh, or great Earl (1627 - 51), who espoused the Royal cause during the
Civil War and was beheaded at Bolton in 1651. His Countess, Charlotte de la
Tremouille, tried to defend the Isle of Man, as she had defended Latham House
in 1644, but her intentions were frustrated by the surrender of William Christian, Illiam Dhone, the commander of
the Manx militia.
With the tenth
Earl the direct line failed, and the Lordship of Man passed in 1736 to James
Murray, second Duke of Athol, a descendant on the female side of the seventh
Earl of Derby. At this period the Island was not very popular with the British
Government on account of the facilities its position and virtual independence
afforded for the prosecution of smugglers. The trade was openly connived at by
the authorities, indeed, it was said that two thirds of the population lived on
the proceeds of smuggling. Furthermore, the Island had become a place of refuge
for the worst sort of debtors, a local law meant that debts in England and
Ireland could not be recovered in the Isle of Man. This meant that for nearly
one hundred years the Isle of Man provided sanctuary for the unfortunate and
profligate of the surrounding nations who flocked here in great numbers. After
much haggling the third Duke was induced in 1765 to surrender the regality and
customs duties to the Crown for £70,000 and an annuity of £2,000. A verse well
expresses the disgust of Manxmen at the bargain -
The babes unborn
will rue the day
That the Isle of
Man was sold away;
For there's ne'er
an old wife that loves a dram
But what will
lament for the Isle of Man
The fourth Duke
was made Governor General of the Island in 1793, and held the dignity for a
third of a century. He and his nephew, the then Bishop of Sodor and Man,
incurred great unpopularity by asserting certain claims to manorial rights and
tithes. The Duke also contended that the compensation accepted by his
predecessors had been inadequate. Eventually, in 1829, the British Government
acquired his remaining privileges by a lump sum payment of £417,114. This may
seem like a large sum, but the British Government made what ultimately turned
out to be a good bargain, as they gained from the surplus revenues of the
Island before 1866 more than they paid to the Duke. Since that date a
Lieutenant Governor has been appointed by the Crown.
During the
twentieth century the Island has achieved a large measure of self-government as
a Crown dependancy. The Crown retains responsibility for ensuring the good
government of the Island and for its external affairs, but the Island's
democratically elected government exercises full control of its internal
affairs and territorial waters.
IOM Homecoming July 2-8
•
6
nights accommodation at the Welbeck Hotel or Hilton Hotel in Douglas.
•
Bed and
full Manx breakfast
•
Private
taxi transfers for each party from Ronaldsway to hotel and return
•
Welcome
reception early evening on 2nd Julyat Collonade suite, Villa Marina with its
beautiful balcony overlooking the beautiful gardens and Douglas bay.
Traditional Manx music and dance as entertainment.
•
Transport
to/from Mr President's garden party at the Nunnery (now the Isle of Man
International Business School) - date expected to be July 3rd.
•
Full
day visiting new film studio's in Ramsey viewing the sets and a reception at
Ramsey Town Hall after viewing the plaque dedicated by NAMA to the shipyard
that built the "Star of India" and stops at other famous film
locations including Niarabyl and a lunch at the Ballacallin in Dalby with its
great views of the west coast.
•
Farewell
dinner July 7th in Douglas with a local guest speaker
•
All
taxes and services
•
Cost:
475 pounds per person based upon 2 sharing a room at the Welbeck Hotel. Hilton
Hotel extra.
Make reservations
through Thompson Travel, Port Eris, Isle of Man. Phone 011-44-1624-832535, or
email at
Questions? Contact
Laurence Skelly at skelly@manx.net
Update from John
Quirk
Hi folks.
Apologies to those who I haven't been in touch with for a while and I hope
you're all keeping well. At long last, I've finally pulled my finger out and sorted
out the website for the book, which can be found at http://www.manxconnection.com
At
time of writing (Wednesday) there is a holding page saying 'coming soon'. But I
meet with the designers tomorrow night to finalise a few points and, all being
well, it will be up and running from this weekend (March 5).
It includes a bit about the book and pictures from my travels (only the US so
far, I head to Dubai and South Africa this weekend and will update when
possible), and a diary, which will enable those of you with far too much time
to waste to check on my progress.
There is also a forum section, which I hope people will use to get in touch
with other Manxies around the world, and, you never know, maybe find some
long-lost relatives.
Other aspects
include the chance to pre-order a copy of the book (don't worry, you won't be
asked for money. At least not yet...) and links to other Manx websites,
sponsors' websites and a few of my faves. I'm still waist deep in the
incredible amount of information and background I picked up in the States, but
everything is still on schedule for a November publication date. - John
Quirk
Letter from a
Manx Fiddler
Hi,
I am a Manx fiddler, and I am currently writing a PhD thesis on Manx music for
the Centre of Manx Studies. I am looking at how external influences have
effected the evolution of Manx music, and I am interested to what extent Manx
music is still played or listened to in America and Canada. I am interested in
any bands (I've been told there is a band called the Beehive Band in America
who play Manx music, but don't seem to be able to find anything about them on
the web) or musicians that you know of that play Manx music, and also any books
of Manx music that are floating around over there! I would be very grateful for
any help that i can get, and it would also be wonderful if you could forward
this email to anyone who you think might be able to help me.
Thanks.
Lhiats, Laura. (Email: L.R.Payne@liverpool.ac.uk)
Submitted by Andrew Ravenscroft
In Memoriam
Russell T.
Kelly, WMS member,
passed away on October 26, 2004 in
Peoria, IL at the age of 88. He was
currently president of the Galva Manx Society.
Russell
Kelly was born on January 30, 1916 in Stark County, IL. He graduated from Galva High School in 1933.
He then served in the US Army during WWII, and was in the Military Police
Battalion at Camp Beal, CA. Russell operated a gas station with his father for
18 years; employed by Railway Express for 22 years; self-employed for 15 years
in the livestock feed business; worked as a substitute in the Galva Post Office
for 8 years; was a bus driver for the Galva School District for 7 ½ years.
Complete obituary at www.ruxfuneralhome.com
Honey Fudge
There used to be a great many fairs throughout the year, but the longest
surviving one is Tynwald Fair, still held at the village of St. John's
every 5th July. This is the day the Acts of Tynwald (The Manx Parliament) are
promulgated, and it is both a solemn and a gay affair.
The green at St John's is dotted with
shies and stalls, bands and dancers in national costume. One of the most
popular sweetmeats on sale is home-made fudge.
2 cups of sugar
2 oz.
block plain chocolate
1/4
teaspoon salt
1 cup
evaporated mlk
1/4
cup of honey
2
tablespoons of butter
Boil the sugar, chocolate, salt and milk for five minutes. Add the honey, and
cook to a soft-ball stage (240 deg F). Remove from heat and add the butter. Let
stand until lukewarm, beat until creamy and pour into a buttered tray. Cut when
firm.
From: http://www.iofm.net/community/recipes/Jams/honeyfudge