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
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The wreck of the Merisia, Bulgham Bay, 1940

Piosenka Księżycowa

“New ways of speaking, new ways to be a ‘speaker’: What Manx can tell us about revival and identity”
A lecture in English by Dr. Erin McNulty.

This was delivered as the Ned Maddrell Lecture 2025 as a part of the Cooish Manx Language Festival.
The lecture was hosted by Possan Ronsee Gaelgagh – Manx Language Research Group (Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh), in the iMuseum in Douglas, with support from Manx National Heritage.
It was delivered on 5 November 2025.

Dr Erin McNulty is a sociolinguist working with Manx Gaelic.
Her PhD from the University of Glasgow was on '"Cre'n sorçh dy Ghaelg t'ou loayrt nish?": The Intersection of Ideologies and Morphosyntactic Variation in New Speakers of Manx Gaelic.'
This UKRI-funded PhD research focussed on the relationship between linguistic structure, identity, and language ideologies among New Speakers of revitalised Manx Gaelic.
A speaker of Manx Gaelic, Erin has also undertaken research on linguistic variation in New Speakers of Manx for her MPhil dissertation at the University of Cambridge. She also holds a BA in French and Linguistics from the University of Oxford.
Erin has been involved with multiple research projects and working groups involving Manx, Celtic languages, and minoritized languages more widely. These include the Manx Language Research Group, the Association of Celtic Students, a Visiting Fellowship at the Centre for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and most recently she was Research Associate working on the ‘Gaelic Connect’ project at the University of Glasgow.

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

What Manx can tell us about Revival and Identity - Dr. Erin McNulty

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Quoi ta'n Lhiannoo Aalin?
(Who is the Beautiful Baby?)

A song with music composed by Annie Kissack RBV, with words translated from the Irish by Brian Stowell RBV. Here, Ruth Keggin Gell gives a spoken guide to the Manx pronunciation:

1. Quoi ta’n lhiannoo aalin
Ayns y vanjoor ny lhie?
Quoi s’lesh eh?
Nagh jesh eh?
T’eh ny lhiannoo beg meen.

2. She Yeesey yn lhiannoo aalin,
As eshyn ny lhie ayns manjoor,
Ta Yeesey lhiams,
Ta Yeesey lhiats,
Ree ny reeaghyn, Mac Yee.

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/

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

Quoi ta'n Lhiannoo Aalin [pronunciation]

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Arrane ny Guillyn Baney
(Song of the White Boys)

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

1. Shoh slaynt rish deiney daaney,
’Naght cheddin rish ny mraane.
Lesh creeaghyn cho maynrey
Nish lhig dooin goaill arrane.

Co-chiaull:
S’mie lhien caggey elgyssagh
As gee as giu dy mie.
O, Nollick ghennal erriu
As blein feer vie;
As dy row erriu blein feer vie.

2. Tra ta noidyn cour ain ta shin
Caggey lesh bree mooar;
Agh tra ta giense ayn boayl erbee
Ta boggey ain dy liooar.

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/

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

Arrane ny Guillyn Baney [pronunciation]

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Rudolf y Feeaih Loghlynagh
(Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer)

A song by J Marks, translated into Manx by Bob Carswell RBV. Here, Ruth Keggin Gell gives a spoken guide to the Manx pronunciation:

Stroin jiarg dy liooar v’ec Rudolf, eh ny feeaih Loghlynagh.
Tra honnick sleih, v’eh jeeaghyn, myr dy row ee soilshean magh.

Nagh ren dagh ooilley feeaih, gamman mooar jeh Rudolf boght?
Cha dug ad kied da Rudolf, goaill ayrn ayns ny spoyrtyn oc.

Eisht, Oie’l Verree chayeeagh, ren Jishag y Nollick gra,
“Rudolf, as cho gial dty stroin, leeid shin choud’s ta shin goll roin.”

Eisht ren dagh ooilley feeaih, garaghtee as gyllagh magh,
“Rudolf as stroin jiarg vie ayds, bee oo ayns shennoaylleeaght!”

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/

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

Rudolph y Feeaih Loghlynagh [pronunciation]

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
O Tar Shuiush taCredjal
(O Come, All Ye Faithful)

A song with English words composed J F Wade and translated into Manx by P W Caine and Chris Sheard. Here, Ruth Keggin Gell gives a spoken guide to the Manx pronunciation:

1. O tar shiuish ta credjal,
Boggoil as goaill barriaght,
Tar shiu, O tar shiu gys Bethlehem;
Tar shiu as jeeagh er,
Ruggit Ree ny ainleyn:
O tar, lhig dooin cur gloyr da,
O tar, lhig dooin cur gloyr da,
O tar, lhig dooin cur gloyr da,
Creest yn Çhiarn.

