A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Oikan ayns Bethlehem
(Child in Bethlehem).

A traditional Manx song. Here, Ruth Keggin Gell gives a spoken guide to the pronunciation:

1. Nish lhisagh shin yn feailley shoh,
Y reayll lesh creeaghyn glen,
Ayns cooinaghtyn jeh Yeesey Creest
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

2. Daag Eh cooyrtyn sollys E Ayr,
Goaill er y dooghys ain.
Ruggit jeh Moidyn ghlen gyn cron,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

3. Eisht ainleyn Niau ren boggey ’ghoaill,
Haink lesh ny naightyn hooin.
Ginsh jeh Saualtagh ruggit jiu,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

4. Nagh mooar yn inshlid as y ghraih,
V’ayns Yeesey Creest yn Eayn,
Tra ghow Eh er cummey sharvaant,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

5. Ard ghloyr da Jee ’syn yrjid heose,
Ta reill ayns maynrys beayn,
Aigney mie Yee nish soilshit dooin,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.


This is one of the 40 Manx Christmas songs available with complete lyrics and music in the book, 'Nollick Ghennal.'
https://culturevannin.im/publications/books/nollick-ghennal-songs-in-manx-for-christmas/

The sung version of this song is available separately.

A free resource of many more Manx songs to learn is available here:
https://manxmusic.com/learn/songs/

More information about Manx music, song and dance can be found here: www.manxmusic.com/

This recording by Ruth Keggin Gell was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Oikan ayns Bethlehem [pronunciation]

A demonstration of one version of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Oikan ayns Bethlehem
(Child in Bethlehem).

A traditional Manx song. 
The song is here demonstrated by Aalin Clague:

1. Nish lhisagh shin yn feailley shoh,
Y reayll lesh creeaghyn glen,
Ayns cooinaghtyn jeh Yeesey Creest
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

2. Daag Eh cooyrtyn sollys E Ayr,
Goaill er y dooghys ain.
Ruggit jeh Moidyn ghlen gyn cron,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

3. Eisht ainleyn Niau ren boggey ’ghoaill,
Haink lesh ny naightyn hooin.
Ginsh jeh Saualtagh ruggit jiu,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

4. Nagh mooar yn inshlid as y ghraih,
V’ayns Yeesey Creest yn Eayn,
Tra ghow Eh er cummey sharvaant,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.

5. Ard ghloyr da Jee ’syn yrjid heose,
Ta reill ayns maynrys beayn,
Aigney mie Yee nish soilshit dooin,
Oikan ayns Bethlehem.


This is one of the 40 Manx Christmas songs available with complete lyrics and music in the book, 'Nollick Ghennal.'
https://culturevannin.im/publications/books/nollick-ghennal-songs-in-manx-for-christmas/

The sung version of this song is available separately.

A free resource of many more Manx songs to learn is available here:
https://manxmusic.com/learn/songs/

More information about Manx music, song and dance can be found here: www.manxmusic.com/

This recording by Ruth Keggin Gell was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Oikan ayns Bethlehem (b) [song]

A demonstration of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Ayns Manjoor yn Ollee
(Away in a Manger).

A song with a tune composed W J Kirkpatrick.
The song is here demonstrated by Aalin Clague:

1. Ayns manjoor yn ollee, ayns ynnyd jeh clean,
Hug nyn Jiarn Oikan Yeesey, E chione beg as meen.
Yeeagh rollageyn soilshey er y voayl v’eh ny lhie,
Chaddil Çhiarn Oikan Yeesey er y choonlagh dy mie.

2. Ta Yeesey er ny ghoostey, gyn keayney erbee,
Ec coraa yn ollee ta geamagh son bee.
Ta mee guee ort Hiarn Yeesey, jeeagh orrym veih niau,
As tannee dy kinjagh marish ooilley sheelnaue.

3. Tannee marym Hiarn Yeesey, faggys dou dy bragh beayn,
Dty ghraih dy ve orrym trooid ooilley my laghyn.
As bannit ta ny paitçhyn fo coadey dty ghraih,
Derrey veesmayd ayns niau mayrt dyn goll arragh veih.


