Raidió Failte receive a warm Manx welcome

Trip included live broadcast from St John's

A visit to the Isle of Man of the UK's only Irish language radio station has been hailed a success by organisers.

Raidió Fáilte is a community-based station that operates out of Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The trip, which included attending a traditional Manx music session at the Albert in Port St Mary, broadcasting of a radio show live from Culture Vannin in St Johns, a cultural tour of the Island, a visit to Manx Radio and meeting children and teachers at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, was organised by Cillian Breatnach, manager of the station. 

He said: "We were charmed by the incredibly warm ‘Failt erriu’ we received from everyone we met within the Manx language and cultural community.

"Earlier this year Raidió Fáilte visited Scotland, where we conducted bilingual interviews in Irish Gaeilge and Scottish Gáidhlig, and met with various language and cultural groups, organisations and individuals, to discuss the similarities between the two countries /regions. 

"Relationships established during these visits and meetings has already led to discussions about future projects and we are sure that this trip to the Isle of Man will be as beneficial."

It was part of a wider project called Tionscadal Cholmcille / The Colmcille Project and is part-funded by Foras na Gaeilge through Scéim Deontais Cholmcille / The Colmcille Funding Scheme, which aims to link Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man and Rathlin Island, through the journey of Colmcille, or St Columba. 

Here in the Isle of Man, Culture Vannin facilitated the visit.

Ruth Keggin Gell, Manx Language Development officer at Culture Vannin said: "The aim for the team at Raidió Fáilte was to meet with groups and individuals involved in the promotion of Manx language, members of the Manx Gaelic speaking community and to discover more about our history and cultural heritage. 

"Culture Vannin was delighted to help to facilitate this and to play an active role in the trip. There is great international interest in our language, and it’s lovely to see a project like this which brings the Isle of Man to wider attention."

At the end of the project, Raidió Fáilte will produce a series of radio programmes and podcasts, celebrating and promoting the diversities and similarities between all four regions. 

This will form the platform for an ongoing series of combined Gaelic radio programming in the three languages of Irish Gaeilge, Scottish Gáidhlig and Manx Gaelg, realising the aims of Colmcille to nourish and strengthen their languages in relationship and partnership with one another.