2. Jee dy Yeeaghyn,
Soilshey veih’n toshiaght,
Cha dug Eh dwoaie da corp ’Voidyn ghlen;
Jee er ny gheddyn,
Cha nee er ny yannoo...

3. Gow shiu arrane Da,
Ainleyn, gow shiu boggey,
Gow shiu arrane, dy chooilley chummaltagh niau!
Gloyr dy row gys Jee,
Gloyr dy row ’syn yrjid...

4. Hiarn, vermayds bannaght ort er’n
laa shoh maynrey,
Lhiats nish, O Yeesey, ta moylley as gloyr;
Goo, Uss, jeh’n Ayr ain,
Nish ’syn ’eill ry-akin...

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/

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

O Tar Shiuish ta Credjal [pronunciation]

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
O Valley Veg Bethlehem
(O Little Town of Bethlehem)

A traditional song with English words by Bishop Phillips Brooks. Here, Ruth Keggin Gell gives a spoken guide to the Manx pronunciation:

1. O valley veg Bethlehem, Cho feagh t’ou uss dty lhie.
Erskyn dty chadley dowin as kiune, Ta rollageyn goll veih.
Agh ayns dty straidyn soilshaghey, Yn soilshey dy bragh beayn,
Ta treisht as aggle jeh ooilley’n theihll, Er jaglym aynyd noght.

2. Rollageyn ’voghree fockley magh, Yn ruggyr shoh feer noo.
As moyllaghyn rish Jee nyn Ree, As shee er seihll as niau.
Son ruggyr Creest jeh Moirrey, As cooidjagh er nyn skyn
Tra chadlys ooilley marvaanee, Ta ainleyn arrey freayll.

3. As cre cho tostagh haink yn gioot, Cho yindyssagh as braew.
Ta Jee coyrt da ny creeaghyn ain, Ny bannaghtyn jeh niau.
Cha bee fer ayn ta clashtyn, Tra hig nyn Jiarn neose hooin,
Anmeenyn meein nee clashtyn sheean, Tra hig Creest cur failt dooin.
4. Oh Lhiannoo vannit Vethlehem, Tar neose hooin ta shin guee.

Tilg magh nyn voill, tar Vac Reeoil, Bee ruggit ayndooin jiu.
Cluinmayd ny ainleyn Nollick, Ginsh jeh naight cho mie.
O tar hooin nish, bee marin nish, O Hiarn Emmanuel.

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/

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

O Valley Veg Bethlehem [pronunciation]

A pronunciation guide to the Manx words of the Manx Gaelic Christmas song:
Ainle Gabriel
(The Angel Gabriel)

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

1. Haink ainle Gabriel veih flaunys gial,
E skianyn sniaghtey bane, e hooillyn myr aile.
“Dy vannee Dhyt,” dooyrt eh, “y voidyn Voirrey,
Y ven smoo foayragh da Jee.” Gloria!

2. “Bee shiu nyn moir vannit, bee fys Eu,
Dagh lhing ver moylley ard as arrym Hiu,
Emmanuel Dty Vac bee ruggit Diu,
Y ven smoo foayragh da Jee.” Gloria!

3. Eisht chroym y voidyn veein e kione dy ghra,
“My vees eh aigney Yee shen, lhig da ve.
Dy jean my annym gloyr y chur da’n Çhiarn ain.”
Y ven smoo foayragh da Jee. Gloria!

4. She jeeish rug nyn Jiarn, Emmanuel,
Ayns Bethlehem Laa Nollick haink sy theihll,
Myr shen jir Creesteenyn er feiy ny cruinney,
“Y ven smoo foayragh da Jee.” Gloria!

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/

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

Ainle Gabriel [pronunciation]

A conversation with Fiona McArdle RBV about the White Boys between the late 1980s and the 2000s, and the wider Manx cultural circles in which it lived.

It was as a driver in the late 1980s that Fiona McArdle first joined those keeping alive the Isle of Man's 200-year-old Christmas mummers play named for its unusual costume.
In 1992 she was a leading member of 'The White Girls' who performed the first ever modern all-female performance of the play.
She continued to play a central role in the play's performances each year through to 2007, when the performances linked to the dance group, Bock Yuan Fannee, finally ceased.

As well as discussions of the White Boys, the conversation also touches on the wider Manx cultural revival of the time, including the Manx language and dance.

This conversation with Fiona McArdle RBV was conducted by James Franklin on 2 December 2025.

This interview is part of the collection of over 200 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannin website: culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

The image is Fiona McArdle RBV as St Denise in 'The White Girls,' 28/12/1992, MNH PG/16370. It is used here with thanks to our friends at the Manx National Heritage Library & Archives.

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

Oral history interview with Fiona McArdle RBV about the White Boys (2 Dec 2025)

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 #Manx