Isle of Man

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Isle of Man (Manx: Ellan Vannin) or Mann (Manx: Mannin), is an island located in the Irish Sea at the geographical centre of the British Isles. Although not part of the United Kingdom, it is a Crown dependency.

Contents 1 Geography 2 People 3 Culture 3.1 Language 3.2 Myth, legend and folklore 4 Food and drink 5 Government 5.1 Structure 5.2 External relations 5.3 Politics 5.4 Local government 6 Economy 7 History 7.1 Ancient times to present 7.2 The Tynwald 7.3 The Manx triskelion 8 Sport 8.1 Motorcycle racing 8.2 Cammag 9 Famous residents 9.1 Born or raised on the island 9.2 Moved to the island 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of the Isle of Man

See also: List of islands of the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is part of the British Isles, an archipelago off the north-western coast of mainland Europe. The island lies in the Irish Sea, approximately equidistant between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Approximately 48 kilometres (32 miles) long and between 13 and 24 kilometres (8 and 15 miles) wide, the island has an area of around 572 km² (221 square miles).

Hills in the north and south are bisected by a central valley. The extreme north is exceptionally flat, consisting mainly of deposits built up by deposition from glacial advances from Western Scotland during colder times. There are more recently deposited shingle beaches at the Point of Ayre. It has only one mountain higher than two thousand feet, Snaefell, with a height of 621 metres (2,036 ft). According to an old saying, from the summit one can see six kingdoms: those of Mann, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, and Heaven [1],[2], [3]. Some versions add a seventh kingdom, that of Neptune or the Sea [4], [5].

[edit] People

Summary results of the Isle of Man Census 2006

According to the 2006 interim census, the Isle of Man is home to 80,058 people, of whom 26,218 reside in the island's capital Douglas (Doolish). The population is 93.9 percent from the British Isles, (place of birth: Isle of Man (47.6%), England (37.2%), Scotland (3.4%), Northern Ireland (2.1%), Republic of Ireland (2.1%), Wales (1.2%), Channel Islands (0.3%)), and 6.1 percent from the rest of the world. This gives the island a population density of 140 people per square kilometre, or 362 people per square mile.

[edit] Culture

Further information: Music of the Isle of Man

The culture of the Isle of Man is strongly influenced by its Celtic and Norse origins.

[edit] Language

The Manx language is closely related to the Scottish Gaelic and Irish languages. By the middle of the twentieth century only a few elderly native speakers remained: the last of them, Ned Maddrell, died on December 27, 1974. By then a scholarly revival had begun to spread to the populace and many had learned Manx as a second language. The first native speakers of Manx (bilingual with English) in many years have now appeared: children brought up by Manx-speaking parents. Primary immersion education in Manx is provided by the Manx government: since 2003, the former St. John's School building has been used by the Bunscoill Gaelgagh (Manx language-medium school). Degrees in Manx are available from the Isle of Man College, the Centre for Manx Studies and the University of Edinburgh. Manx-language playgroups also exist, and Manx language classes are available in island schools. In the 1991 census, 1,689 out of a population of about 71,000 claimed to have knowledge of Manx, although the degree of knowledge in these cases presumably varied.

A well known Manx expression is "Traa Dy Liooar", meaning "time enough" and represents a stereotypical view of the Manx attitude to life.

[edit] Myth, legend and folklore

The Manx have a rich tradition of folklore, and there are many stories of mythical creatures and characters. These include the Buggane, a malevolent spirit who according to legend blew the roof off St Trinian's church in a fit of pique; and the Moddey Dhoo - a ghostly black dog who wandered the walls and corridors of Peel Castle.

The Isle of Man is also said to be home to fairies, known locally as "the quaer fellas" or "themselves". There is a famous Fairy Bridge and it is said to be bad luck if one doesn't wish the fairies good morning or afternoon when passing over it.

[edit] Food and drink

The national dish of the island is "Spuds and Herrin'", boiled potatoes and herring. This plain dish is chosen because of its role supporting the subsistence farmers of the island, who crofted the land and fished the sea for centuries.

