Yn Çhruinnaght
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Manx Manx (; formerly sometimes spelled Manks) is an adjective (and derived noun) describing things or people related to the Isle of Man: * Manx people **Manx surnames * Isle of Man It may also refer to: Languages * Manx language, also known as Manx ...
for "the gathering"){{cite web , title=Yn Chruinnaght , url=http://www.isleofman.com/attractions/arts-culture/ceremonies-and-festivals/yn-chruinnaght/ , website=isleofman.com , publisher=Manx Telecom Trading Ltd , access-date=8 June 2018 is a cultural festival in the Isle of Man which celebrates Manx music, Manx language and culture, and links with other
Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...
cultures.


Origin and history

The forerunner of ''Yn Chruinnaght'' was founded in 1924, and was known as ''Cruinnaght Vanninagh Ashoonagh'' ("Manx national gathering"). It was the idea of
William Cubbon William Cubbon M.A. (28 May 1865 – 1 January 1955) was a Manx nationalist, antiquarian, author, businessman and librarian who was the first secretary of the Manx Museum, later becoming Director of the Museum.''Isle of Man Examiner Yearbook ...
, the second Director of the Manx Museum, who was also the Honorary Treasurer of both ''Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh'' (The Manx Gaelic Society) and the World Manx Association (WMA). Programmes from the early festivals state that "''Yn Cruinnaght Vanninagh Ashoonagh'' is held under the auspices of The World Manx Association and The Manx aelicSociety in commemoration of our great National Poet and with the object of preserving national sentiment." The "great National Poet" referred to is Thomas Edward Brown (1830–1897) whose poems, including lengthy verse-stories in Manx dialect (of English, though with some Gaelic words), were published by Macmillan. The ''Cruinnaght Vanninagh Ashoonagh'' was organised by William Cubbon through the WMA's ''Ellan Vannin'' magazine, which he edited. The festival was a one-day, competitive event held at
Hollantide Allhallowtide, Hallowtide, Allsaintstide, or the Hallowmas season, is the Western Christian season encompassing the triduum of All Saints' Eve (Halloween), All Saints' Day (All Hallows') and All Souls' Day, as well as the International Day of Pra ...
, with participants from the Island (though at least one of the judges, Dr J E Lyon, came from across (i.e. from outside the Island)). Members of the various sub-committees included Archibald Knox, J J Kneen and
Mona Douglas Mona Douglas (18 September 1898 – 8 October 1987) was a Manx cultural activist, folklorist, poet, novelist and journalist. She is recognised as the main driving force behind the modern revival of Manx culture and is acknowledged as the most ...
. The event included singing (including in the Manx Gaelic language), music (including a grand concert as a finale), arts, crafts and cookery. The festival came to an end with the outbreak of the Second World War.


Post-war revival

It was the aim of one of the leading figures in Manx traditional cultural affairs, Mona Douglas, to revive ''Yn Chruinnaght'' as a Manx national festival. A cultural revival starting in the late 1960s led to renewed vigour in the Manx language, traditional music, and particularly in Manx dancing. Mona recognised that ''Yn Chruinnaght'' could provide a focus for cultural activities and a way to give greater recognition to Manx traditional culture, particularly in the wider context of an inter-Celtic festival. In 1977, Mona Douglas organised ''Feailley Vanninagh Rhumsaa'' (the " Ramsey Manx Festival") which was held on 1 September in collaboration with the ''Ellynyn ny Gael'' (Arts of the Gaels) organization. The programme's front cover bore the modern symbol of ''Yn Chruinnaght''. The programme announced that the festival "will be revived in Ramsey August–September 1978, and this time it will be a five-day Inter-Celtic Festival". It was held on 21–25 August 1978. Mona Douglas's programme note in 1979 states that "It was decided to stage ''Yn Chruinnaght'' in Ramsey, the only town in the Island which had no important festival of its own, and which, like Peel, was a recognized centre of the
national revival National revival or national awakening is a period of ethnic self-consciousness that often precedes a political movement for national liberation but that can take place at a time when independence is politically unrealistic. In the history of Eur ...
."


Inter-Celtic festival

Whereas ''Cruinnaght Vanninagh Ashoonagh'' had been a festival only of Manx culture, Mona Douglas conceived ''Yn Chruinnaght'' in its modern form as an inter-Celtic festival, giving an opportunity for the six Celtic nations of the Isle of Man, Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall to participate. Mona Douglas was particularly pleased to receive official recognition for ''Yn Chruinnaght'' from Oireachtas na Gaeilge in Ireland, Go''rsedd y Beirdd'' and '' Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol'' in Wales and ''An Mod'' in Scotland. Events have been held throughout the Island as part of ''Yn Chruinnaght'', but the main focus from 1978 to 2006 was the town of Ramsey. The relationship of ''Yn Chruinnaght'' with Ramsey has been an important factor over the years. The festival enjoyed venues and facilities throughout the town, including a variety of hotels and the Town Hall, various churches and even the livestock mart. As many of these venues and facilities ceased to be available, a marquee became a feature of the festival. However, with the usual plot in Ramsey for a marquee no longer available in 2007, ''Yn Chruinnaght'' had to reconsider its siting. In 2007, the main focus moved to the Centenary Centre in Peel. The development of traditional arts in the Isle of Man has continued apace since the late 1960s. Mona Douglas recognised that the energy associated with it could be harnessed to revive ''Yn Chruinnaght''. Further development would undoubtedly have taken place in its own way. However, ''Yn Chruinnaght'' has provided a focus for thinking about and arranging traditional music, and has been the spur for new creative work drawing on traditional themes.


References


External links

* http://www.ynchruinnaght.com Festivals in the Isle of Man Manx music Celtic music festivals Peel, Isle of Man