21-07-2025
Celtic festival 'celebrates music, song and dance' on Isle of Man
An annual festival bringing the Celtic nations together on Manx shores for a week to celebrate traditional music, song and dance will get under way Chruinnaght, which means The Gathering in Manx Gaelic, will see artists from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall joined by local players for a series of back to 1977, organisers said the annual event remained true to its original aims of "promoting and celebrating the traditional culture of the Isle of Man in an appropriate way, amongst friends".Among the artists performing are Cornish folk quartet The Brim Ceilidh Band, eight members of young Welsh ensemble Avans and renowned Scottish folk band Rura.
The week-long celebration will also see a special concert with harpist Rachel Hair and acoustic guitarist Ron Jappy performing The Deer's Cry, a piece written to celebrate the work of artist and designer Archibald well as formal concerts, the festival will include busking, traditional music sessions, displays, crafts and workshops, and food and folk sessions themed to highlight the Celtic nations.
Monday
11:30 YC House Band busking outside Marks & Spencer, Douglas13:00 Scottish Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:30 Rura concert, with support from Tree ny Kiare, at the Centenary Centre, Peel20:00 Festival Friends traditional music session at the George Hotel, Castletown21:30 Festival Friends late night session at the Whitehouse Pub, Peel
Tuesday
11:00 Pop-up Gaeltaght (Manx conversation) at the House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Manx Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:30 Song Night at the Masonic Hall, Peel
Wednesday
12:00 Displays and Workshops at the House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Cornish Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:00 Conference of the Gaels: Manx/Irish panel discussion hosted by Raidió Fáilte at the Centenary Centre, Peel19:30 Celtic Myths & Legends Celi at the Masonic Hall, Peel19:30 Summer Concert with Yn Chruinnaght collaboration at the Sailor's Shelter, Peel20:30 Festival Friends traditional music session at O'Donnell's Pub, Douglas
Thursday
11:00 Pop-up Gaeltaght (Manx conversation) at House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Welsh Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas17:00 Annual Ian O'Leary Lecture ("Ná habair é, déan é!" Don't say it! Do it! – an informal lecture on the development of Irish Gaelic in Belfast by members of Radió Fáilte) at the Atholl Room, Centenary Centre, Peel17:30 Celtic Myths & Legends Concert at the Centenary Centre, Peel21:30 Festival Friends late night session at the Whitehouse Pub, Peel
Friday
10:00 Archibald Knox themed Mini Musicians workshop with Mannin Music at the Manx Museum, Douglas12:00 Displays at the House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Irish Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:30 Mega Manx Ceili with music and dance for all the family at St German's Cathedral, Peel19:30 Rachael Hair & Ron Jappy Concert celebrating 160 years of Archibald Knox at the Royal Chapel, St John's
Saturday
11:00 Music, song, drama and dance displays at St German's Cathedral, Corrin Hall & Grounds, Peel14:00 Workshops and masterclasses at the Atholl Room, Centenary Centre, Peel17:00 Live music from local and visiting artists at Peel Sailing Club19:30 Calum Stewart Trio Concert with Sophie Stephenson and Smooinaght Mie at the Centenary Centre, Peel21:00 Festival Friends Late night session at the Whitehouse Pub, Peel
Sunday
13:00 Survivors' sessions and gigs to finish the week at the Black Dog Oven, Peel
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