Seafood has traditionally accounted for a large proportion of the Manx diet. Although commercial fishing has declined in recent years, local delicacies include manx kippers (smoked herring) which are produced by the smokeries on the west coast of the island, albeit mainly from North Sea herring these days. The smokeries also produce other specialities including smoked salmon and bacon.

Crab, lobster and scallops are commercially fished, and the Queen Scallop ('Queenies') is regarded as a particular delicacy, with a light, sweet flavour. Cod, ling and mackerel are often angled for the table, and freshwater trout and salmon can be taken from the local rivers and lakes, supported by the Government fish hatchery at Cornaa.

Manx meat has a good reputation. Cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry are all commercially farmed, Manx lamb from the hill-farms being a popular dish. The Loughtan, the indigenous breed of manx sheep, has a rich, dark meat that has found favour with chefs, featuring in dishes on the BBC's Masterchef series.

Milk and cheese are produced by IOM Creameries. Manx cheese has been a particular success, featuring smoked and herb-flavoured varieties, and is stocked by many of the UK's supermarket chains. Manx cheese took bronze medals in the 2005 British Cheese Awards, and sold 578 tonnes over the year.

Beer is brewed on a commercial scale by Okells Brewery (established in 1850) and Bushy's Brewery.

Okells produces a number of beers including classic bitters, ales and milds, with a range of specialities including "Dr. Okells IPA", its biggest seller in the UK,"Mac Lir" wheat beer and "Aile" smoked porter.

Martin Brunnschweiler's "Bushy's Brewery" is a relatively recent startup that has found favour with the younger crowd and with the Tourist Trophy race fans who congregate in his beer tent over the TT festival. Bushy's produces ales, bitters and stouts, including "Old Bushy Tail" and "Piston Brew", alongside one-off specials and seasonal brews.

"Manx Spirit [6]", a spirit distilled from Scotch whisky, is produced by Kella Distillers.

[edit] Government

[edit] Structure

The Isle of Man is a self-governing crown dependency. The Head of State is the Lord of Mann, who since 1765 has been the British Sovereign, currently Elizabeth II. She is represented by the Island's Lieutenant Governor. The United Kingdom is responsible for the Island's defence, for representing the Island in international forums, and ultimately for "good governance", while the Island's own parliament has competence over almost all domestic matters.

The Island's parliament is Tynwald (Tinvaal), which dates from at least AD 979. Tynwald is a bicameral legislature, comprising the House of Keys (directly elected by universal suffrage) and the Legislative Council (consisting of indirectly elected and ex officio members). These two bodies meet together in joint session as Tynwald.

The executive branch of government is the Council of Ministers, which is composed of members of Tynwald. It is headed by the Chief Minister, currently Tony Brown MHK.

[edit] External relations

Under British law, Mann is not part of the United Kingdom. However, the UK takes care of its external and defence affairs, and retains paramount power to legislate for the Island.

The Isle of Man holds neither membership nor associate membership of the European Union, and lies outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Nonetheless, Protocol Three of the treaty of accession of the United Kingdom permits trade for Manx goods without non-EU tariffs. In conjunction with the Customs and Excise agreement with the UK, this facilitates free trade with the UK. While Manx goods can be freely moved within the EEA, people, capital and services cannot.

There is no Manx citizenship. Citizenship is covered by UK law, and Manx people are classed as British citizens. However, those defined as Manx under Protocol Three have a special endorsement placed in their passports preventing them from freely living or working in EU states. Those Manx persons with a parent or grandparent born in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), or who have lived in the UK for five years, are not subject to this provision.

The restriction on free movement of persons is anomalous in that the treaty establishing the EU clearly states that all citizens of member states will also be citizens of the EU. However a special protocol was inserted in the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man from the provisions governing free movement of people. This was done at the request of the governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man at the time.

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of the Isle of Man

Most Manx politicians stand for election as independents rather than as representatives of political parties. Though political parties do exist, their influence is not nearly as strong as is the case in the United Kingdom. Consequently, much Manx legislation develops through consensus among the members of Tynwald, which contrasts with the much more adversarial nature of the UK parliament.

