Manx Culture

Manx Gaelic – Where is it from and where’s it going? Y Ghaelg – Cre voish haink ee as c’raad t’ee goll? Manx, or Manx Gaelic, is the native language of the Isle of Man. Like Scottish Gaelic, its origins lie in Old Irish but given our Island’s unique history it has developed its own unique style which makes it different but still closely related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

Up until the 1800s English was a foreign language to most Manx people, although it would be used for trade and administration purposes. However, due to economic, social and political pressures, the language suffered an enormous decline to such an extent that by 1961 only 165 people claimed to speak the language. However, by the time the last native speaker of Manx, Ned Maddrell, died in 1974, a revival in interest had begun. This interest has recently gathered pace to the extent in the last census (2001) 2.2% of people in the Island could speak Manx, of whom 47% were under the age of 20. Moreover, in the Mori opinion poll carried out in the Island in 2002, 19% of people expressed an interest in learning the language and a further 5% were extremely keen on learning it.

People are increasingly aware of the great cultural legacy that the language has to offer to all those people who now call Mann their home. Moreover, the success of Manx here will, we believe, lead to our Island playing an increasingly important role in global efforts to protect minority languages. The survival of Manx isn’t guaranteed, but it is in a stronger position than it has been for a long time: its future very much lies with all those who now call this Island their home.

Your First Manx Lesson

Manx often has a reputation for being a difficult language to learn: it isn’t really! As a Celtic language, however, it is very different to English and it is these differences that provide the real beauty of the language. A few words or fluency – the choice is yours – but whatever your preference the outcome will be a new appreciation of Island life.

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Manx Music