Bannaght Columb Killey as yeearreeyn share voish Mannin
The blessing of Columb Killey and best wishes from Mann. By Phil Gawne [English version of Manx below]
Choud’s ta recortyssyn soilshey dooin ta feailley ny margey er ve goll er cummal ayns Skeerey Cairbre jannoo ard-eailley jeh Columb Killey er dyn 1733. Ayns e chooinaghtyn, screeu Dr Juan y Clague, eshyn ren recortys beeal-arrish as arraneyn as carryn tradishoonagh as hooar baase ayns 1908, “ta cooinaght aym pene er ollan, snaie olley, eggaghyn dy eaddagh, eeast chirmit, eeast sailjey as lhiare goll er creck er’n nah laa as feed Mean Souree er Laa Columb Killey” as “ta mee er nakin wheesh as feed bwaagyn ayn ry hoi creck lhune eddyr yn daa ghroghad.”
Hie yn margey magh ass ayns ayrn s’jerree y nuyoo keead jeig agh v’eh aavioghit ayns 1912 ec yn Ard-jaghin Kewley as ta laa seyr ny skeerey er ve ayn er dyn shen, lesh spoyrtyn, taishbynys troar as ellynyn, as kiaull as rinkaghyn. Hig keeadyn dy leih dagh blein dy chur shilley er ny goaill ayrn ayn as she laa mie inshit foast ayns blein heshoil ny Manninee
Records show that there has been a festival, or fair, held in Arbory Parish celebrating Columb Killey since at least 1733. In his recollection of the fair, folklorist and song collector Dr John Clague who died in 1908 says “I remember myself wool, wooden thread, webs of cloth, dried fish, salt herrings and leather, sold on the twenty second day of the middle month of the summer, on St Columba’s Day” and “I have seen as many as twenty tents for the selling of ale between the two bridges.”
The fair appeared to have died out in the latter part of the nineteenth century but it was revived in 1912 by Archdeacon Kewley and there has been a parish holiday with sports, arts and produce show and music and dancing ever since. The fair attracts hundreds of visitors and participants every year and continues to be a highlight of the Manx social calendar.