One political party, Mec Vannin, advocates the establishment of a sovereign republic. A Manx Labour Party also exists, unaffiliated to the UK Labour Party. The island formerly had a Manx National Party and a Manx Communist party. There are Manx members in the Celtic League, a political pressure group that advocates greater co-operation between and political autonomy for the Celtic nations. The main political issues include the Island's relationship with the finance sector, housing prices and shortages, and the Manx language. The vast majority (nineteen) of the members of the House of Keys are non-partisan, with two representatives from the Manx Labour Party and three from the Alliance for Progressive Government. More recently Positive Action Group have agitated for open government.

[edit] Local government

Main article: Local government in the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is divided into six administrative districts called sheadings (sheadin in Manx). The six sheadings are Ayre, Glenfaba, Garff, Michael, Rushen and Middle. The sheadings form the basis of some constituencies and each has a Coroner. This office must not be confused with the Coroner for Inquests, a role usually fulfilled by the High Bailiff. A person may fulfil the role of coroner for more than one sheading at the same time.

As each district was believed to be responsible for producing a certain number of warships, the term "sheading" is thought to be a Norse word meaning "ship division". It could also be a Celtic word meaning "sixth part".

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is a low tax economy with income tax rates of 10% and 18% and 0% rate of corporate tax. Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism form key sectors of the economy of the Isle of Man. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the Island has expanded employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, now make declining contributions to the Island's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Trade takes place mostly with the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man has access to European Union markets.

The Isle of Man has also recently entered the online gambling industry. In 2005 PokerStars, one of the world's largest online poker sites, relocated its headquarters to the Isle of Man from Costa Rica. In 2006, RNG Gaming a large gaming software developer of P2P tournaments and Get21, a multiplayer online blackjack site, based their corporate offices on the island.

The Manx government also promotes island locations for making films by contributing to the production costs. Among the most successful productions funded in part by the Isle of Man film industry were Waking Ned, where the Manx countryside stood in for rural Ireland, and films like Stormbreaker, Shergar, Tom Brown's Schooldays, I Capture the Castle, The Libertine, Island at War (TV series), 5 Children and It, Colour me Kubrick, Sparkle, and others. Other films that have been filmed on the Isle of Man include Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Keeping Mum [7]

Since 1999, the Isle of Man has received electricity through the world's longest submarine AC cable, the 90 kV Isle of Man to England Interconnector, as well as from a natural gas power station in Douglas, an oil power station in Peel and a small hydro-electric power station in Sulby Glen.

[edit] History

Main article: History of the Isle of Man

[edit] Ancient times to present

Viking settlement on the Isle of Man began at the end of the eighth century. The Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles was created by Godred Crovan in 1079. In 1266, as dictated in the Treaty of Perth, Norway's King Magnus VI ceded the isles to Scotland. The Isle of Man came under English control in the fourteenth century and to the British Crown in 1765.

The Isle of Man was used as a base for "Alien Civilian Internment" camps during both the First and Second World Wars.

During Viking times, the islands of the Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles were called the Súðreyjar or Sudreys ("southern isles") in contrast to the Norðreyjar ("northern isles") of Orkney and Shetland. This became Sodor. The Church of England diocese is still called the Diocese of Sodor and Man although it only covers Mann. When the Rev. W. V. Awdry wrote The Railway Series, he invented the island of Sodor as an imaginary island located between the Isle of Man and the Cumbrian coast.

[edit] The Tynwald

The Tynwald, the Island's parliament nominally founded in 979 AD, is arguably the oldest continuous parliament in the world^[1]. The annual ceremonial meeting in July on Tynwald Day, the Island's national day, continues to be held at Tynwald Hill, where titles are announced and a brief description of the new laws enacted by the Tynwald Court during the previous year is given.

