taking our culture forward

 

A talk about some of the many of the traditional Manx songs and tunes which come from encounters with the faeries and their kind.

Annie Kissack RBV reflects on the intersections of song and written word with Manx faery lore, and how it’s been interpreted by various writers and musicians, over the years. With the help of Phil Gawne, this talk features musical examples of songs, tunes and rhymes, illustrating Annie’s reflections on music, poems and stories, and ways in which they link and feed into each other.

This talk was delivered to Michael Heritage Trust on 16 June 2025 in Kirk Michael. It was recorded by Culture Vannin and released here with thanks to all involved.

 

Short extracts created from the main talk follow below:

  • Fairy music heard in Douglas in the 1720s

  • The Wandescope

  • Bollan Bane: The Kirk Michael version of 1896

  • Yn Bollan Bane (song)

  • Phillie the Desert's Fairy Tune

  • The story of 'Arrane Ghelbee'