The ''Cooish'' is the name of a festival that promotes

Manx language Manx ( or , pronounced or ), also known as Manx Gaelic, is a Gaelic language of the insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family. Manx is the historical language of the Manx p ...

and

culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...

that takes place on the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

each November. The word 'Cooish' is a Manx word that has many meanings. It can translate to mean a chat, a meeting, a cause, an issue, or a get-together.

History

The festival was founded by

Phil Gawne Philip Anderson Gawne (born 19 February 1965), better known as Phil Gawne, is a former Member of the House of Keys for Rushen, a constituency in the Isle of Man. He also served in a number of ministerial posts on the island and is therefore a f ...

in the 1996 under the name Feailley Ghaelgagh (Manx Language Festival), following a research trip to

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

development agencies in Inverness and the Isle of Skye.Gawne, Phil. "Securing the Future of Manx Gaelic". http://www.poileasaidh.celtscot.ed.ac.uk/gawneseminar.html Retrieved 17 July 2020. Feailley Ghaelgagh was later renamed The Cooish. The Feailley Ghaelgagh became an important feature of Manx cultural life and throughout the 1990s and 2000s and was a week long festival during this period. It later reverted to a two-day festival which is the current length. By gaining support from local businesses and the Manx government, as well as employing extensive advertising, the festival has been able to "ensure that most people in the country are aware of the language." After a period of fallow years, The Cooish was re-launched in 2017 in Peel by Adrian Cain, Yn Greinneyder:

The Cooish was really successful in promoting and raising the profile of Manx,’ said Adrian. ’But after a while I thought we were doing so much work promoting Manx language throughout the year that it seemed quite strange to say that we must do something in one particular week. So we left it for a while.

In 2018, the Londeyr (Lantern) Award for people who have made new efforts to promote the everyday use of the Manx language was launched. The award is given recognition of the efforts of members of the community who have been seen to use and support the use of the Manx language on a daily basis.

Events

The Cooish is organised by

Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh , also known as the Manx Language Society and formerly known as Manx Gaelic Society, was founded in 1899 in the Isle of Man to promote the Manx language. The group's motto is (Without language, without country). History Following the decline ...

with support from the Manx Heritage Foundation and the Isle of Man Arts Councils along with local businesses. Most of the events that take during the festival are based around the Manx language and the encouragement of its use. Coffee mornings and Pop-Up Gaeltaghyn are used as an opportunity for people to practice their Manx in a casual, informal setting. There are language workshops to help people who are interested in learning or improving their Manx, as well as general information sessions for parents to discuss the advantages of bilingualism and of sending their child to the

Bunscoill Ghaelgagh Bunscoill Ghaelgagh is a government-run Manx-language primary school in St John's, Isle of Man that has enabled 170 children to learn fluent Manx. it is the only school in the world where children are taught their lessons solely in Manx and whic ...

Mooinjer Veggey is the Manx for '' little people'', a term used for fairies in Gaelic lore. The equivalent Irish and Scottish Gaelic are and . Manx folklore In Manx folklore, the are small creatures from two to three feet (600 to 900 mm) in height ...

. Although the primary purpose of the Cooish is to promote the Manx language, it aims to bring together different elements of the Gaelic world to celebrate their shared heritage. Artists and musicians from other Gaelic countries frequently perform at Cooish events. There are music and song writing workshops and as well as traditional dance and music performances throughout the festival. Evening pub sessions and concerts are also an important part of the festival. The Cooish has also provided the space for new Manx language publications by Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh to be launched, such as Christopher Lewin's ''Droghad ny Seihll'' and ''First Thousand Words in Manx''.

References

{{Reflist Manx culture Manx language Celtic festivals Festivals in the Isle of Man Cultural organisations based in the Isle of Man