[edit] The Manx triskelion

For centuries, the Island's symbol has been its ancient triskelion, a device similar to Sicily's Trinacria: three bent legs, each with a spur, joined at the thigh. The Manx triskelion does not appear to have an official definition; Government publications, currency, flags, the tourist authority and others all use different variants. Most, but not all, preserve rotational symmetry, some running clockwise, others counterclockwise. Some have the uppermost thigh at 12:00, others at 11:30 or 10:00, etc. Some have the knee bent at 90°, some at 60°, some at closer to 120°. Also the degree of ornamentation of the leg wear and spur vary considerably.

The three legs relate directly to the island's motto: "Quocunque Jeceris Stabit", translated as "Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand". Interpretations of the motto often stress stability and robustness in the Manx character. Many schools on the island have adapted the motto to promote perseverance and hard work.

Variations on the Manx triskelion are still in use on the coats of arms belonging to the different branches of the ancient Norwegian noble family that ruled Mann until the thirteenth century. This particular version belongs to the Skancke branch of the Skanke family. The name stems from skank, the Norwegian version of the word "shank". The Norse royal family of Man stayed on the island for some years after the death of Magnus III and the beginning of Scottish rule. The family's emigration only came after the a final attempt on the Manx' part at restoring the old Sudreyar dynasty in the 1275 uprising against the Scots. This revolt failed disastrously, ending in the deaths of hundreds of rebels, including the last Norse King of Man, Godred IV Magnuson when the Manx suffered defeat in the decisive Battle of Ronaldsway, near Castletown. When the Norse-Manx royals arrived in Norway they took service as nobles of the Norwegian king, quickly becoming knights, landlords, and clergy under the Norwegian Crown.

[edit] Sport

Main article: Sport in the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is represented as a nation in the Commonwealth Games and the Island Games and will be hosting the IV Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011. The Island started the Island Games in 1985.

Isle of Man teams and individuals participate in many sports both on and off the island. Among the many sports played on the island are cricket, football, gymnastics, hockey and rugby union.

[edit] Motorcycle racing

The main international motorcycle event associated with the island is the Isle of Man TT, which began in 1907 and takes place in late May & early June. It is now an international road racing event for motor bikes and used to be part of the World Championship. The Manx Grand Prix is a motorcycle event for amateurs and private entrants that uses the same 37.73 mile Snaefell mountain course in late August and early September.

[edit] Cammag

One sport that originated on the Isle of Man is cammag. This is similar to the Scottish game of shinty, and Irish hurling. It used to be the most widespread sport on the Isle of Man, but it ceased to be played after the introduction of football, until very recently when it has been somewhat revived. It involves a stick (cammag) and a ball (crick) with anything between four and hundreds of players. Sometimes whole towns and villages took part, or even played each other. The cammag can be any stick with a bent end, and the crick can be made from cork or wood. Old accounts tell us that it was occasionally covered in a rag to make it less painful to hit. Cammag season started on Hunt the Wren Day (26 December) and was only played by men (of all ages) during the winter. Realistically, it ceased to be played around 1900. However, in modern times, an annual match of cammag is played in St. John's (Balley Keill Eoin). As there are no rules to cammag, a trip to the local inn is advised to ease any feelings of cowardice beforehand.

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] Born or raised on the island

• The Bee Gees were all born on the island. Maurice Gibb returned for a spell during the 1970s, as did Barry Gibb where he wrote the music for the film Saturday Night Fever. Robin Gibb and his wife bought property in the west of the island in January 2007.
• T.E. Brown, poet, scholar and theologian was born and lived much of his life on the island apart from his education at Oxford University and the more than thirty years he spent as a schoolmaster in England.
• Robert Henry Cain was an Oil Company Executive who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during "Operation Market Garden" in September 1944. He was the father of Frances Catherine Cain, wife of Jeremy Clarkson (see below).
• Nigel and Bryan Kneale, brothers who were raised on the island and achieved fame as a screenwriter and sculptor respectively.
• Alex Lloyd, racing driver and winner of the 2003 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, is from the island. He is the son of Alan Lloyd, the multi-millionaire owner of the Lloyds Pharmacy chain.