This is one of the 40 Manx Christmas songs available with complete lyrics and music in the book, 'Nollick Ghennal.'
https://culturevannin.im/publications/books/nollick-ghennal-songs-in-manx-for-christmas/

The sung version of this song is available separately.

A free resource of many more Manx songs to learn is available here:
https://manxmusic.com/learn/songs/

More information about Manx music, song and dance can be found here: www.manxmusic.com/

This recording by Ruth Keggin Gell was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Ayns Manjoor yn Ollee [song]

A demonstration of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Yeesey Creest
(Jesus Christ).

A song composed by Bob Carswell RBV.
The song is here demonstrated by Ruth Keggin Gell:

1. Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Caddil oo, my lhiannoo.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Caddil oo, my lhiannoo.
Eer ayns stabyl, foast t’ou ’Ree.
Yeesey Creest, she Uss Mac Yee.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Caddil oo, my lhiannoo.

2. Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Lhiannoo mie as gennal.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Lhiannoo mie as gennal.
Ta ny bochillyn ayns shoh.
As ny reeaghyn cur gloyr.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Lhiannoo mie as gennal.


This is one of the 40 Manx Christmas songs available with complete lyrics and music in the book, 'Nollick Ghennal.'
https://culturevannin.im/publications/books/nollick-ghennal-songs-in-manx-for-christmas/

The sung version of this song is available separately.

A free resource of many more Manx songs to learn is available here:
https://manxmusic.com/learn/songs/

More information about Manx music, song and dance can be found here: www.manxmusic.com/

This recording by Ruth Keggin Gell was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Yeesey Creest [song]

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Oikan Yeesey, Caddil dy Kiune
(Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep).

A traditional Manx song. Here, Ruth Keggin Gell gives a spoken guide to the pronunciation:

1. Oikan Yeesey, caddil dy kiune,
Bee dty host,
Cloagmayd oo ayns garmad clooie.
Neemayd oo y leaystey, leaystey,
Neemayd oo y leaystey, leaystey.
Ayns dty chlooie blah myr t’ou,
Fillit dy sauçhey veih dagh gaue.

2. Vabban Voirrey, caddil dy kiune,
Caddil dy kiune,
Cadley sauçhey, souyr as dowin.
Neemayd oo y leaystey, leaystey,
Neemayd oo y leaystey, leaystey.
Vermayd shirveish ayns arrane,
Vabban villish ayns dty chlean,
Vabban villish ayns dty chlean.


This is one of the 40 Manx Christmas songs available with complete lyrics and music in the book, 'Nollick Ghennal.'
https://culturevannin.im/publications/books/nollick-ghennal-songs-in-manx-for-christmas/

The sung version of this song is available separately.

A free resource of many more Manx songs to learn is available here:
https://manxmusic.com/learn/songs/

More information about Manx music, song and dance can be found here: www.manxmusic.com/

This recording by Ruth Keggin Gell was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Oikan Yeesey, Caddil dy Kiune [pronunciation]

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Yeesey Creest
(Jesus Christ).

A song composed by Bob Carswell RBV. Here, Ruth Keggin Gell gives a spoken guide to the pronunciation:

1. Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Caddil oo, my lhiannoo.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Caddil oo, my lhiannoo.
Eer ayns stabyl, foast t’ou ’Ree.
Yeesey Creest, she Uss Mac Yee.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Caddil oo, my lhiannoo.

2. Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Lhiannoo mie as gennal.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,
Lhiannoo mie as gennal.
Ta ny bochillyn ayns shoh.
As ny reeaghyn cur gloyr.
Yeesey Creest, oikan meein,


This is one of the 40 Manx Christmas songs available with complete lyrics and music in the book, 'Nollick Ghennal.'
https://culturevannin.im/publications/books/nollick-ghennal-songs-in-manx-for-christmas/

The sung version of this song is available separately.

