'Magical moment' as Manx language to light up the sky over Douglas

Drone display in the Island's capital this evening

There will be a drone display in the skies over Douglas Bay this evening (20 March), marking two years since city status was conferred on the Island's capital.

The event, in collaboration with Culture Vannin, is also celebrating the Year of the Manx Language and is supported by the Department for Enterprise’s Domestic Event Fund and ELS IOM.

The 15-minute display, set to music recorded by Manx band Mec Lir and duo Elizabeth Davidson Blythe and Daniel Quayle, will begin at 7.30pm.

Tiffany Kerruish, Coordinator for Blein ny Gaelgey - Year of the Manx Language 2026 - says: "I think that it's just a testament to how far the Manx language has come over the decades. 

"You go back a few decades and the Manx language was in crisis. It was on the brink of extinction and then through some incredible hard work by very passionate people we turned the tide and now the Manx language is, it's a relevant language, it's a living language and the number of speakers on the Isle of Man is growing all of the time. 

"And that's not just people that speak it fluently, although that number is growing. It's the number of people that are engaged in the language in all sorts of different ways and that's wonderful to see. And so to now think that we will be celebrating that with these gigantic Manx words all across Douglas Bay, I think is going to be a magical moment."

Listen to her interview with Christy DeHaven below:

Parking and viewpoints

Douglas Council says a number of traffic and parking measures will be in place.

Promenade parking will close from 5pm and motorists are asked to clear vehicles before this time. Alternative parking will be available in Chester Street and Shaw’s Brow.

Any cars parked in the spectator viewing area after 7pm are reminded this is a closed road and vehicles cannot be moved.

The Bottleneck car park, which will serve as the launchpad for the drones, will close from 6pm.

After 7pm, members of the public are encouraged to access the event via the main shopping street or Harris Promenade. Access from Victoria Street and Lord Street will not be permitted after this time and the area will remain clear until all drones have safely landed.

The Council says the best viewing area will be on the Loch Promenade walkway between Sunken Garden 1 and Granville Street, which will be closed to traffic.

There will be a disabled viewing platform on the walkway opposite Howard Street.