[edit] Moved to the island

• Jeremy Clarkson, journalist and broadcaster, bought a lighthouse home in the south-east of the island (Dreswick Point) which he shares with his Manx-born wife Francie and their children.
• George MacDonald Fraser, the journalist, author, and screenwriter lives on the island. The title of his 2002 memoirs, Light's on at Signpost, is a reference to the Isle of Man TT races.
• Florrie Forde (1876 – 1940), known as "The Queen of Music Hall" performed at the Derby Castle ballroom stage from 1900 to 1937 (excluding the war years) and had a bungalow at Niarbyl Bay on the west coast of the island where she spent her Sundays relaxing.
• Neil Hodgson, the 2003 Superbike and World Superbike Champion lives in Ramsey on the Isle of Man.
• Justin Jackson is a professional footballer, who has played for numerous English league and non-league clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Halifax Town, Rushden & Diamonds, Doncaster Rovers and Morecambe.
• Andy Kershaw, the BBC Radio presenter has a home in Peel on the Island.
• Charlotte Lamb, prolific and bestselling romantic novelist (1937 – 2000), best-known for writing over 150 Mills & Boon novels, lived on the island from 1977 until her death in October 2000.
• Nigel Mansell, the British racing driver lived in Port Erin on the Isle of Man for many years, and was a Special Constable there throughout his Formula One career. After retirement from Formula One, he moved to Florida in the USA where he continued with a brief but successful career in Indy Car Racing. Mansell moved back to the UK soon after to buy a golf club in Devon. Although still based primarily in Devon, he has since bought another home on the Isle of Man.
• Bill Naughton, novelist and screenwriter lived for many years in Bolton before moving to the Isle of Man with his wife Erna in the late 1950s.
• John Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor and has lived on the island for a number of years. He is best known for his acting roles in Indiana Jones as Sallah, in Sliders as Professor Arturo and in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy as Gimli.
• Ronnie Ronalde, Music Hall performer famous for his singing, whistling, yodelling and imitations of bird song lived for a number of years on the island with most of his immediate family.
• Mollie Sugden, an actress known mainly for her role as Mrs. Slocombe on the British comedy Are You Being Served? has a home on the north-west coast of the island.
• Rick Wakeman, Ex-keyboard player in rock bands Yes and Black Sabbath, lived on the Island for a number of years, and still owns property there.
• Alan Warner, multi-millionaire novelist and screenwriter, moved to the Isle of Man from the UK in 1989 and lives a reclusive and modest lifestyle at a lighthouse in the north of the island. Semi-retired, Warner has become an altruist devoting much of his time and money to charitable causes both locally and worldwide.
• David M. Wilson, former director of the British Museum currently lives in the Isle of Man.
• Sir Norman Wisdom, comedian and actor, is a long-term resident of the island.

[edit] See also

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Communications on the Isle of Man Transport on the Isle of Man List of Kings of the Isle of Man Calf of Man and Chicken Rock St Patrick's Isle (Peel Castle) Manx cat

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Towns in the Isle of Man Tynwald Day Coins of the Manx pound List of not fully sovereign nations Malcolm Bishop

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• As the Island has no speed limit on many of its roads, it has been featured a number of times on BBC TV motoring series Top Gear and become one of the programme's favourite locations.

[edit] References

• CIA World Factbook 2000

[edit] External links

• Isleofman.com The Isle of Man online. Comprehensive Business Directory, Events Calendar, Travel, Accommodation, Cars and Property for Sale, Finance and much more.
• Isle of Man Guide An extensive guide to the Isle of Man
• Manx Government Website A comprehensive site covering many aspects of Manx life from fishing to financial regulation
• Tynwald.org Hansards, Order Papers and Background to the Manx Government.
• Manx Radio The Isle of Man National Radio Station
• Manx Scenes.com Extensive photographic library.
• Index of Isle of Man Sailing Ships
• The CIA World Factbook listing for the Isle of Man
• Internet Movie Database IMDb listing of films using Manx locations
• Isle of Man Tour 360 degree pictures of the Isle of Man.

Geographic locale

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International membership

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