The Isle of Man

“ Cur failt erriu gys Ellan Vannin”
- or as we say in English -
“ Welcome to the Isle Of Man”

The Isle of Man is 227 square miles in area and measures 33 miles from its most northerly tip at the Point of Ayre to the Chicken Rock in the south. At its widest point it is no more than 13 miles.

The nearest UK mainland point to the island is Burrow Head, Galloway, and 16 miles north of the Point of Ayre.

The nearest English mainland point to the Island is St Bees Head, Cumbria, 34 miles north east of Ramsey.

The distance from Peel on the west coast, to Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, is 40 miles.

Holyhead, Wales lies 55 miles south of the Calf of Man.

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

If you want to go up in the world – the highest public bar in the British Isles is at the top of Snaefell (Snow Mountain), the islands only mountain at 2036ft above sea level, the highest of the ten peaks.

Thanks to the Manx Film Commission films such as Waking Ned, The Brylcreem Boys, and Thomas the Tank and Treasure Island are just some of the films to have been filmed here on location in the past 10 years.

Income tax starts at 10% rising to 18%

The Island boasts its own Stamps, Currency, Law, Culture and Cuisine.

The Manx language – Galick – is a member of the Celtic family of languages, akin to Scottish and Irish Gaelic. Once universally spoken it has recently seen a spirited revival.

The most popular name in the present telephone directory is Kelly with 486 approx entries. It is believed to be a modern form of the Gaelic ‘Cllaigh’ – meaning ‘Son of War’.

The Manx Cats have no tails, but how many know that Manx Loughtan sheep have 4 –6 horns. They may have been here in Celtic times or brought to the island by the Vikings.

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

Fabulous scenery, enchanting glens, miles of uncrowded beaches, medieval castles, Victorian railways and trams, beautiful parks and gardens, international motor sports like the TT Motorcycles and Car rally’s, countless opportunities for first class golf & fishing and watersports, fascinating museums and heritage centres, superb restaurants are just some of the tourist attractions throughout the Island.

The Calf of Man is the small island that lies off the southern tip of the Isle of Man. Its name is derived from the ancient Norse word ‘Kalfr’ which means a small island that is located near a larger one.

Two methods of travel to the Island are by The Isle of Man Steampacket Company (Ferry) from ports such as Liverpool, Heysham, and seasonally Dublin & Belfast. With flights with British Airways City Express and British European from 20 destinations throughout the UK.

It may be worth noting the Manx spirit measure is 1/5th of a gill, compared to 1/6th in the United Kingdom.

Cheers!!!

Population: circa. 79,000 Last Census: 2003

Golf on the Isle of Man

We currently have 8 established 18-hole golf courses (Castletown, Peel, Doulgas, Ramsey, Rowany, Mount Murray, King Edward Bay) and 1 in the process of being finished (Glen Truan) also one 9-hole course (Port St Mary).

When playing here you feel like a millionaire what with uncrowded fairways along with very reasonable green fees compared to the UK and the rest of the world.

‘ A Long walk spoilt’ certainly doesn’t apply to the islands golf courses each one having unique features and splendid scenery.

Is it Man,Mann, Mannin or Ellan Vannin

The Island, long ago, was known as Mona.

In one form or another, Mona seems to have come down through the centuries until the Scandinavians arrived.

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

Within historic times the Isle of Man was inhabited by the Pics and the derivation of Mona or Mana means mountainous or hilly land. It is of some interest that Anglesey some 55 miles to the south/east was also called Mona.

The late Professor Rhys suggested that Mann may have taken its name from Mannanan the Celtic Neptune, but it is more probable that Mannanan took his name from the Island.

Who, you ask, is Mannanan?

Well, he is the Manx God who has protected this island over the centuries; whenever danger threatens including an enemy of the Island Mannanan wraps the Island in his cloak of mist. In Manx tradition he is called Mannanan Mac-y-lir, Son of the Sea.

Perhaps the Romans of so long ago saw us from Anglesey, but it is a fact that no roman ever set foot on our Island home.

Nowadays we call the Island Ellan Vannin.

The Manx people have the Celtic gift of imaginary story telling but be it at your peril if you forget to say hello to the little people at the fairy bridge. I’ll leave the next piece of information up to you to decided whether fact or fiction: Irish folklore has it that a giant called Finn Mc Cool is said to have gotten out of bed one morning on the wrong side, and had one of those days, to which he lost his temper whilst building a cause way. He picked up the largest rock he could find and hurled it 50 miles into the sea, and here we have the Isle of Man.

The History & the facts

Situated in the Irish Sea, the Island has been open to the varied interest and influences exerted by our four larger neighbouring nations – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

In its long and often turbulent history the Island has been a Scandinavian settlement, a cradle of Celtic Christianity and language and a feudal kingdom. It was invaded and occupied in the English civil war, became a refuge for smugglers in eighteenth century and, after political struggle and debate, was finally acquired by the British Crown in 1828. Throughout the administrative changes of the nineteenth century, the Manx people continued to assert their desire for that internal autonomy which was ultimately achieved and which they guard jealously to this day.

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

© Isle of Man Tourism

There is much to be proud of in the Isle of Man, a self-governing crown dependency with her majesty the queen as the retaining title of Lord of Mann.

The coming of the Vikings brought a form of Government in the 9th Century, which is now the longest continuous history of any legislature. It is known as Tynwald from the Norse “Tingvollr” which means ‘assembly field’. Which can be found at St Johns. Magnus the last Viking King of Man died here in 1265.

The chief landowners of the time were selected to represent the freemen of the Island in a body of men known as ‘Keysh’ or ‘Chosen’ hence the modern derivation, House of Keys. The Islands’ national day is Tynwald Day, held each 5th of July at St Johns. Latterly, in Viking days it was held on the 24th June. However, when the Gregoryan Calendar came into force – and the whole of Europe mourned the loss of eleven days – the date changed to the 5th of July. Although the date changed the actual day remained the same.

The flag of the Isle of Man depicts three legs on a red background. Just where the three-legged symbol comes from is unsure, but there is some strength of the proposal that it arrived via Sicily, where a fifth century BC vase was found. The vase depicts a fight between Achilles and Memmon. On Memmon’s shield is a clear impression of three legs!

As part of the Manx coat of arms, the symbol is accompanied by the motto – ‘Quocunque Jeceris Stabit’ which means, ‘Which ever way you throw him, he stands’ – which admirably sums up the Manx people’s staunch patriotism for their native land.

For many centuries, Castletown was the political capital until the 19th Century where Douglas took over. Castle Rushen has survived captures by the Scottish King Robert the Bruce in 1313. Then again in 1377 the castle took another battering from the French. Castle Rushen, a fortress built on a mass of boulder clay beneath which is plentiful supply of water. A unique feature of this magnificently preserved castle is the diamond shaped one figure clock, which was presented by Queen Elizabeth I. It is still wound daily and is in excellent working order.

The coming of the Industrial Revolution brought great prosperity to the Manx mines. In Laxey, to cope with serious flooding, a Manxman, Robert Casement, proposed the Idea of constructing the largest waterwheel ever built. The Great Laxey Wheel, first turned on September 7th 1854, and was christened ‘Lady Isabella’ by the Governor, the Hon. Charles Hope, in honour of his wife.