A song from the 2023 Manx Gaelic musical, Lioar y Doofyr, performed by the children of the Manx medium primary school, the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.

More about the school and its work can be found here: https://bunscoillghaelgagh.sch.im/

Music and lyrics composed by Annie Kissack, adapted from traditional Manx music.
It was recorded by Ballagroove Studios in July 2023.
The recording was funded by Culture Vannin.

Culture Vannin exists to promote, support and celebrate the culture of the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin
www.twitter.com/CultureVannin

Chaddil oo my Lhiannoo

A song from the 2023 Manx Gaelic musical, Lioar y Doofyr, performed by the children of the Manx medium primary school, the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.

More about the school and its work can be found here: https://bunscoillghaelgagh.sch.im/

Music and lyrics composed by Annie Kissack.
It was recorded by Ballagroove Studios in July 2023.
The recording was funded by Culture Vannin.

Culture Vannin exists to promote, support and celebrate the culture of the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin
www.twitter.com/CultureVannin

S'mie Lhiam Cappan dy Hey

A song from the 2023 Manx Gaelic musical, Lioar y Doofyr, performed by the children of the Manx medium primary school, the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.

More about the school and its work can be found here: https://bunscoillghaelgagh.sch.im/

Music and lyrics composed by Aalin Clague.
It was recorded by Ballagroove Studios in July 2023.
The recording was funded by Culture Vannin.

Culture Vannin exists to promote, support and celebrate the culture of the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im
www.facebook.com/culturevannin
www.twitter.com/CultureVannin

Slane Lhiat, Vowgli

She Dooinney Mish

O Valoo

A pronunciation guide by Annie Kissack to a Manx Gaelic song from Coraa, a collection of Manx songs arranged for choirs of all ages and abilities.

Ellan Vannin - Words by Eliza Craven Green & music by J Townsend, arr. by Mary L Woods

Ellan Vannin (Manx Gaelic for the Isle of Man) is a very well known song in the Isle of Man and is often considered to be a strong contender for the National Anthem.
Written in 1854 with words by Eliza Craven Green (1803‐66) and music by J Townsend, this song was particularly popular with Manx people who had emigrated to other parts of the world, such as America and Australia, as it reminded them of home.
This choral arrangement is by Mary L Wood (1857—1925) who was herself a well‐known music teacher and composer, founder of the Manx Music Festival (Guild) and known as ‘the Mother of Manx music’.
Interestingly, nothing at all is known about  the mysterious J Townsend, composer of such a famous tune!

This recording was originally released as an accompaniment to the book, 'Coraa: Manx Songs for Choirs,' edited by Dr Chloë Woolley and published by the Manx Heritage Foundation in 2011.
The project was designed for the Isle of Man secondary schools, but it will appeal to choirs or singing groups of any age interesting in performing Manx songs.
The book is freely available as a PDF download here: https://manxmusic.com/media//Learn%20Songs/CORAA%20final%20version.pdf

'Coraa' was produced as a part of Culture Vannin's ongoing work to promote, support and celebrate the music of the Isle of Man. More information about this aspect of our work is available here: https://manxmusic.com/

The Manx choir, Caarjyn Cooidjagh, are conducted by Annie Kissack.
https://www.manxmusic.com/performers/gaelic-choirs-and-singers/caarjyn-cooidjagh/

This recording was released, with permission of the performers and others involved, in 2025 by Culture Vannin.
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

Ellan Vannin [Manx pronunciation]

A Manx Gaelic song performed by Caarjyn Cooidjagh, from Coraa, a collection of Manx songs arranged for choirs of all ages and abilities.

Invocation to St. Bridget - Manx traditional arr. Frank Woolley

Also known as ‘Vreeshey Vreeshey’ or ‘Arrane y Ven‐Thie’ (Song of the Housewife), ‘Invocation to St. Bridget’ was collected by Mona Douglas (1898—1987) from Mrs Bridson of Glen May. The melody had also been collected as a lullaby in the 1890s by Dr John Clague (1842‐1908) under the titles, ‘Clean Suggane’ (Cradle Song) and ‘Hinkin Winkin’.  
St. Bridget was an popular saint in the Isle of Man. Many churches were named after her, as was the parish of Bride. This invocation was sung by women on Oie'll Vreeshey, the eve of St. Bridget’s Feast Day (31 January), inviting her to enter their houses. As well as singing this invocation, they would scatter rushes on the floors as a welcome.
This arrangement was written for the Aeg Threshlyn choir by local composer Frank Woolley (b. 1949).  

This recording was originally released as an accompaniment to the book, 'Coraa: Manx Songs for Choirs,' edited by Dr Chloë Woolley and published by the Manx Heritage Foundation in 2011.
The project was designed for the Isle of Man secondary schools, but it will appeal to choirs or singing groups of any age interesting in performing Manx songs.
The book is freely available as a PDF download here: https://manxmusic.com/media//Learn%20Songs/CORAA%20final%20version.pdf

'Coraa' was produced as a part of Culture Vannin's ongoing work to promote, support and celebrate the music of the Isle of Man. More information about this aspect of our work is available here: https://manxmusic.com/

The Manx choir, Caarjyn Cooidjagh, are conducted by Annie Kissack.
https://www.manxmusic.com/performers/gaelic-choirs-and-singers/caarjyn-cooidjagh/

This recording was released, with permission of the performers and others involved, in 2025 by Culture Vannin.
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

Invocation to St Bridget

A Manx Gaelic song performed by Caarjyn Cooidjagh, from Coraa, a collection of Manx songs arranged for choirs of all ages and abilities.

