Oie Voaldyn

Albert was born in 1933 in Peel but describes a place from another time where everyone closed their door on Mondays to stop cattle walking in to their house when they were being driven to the slaughterhouses from the fields on the outskirts of the town, where the undertaker picked up bodies in the evening in a cart and was heckled by the local kids “what yer got under there”, a place stinking of kippers from the fish yards dotted everywhere where one of his jobs was spraying ‘eau de parfum’ on the herring girls when working in the chemist as they didn’t have access to baths, where children spent all their time at the quayside with the fishermen and at the age of 11 were going out on the boats, sometimes ending up away overnight, where his grandmother in her eighties was given two months’ notice to leave her house after fifty years there so that people could be interned there, where the family chemist was kept busy with locals who had no green veg to eat and became ill and covered with boils because of this, a town full of poverty but rich in community with a buoyant fishing industry and a harbour full of boats - not just Manx but Irish and Scottish also, so much part of the community that in the school Irish and Scottish songs were sung and games were played, a wonderful home that gave Albert a lifelong love for Peel and for the sea.

Albert has many stories of characters in Peels, local superstitions, hop tu naa, the Peel ‘gangs’, life at sea, Peel football club, he talks of his family - his great aunt, Sophia Morrison, he grandfather Frost who ran away to sea from the slums in Douglas aged twelve and the family boat yard which closed in 1938.

…The next best thing to experiencing early twentieth century Peel is listening to Albert’s wonderful, colourful descriptions!

This oral history interview with Albert Frost was recorded by Katie Newton on 25 June 2020.
The interview is a part of the collection of over 130 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannnin website: www.culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
www.culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.twitter.com/CultureVannin

Oral history interview with Albert Frost (25 June 2020)

Based on an old Manx Celebration (April 30th)& Commissioned by the Oie Voaldyn Festival, this piece of music marks the change from Winter to Summer festival, through the symbolic Black Raven which holds a special place in Manx folklore and mythology. The piece was designed to mark change for the better, working well also with Oie Houney/Hop Tu Naa the oldest unbroken tradition in the Isle of Man original which saw the bad spirits away ahead of the Winter to come.
Artists: Gilno Carswell, Aalish Kilgallon, David Kilgallon

She Shoh Yn Chomleayrtys
Tar Er - Gerrey
Lhig Dooin Jeeaghyn er-Y-Cheilley
Eddin ry Eddin

Feagh Ghoo
Gooillian Seose
Cur Lhee Caghlaa
As Shee er y Thalloo

Feeagh Ghoo

Oie Voaldyn - Feeagh Ghoo

Slow & Peaceful but full of emotion & weight

Celtic Piano

Axnfell

An unoffical tribute to the unoffical Manx National Anthem!

Ellan Vannin

Composer: Matthew Warren
Singer: Sarah Mercer
Harpist: Mera Royle
Manx translation: Bob Carswell
Produced by Gyp Buggane

In January 2024, the song won Arrane son Mannin (Song for Mann), a competition for original songs in Manx.

Baatey Paybr (Paper Boats) - Gaelg

Composer: Matthew Warren
Singer: Sarah Mercer
Harpist: Mera Royle
Produced by Gyp Buggane

In January 2024, the Manx version of Paper Boats won Arrane son Mannin (Song for Mann), a competition for original songs in Manx.

Paper Boats - English version

Kevin McHugh's
The Knotted Chord
Firebird - Tom Callister

Firebird

Moghrey Laa Boaldyn

An unaccompanied version of traditional Manx song Padjer Colum Killey with glorious improvised harmonies by Sophia Dale.
The prayer asks for the peace of God, the peace of man and the peace of Columba on every part of the house, and on myself.

Padjer Colum Killey - St Columba's Prayer by Skeeal

Ny Kirree fo Niaghtey - John Nelson, 1909, Trebitsch recordings

Ny Kirree fo Niaghtey - John Nelson, 1909

Promoting and supporting all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.

Culture Vannin awards grants and initiates schemes whilst supporting the work of development officers for music and language. The work of Culture Vannin has been fundamental to the revival of interest and support for Manx language and culture over the last twenty years.

Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, registered charity 333 in the Isle of Man.

Oral history interview with Albert Frost (25 June 2020)

Culture Vannin

Related tracks