Isle of Man -- Slideshows
October 31, 2010 -- Hop-tu-Naa Party -- Our ferry from Liverpool landed with just enough time to allow us to drive a harrowing route through dark, winding, narrow, country lanes to the northern end of the Island where we were invited to attend a Hop-tu-Naa celebration in the village of Sulby. The party was in full swing when we arrived, but they did ask us to help judge the scariest turnip. This was followed by dancing and singing traditional tunes of the season. Similar to the American custom on Halloween, Manx children go from door to door, singing for gifts. (There are a lot of verses to this tune -- you can find all of them in my first book, Tailless Tunes.) October 31 also celebrates the Celtic New Year -- the crops are all in, and preparation begins for next year's plantings.
In the video below, you can actually hear the townspeople, including the children, singing the Hop-tu-Naa song in Manx Gaelic. I was also impressed with all the harmonies!
October, 2009 -- our first trip to the Isle of Man, and a gorgeous day it was! Douglas is the capital city -- the ferry arrives at the southern end of the city, near the Promenade, a spectacular two-mile long crescent that follows the coastline. During Victorian times it was a popular tourist destination -- the place to see and be seen -- with hundreds of guest houses lining the entire length. Today, it is still drawing many visitors who appreciate the mix of ancient and modern, along with a temperate year-round climate, friendly people, and cultural events of every sort. Time was limited, but we managed to travel to the village of Cregneash, on the southern tip of the Island. Gorgeous!
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November 3, 2010 -- During our second visit we spent an afternoon on the Nairbyl Point, near the village of Dalby on the southwestern coast. It was along these cliffs that the beautiful song, "Arrane Ghelbee" (Song of the Water Kelpie) was first heard. The Coastal Walkway passes through this area, with spectacular views of the Irish Sea and traditional cottages along the way.
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More slideshows are on the way! Check back from time to time....
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