A free resource of many more Manx songs to learn is available here:
https://manxmusic.com/learn/songs/

More information about Manx music, song and dance can be found here: www.manxmusic.com/

This recording by Ruth Keggin Gell was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Yeesey Creest [pronunciation]

Set to a Scottish folk tune, this is a very simple song all about liking a cup of tea! 
The words are: 

S'mie lhiam cappan dy hey, my chaarjyn (I like a cup of tea, my friends)
S'mie lhiam cappan dy hey (I like a cup of tea)
Oh s'mie lhiam cappan dy hey, my chaarjyn (Oh I like a cup of tea, my friends)
S'mie lhiam cappan dy hey (I like a cup of tea)

Iu seose, my chaarjyn, seose my chaarjyn (Drink up, my friends, up my friends)
S'mie lhiam cappan dy hey (I like a cup of tea)
Iu seose, my chaarjyn, seose my chaarjyn (Drink up, my friends, up my friends)
S'mie lhiam cappan dy hey (I like a cup of tea)

The original tune is Scottish traditional. The Manx words are by Annie Kissack.

More information about the Manx language badge for Girl Guiding & Scouts, as well as other resources for learning Manx Gaelic:
https://www.learnmanx.com/resources/community/manx-language-badge-for-girl-guiding--scouts/

This recording was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

S'mie lhiam cappan dy hey (I like a cup of tea)

"Gallons of Tea & Fairy Song": A Walk Through Ballaragh

James Franklin of Culture Vannin guides a group through some of the stories of Ballaragh, including ghosts, a plane crash, shipwreck, the devil, Neolithic rock art, fairy parties, a cultural hero, the fear of parachuting Nazis, a moddey doo and marauding rowdy youths – Ballaragh’s story is a good one!

This was recorded live on Saturday 11 October 2025.
It was delivered as Culture Vannin's offering for the Heritage Open Days 2025.
The renditions of Arrane ny Niee and Marish ny Fiddleryn were performed by Ruth Keggin Gell. Her recorded version of Arrane ny Niee is available on the album, Lossan: https://ruthandrachel.bandcamp.com/album/lossan

The eight stops of this walking tour, and their What3Words locations, are as follows:

1) Ballachrink gates https://what3words.com/grumble.tropic.vets
2) Ballachrink Farm track https://what3words.com/responds.revolts.rafters
3) The Clarum Road https://w3w.co/pressing.linen.ruin
4) Sam's Barn https://w3w.co/guitars.brain.class
5) Milestone https://w3w.co/plunge.control.gasping
6) Ballaragh Farm https://w3w.co/sounding.masking.video
7) The Spiral Stone https://w3w.co/systems.animated.slamming
8) The Merisia Stone https://w3w.co/jaws.perkily.punchy

More information about some points of this tour can be found on this page of the Culture Vannin website: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/ballaragh-tour-gallons-of-tea--fairy-song/

This recording was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://www.culturevannin.im
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
https://www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Ballaragh: A history & folklore tour

The amazing story of the Handley Page Hampden which crashed through the roof of Ballaragh farmhouse on the morning of 27 March 1941.
Involved in the tale are the lucky escapes of those who survived the day, both on the ground and in the plane, and those who did not; as well as the story of what happened after...

This is an extract from the full tour around Ballaragh delivered by James Franklin on Saturday 11 October 2025.
It was delivered as Culture Vannin's offering for the Heritage Open Days 2025.

The full tour can be enjoyed in full here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/ballaragh-tour-gallons-of-tea--fairy-song/

This recording was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
www.culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

WW2 plane crash at Ballaragh, 1941

The tragic tale of the Fleetwood trawler wrecked at the bottom of the Bulgham Bay cliffs on 26 December 1940.
This is one wreck amongst so many around the Manx coast, but it is remains in public awareness today thanks to the stone carved at the roadside at Ballaragh, Lonan, and, more recently, with the ship's bell on display in the Ramsey Lifeboat Station.
This is the story of the wreck...

This is an extract from the full tour around Ballaragh delivered by James Franklin on Saturday 11 October 2025.
It was delivered as Culture Vannin's offering for the Heritage Open Days 2025.

The full tour can be enjoyed in full here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/ballaragh-tour-gallons-of-tea--fairy-song/

This recording was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
www.culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

The wreck of the Merisia, Bulgham Bay, 1940

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.

New tracks tagged #Isle of Man