Dedicated to the Gaelic Language of the Isle of Man
Cooish Manx Language Festival 2023 programme, out now!

Bee feailley yn vlein shoh er 1ed – 5oo  Mee Houney 2023. This year’s festival will be 1st – 5th November 2023.

Shoh yn claare! Here's the programme! Click below on each day to see what'll be taking place... with 21 events island-wide, and offerings for all ages and abilities, there'll be something for everyone!

Published: Fri, 15 Sep 2023

Jecrean 1 November - Wednesday 1st November

• 9.15am – 10am: Learn numbers in Manx!
Get ready for Oie Vingo – Bingo Night! Have fun with numbers in Manx. Suitable for all levels.
Limited space: email gaelg(at)culturevannin.im or ring 694753.
Hosted by Culture Vannin.
Venue: Greens Café, St. John’s

• 12pm – 1pm: Cozy lunchtime cooish
Grab a bite to eat, and join a friendly group of Manx speakers for a chat. All welcome!
Hosted by Pobble.
Venue: Atrium, Tower House, Douglas

• 12.20pm – 12.50pm: Come and try Manx!
Pop-up Manx class for total beginners. Grab a coffee and join in!
Booking essential: www.workcafe.im/events/
Hosted by Culture Vannin.
Venue: Santander Work Café, Market Hall, Douglas

• 1.20pm – 1.50pm: Come and try Manx!
Pop-up Manx class for total beginners. Grab a coffee and join in!
Booking essential: www.workcafe.im/events/
Hosted by Culture Vannin.
Venue: Santander Work Café, Market Hall, Douglas

• 7pm: Bunscoill Ghaelgagh presents – “Film Night”
Come to St John’s for an evening with the stars! A sparkling night: dress for the red carpet!
Further details, entry cost and ticket information available soon - check back for more info!
Hosted by Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.
Venue: Methodist Hall, St. John’s

Jerdein 2 Mee Houney - Thursday 2nd November

• 9.15am – 10am: Useful Manx phrases
Get familiar with ‘by vie lhiat?’ and ‘by vie lhiam’ in this open Manx class. Suitable for all levels.
Limited space: email gaelg(at)culturevannin.im or ring 694753.
Hosted by Culture Vannin.
Venue: Greens Café, St. John’s

• 11am – 11.45am: Learn numbers in Manx!
Get ready for Oie Vingo – Bingo Night! Have fun with numbers in Manx. Suitable for all levels.
Limited space: email gaelg(at)culturevannin.im or ring 694753.
Hosted by Culture Vannin.
Venue: Greens Café, St. John’s

• 12pm – 1pm: Cozy lunchtime cooish
Grab a bite to eat, and join a friendly group of Manx speakers for a chat. All welcome!
Please email gaelg(at)culturevannin.im or ring 694753 by 30th October to let us know that you’re coming.
Hosted by Culture Vannin.
Venue: Greens Café, St. John’s

• 6pm – 9pm: Bake bonnag in Manx!
Have fun learning how to make bonnag, butter and jam through Manx!
*Special Cooish festival price £30! (normally £40!)* This event is designed for adults, but young adults (14+) may attend if accompanied by a responsible adult. 
Advance booking essential - further information and tickets are available here.
Hosted by Jo Callister and Adam Horne in collaboration with Juliette’s.
Venue: Juliette’s, 2 Michael Street, Peel

• 8pm onwards: Manx conversation at the Whitehouse
All welcome to join Jonathan Ayres and friends
Venue: Whitehouse Pub, Peel

Jeheiney 3 Mee Houney - Friday 3rd November

• 10am – 10.45am: Manx songs and rhymes for mini musicians
Fun for children aged 0-4 years old (with a parent/carer). £2 per child.
Booking essential: www.manninmusic.shop
Hosted by Mini Musicians by Mannin Music.
Venue: Mannin Music Studio, Pulrose

• 10am – 11am: Manx conversation at Mad Hatter’s
All welcome! Hosted by Tantaran.
Venue: Mad Hatter’s Café, Ramsey

• 11am (approx. 1 hour): Guided walk in Manx around Ramsey
Hosted by Tantaran.
Venue: Meet at the green on East Street, opposite Penny Farthing. Weather dependent – see updates nearer the time on this page!