Reamyn yn Yrjey Vooar (Ye Boundless Realms of Joy) - Anon. The Colby Manuscripts, ed. Francis Roads

This West Gallery psalm is from the Colby Manuscripts — the collection of William Shepherd, a singing teacher who was active in the Isle of Man in the early 19th century. The part books were rediscovered in the Manx Museum by Dr Francis Roads when he was conducting his PhD research. Many West Gallery hymns performed in the Island were found elsewhere in the British Isles and this particular setting of Psalm 148 uses the melody ‘Portsmouth’. This anonymous arrangement has not been found elsewhere and it has been noted that ‘Ramsey Town’, (later collected by WH Gill in the 1890s), bears echoes of the melody.

This recording was originally released as an accompaniment to the book, 'Coraa: Manx Songs for Choirs,' edited by Dr Chloë Woolley and published by the Manx Heritage Foundation in 2011.
The project was designed for the Isle of Man secondary schools, but it will appeal to choirs or singing groups of any age interesting in performing Manx songs.
The book is freely available as a PDF download here: https://manxmusic.com/media//Learn%20Songs/CORAA%20final%20version.pdf

'Coraa' was produced as a part of Culture Vannin's ongoing work to promote, support and celebrate the music of the Isle of Man. More information about this aspect of our work is available here: https://manxmusic.com/

The Manx choir, Caarjyn Cooidjagh, are conducted by Annie Kissack.
https://www.manxmusic.com/performers/gaelic-choirs-and-singers/caarjyn-cooidjagh/

This recording was released, with permission of the performers and others involved, in 2025 by Culture Vannin.
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

Reamyn yn Vrjey Vooar

A pronunciation guide by Annie Kissack to the Manx Gaelic version of the National Anthem. This is one of the Manx Gaelic songs from Coraa, a collection of Manx songs arranged for choirs of all ages and abilities.

Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin (Manx National Anthem) by William H Gill

Written in 1907 by William Henry Gill (1839‐1923), the National Anthem is based on an old folk tune. Gill composed new words and adapted the Manx melody ‘Mylecharaine’ or ‘Molly Charane’ (which was already regarded as the ‘Manx national air’) to form an anthem “worthy to stand side by side, although at a respectable distance from, ‘God Save the King’.” Dedicated to the Governor’s wife, Lady Raglan, it was launched at the Manx Music Festival (Guild) of 1907 to mixed reviews, but was actually only officially recognised as the National Anthem by Tynwald in 2003.
Consisting of eight verses, the anthem gives a romantic outline of the Island’s history from Norse times. . It was translated into Manx Gaelic by John J Kneen (1873 – 1939). Today, the first and last verses are most likely to be sung at official and social events.

This recording was originally released as an accompaniment to the book, 'Coraa: Manx Songs for Choirs,' edited by Dr Chloë Woolley and published by the Manx Heritage Foundation in 2011.
The project was designed for the Isle of Man secondary schools, but it will appeal to choirs or singing groups of any age interesting in performing Manx songs.
The book is freely available as a PDF download here: https://manxmusic.com/media//Learn%20Songs/CORAA%20final%20version.pdf

'Coraa' was produced as a part of Culture Vannin's ongoing work to promote, support and celebrate the music of the Isle of Man. More information about this aspect of our work is available here: https://manxmusic.com/

The Manx choir, Caarjyn Cooidjagh, are conducted by Annie Kissack.
https://www.manxmusic.com/performers/gaelic-choirs-and-singers/caarjyn-cooidjagh/

This recording was released, with permission of the performers and others involved, in 2025 by Culture Vannin.
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

Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin [pronunciation]

A Manx Gaelic song performed by Caarjyn Cooidjagh, from Coraa, a collection of Manx songs arranged for choirs of all ages and abilities.

Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin (Manx National Anthem) by William H Gill

Written in 1907 by William Henry Gill (1839‐1923), the National Anthem is based on an old folk tune. Gill composed new words and adapted the Manx melody ‘Mylecharaine’ or ‘Molly Charane’ (which was already regarded as the ‘Manx national air’) to form an anthem “worthy to stand side by side, although at a respectable distance from, ‘God Save the King’.” Dedicated to the Governor’s wife, Lady Raglan, it was launched at the Manx Music Festival (Guild) of 1907 to mixed reviews, but was actually only officially recognised as the National Anthem by Tynwald in 2003.
Consisting of eight verses, the anthem gives a romantic outline of the Island’s history from Norse times. . It was translated into Manx Gaelic by John J Kneen (1873 – 1939). Today, the first and last verses are most likely to be sung at official and social events.

This recording was originally released as an accompaniment to the book, 'Coraa: Manx Songs for Choirs,' edited by Dr Chloë Woolley and published by the Manx Heritage Foundation in 2011.
The project was designed for the Isle of Man secondary schools, but it will appeal to choirs or singing groups of any age interesting in performing Manx songs.
The book is freely available as a PDF download here: https://manxmusic.com/media//Learn%20Songs/CORAA%20final%20version.pdf

'Coraa' was produced as a part of Culture Vannin's ongoing work to promote, support and celebrate the music of the Isle of Man. More information about this aspect of our work is available here: https://manxmusic.com/

The Manx choir, Caarjyn Cooidjagh, are conducted by Annie Kissack.
https://www.manxmusic.com/performers/gaelic-choirs-and-singers/caarjyn-cooidjagh/

This recording was released, with permission of the performers and others involved, in 2025 by Culture Vannin.
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

Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin

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 songs