• 12pm – 1pm: Cozy lunchtime cooish
Grab a bite to eat, and join a friendly group of Manx speakers for a chat. All welcome!
Venue: The Tea Caddy, Rowany Golf Club, Port Erin

• 7pm – 9pm: Mooinjer Veggey song night
Wallow in nostalgia with this opportunity to relive twenty-five years of rhymes and songs from Mooinjer Veggey and the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh. Cup of tea anyone? 😉
Hosted by Mooinjer Veggey.
Venue: Royal Chapel Hall, St. John’s

Jesarn 4 Mee Houney - Saturday 4th November

• 10am – 3pm: Cooish, Cappan as Croo
Come along to Castletown for this family-friendly pop-in event for all ages and abilities.
Venues: Civic Hall, Art Squared & The George – Castletown

There’ll be lots going on:
- Manx language craft stalls
- art workshops incorporating Manx
- language and song workshops
- activities for all ages and abilities
- Manx chat and easy games
- music
- delicious refreshments available to purchase
- Manx language organisations and charities
Come and learn more about Manx!
Hosted by Culture Vannin, in conjunction with the Manx language community. 

WORKSHOP DETAILS: 

  • 10am - 11.30am - FREE Song lyrics workshop with Bob Carswell.
  • 11am - 11.45am - FREE Manx Christmas song workshop. Suitable for beginners. Aimed at adults, but accompanied children (age 7+) welcomed. Venue: The George Pub, Castletown. Book tickets here.
  • 2pm - 2.45pm - FREE Manx Christmas song workshop. Suitable for beginners. Aimed at adults, but accompanied children (age 7+) welcomed. Venue: The George Pub, Castletown. Book tickets here.

• 4.30pm – 6pm: Fastyr Fynoderee!
Cocktail making workshop and a mini distillery tour through Manx. Age 18+ only.
Cost: £28 per place.
Limited places available; advance booking essential - information available very soon!
Hosted by Jo Callister and Adam Horne, in collaboration with Fynoderee.
Venue: Fynoderee Distillery, Ramsey

• 7.30pm – 8pm: Fireworks!
Whether you live in Ramsey, or are coming in for the Cooish, don’t forget about the fireworks hosted by Ramsey Town Commissioners!
Venue: Mooragh Park, Ramsey

• 8.30pm onwards: Kiaull as Gailck
Manx chat, tunes, and cocktails! Bring your instrument and/or your voice, and join in!
*table booking advised due to limited space - booking details to be released soon*
Venue: The Fyn Bar, Ramsey

Jedoonee 5 Mee Houney - Sunday 5th November

• 1pm – 2pm: Ned Maddrell Lecture 2023 (Academic lecture in English about the Manx language)
'Language, faith, society: preaching in Manx in the 17th to 19th centuries'
Dr. Christopher Lewin (University of Galway) and Dr Peadar Ó Muircheartaigh (University of Edinburgh)
Hybrid event: please register online, choosing the in-person or online option. Registration will be available soon.
Hosted by Possan Ronsee Gaelgagh – Manx Language Research Group, with support from Manx National Heritage.
Venue: iMuseum, Douglas

• 2pm – 4pm: Panel discussion: what’s next for Manx research?
Hybrid event: please register online, choosing the in-person or online option. Registration will be available soon.
Hosted by Possan Ronsee Gaelgagh – Manx Language Research Group, with support from Manx National Heritage.
Venue: iMuseum, Douglas

• 6.30pm – 9pm: Oie Vingo [Bingo Night]
Come along to a family-friendly, entertaining evening, playing bingo in Manx! Open to all, no matter what your age or level of Manx.
Cost: £5 adults / £2 children, including snacks and some bingo books.
Extra bingo books available to purchase. Tickets on the door. BYOB.
Hosted by Yn Chruinnaght
Venue: Corrin Hall, Peel