Shennaghys
Jiu 2003: Review
After 6 years Shennaghys Jiu seems to have established itself as one of
the most enjoyable traditional festivals on the Isle of Man. It has
continued both to grow in popularity and to inspire new generations of
children to take part in concerts to promote Manx and Celtic music.
As our own young musicians have started to travel the world, they have made new contacts and recommended them to Shennaghys Jiu. In this way we were very fortunate to acquire the services of Brendyn Montgomery a traditional flute player from New Zealand, who took time out from his studies in Ireland to travel to the Island to perform. We were also lucky enough to bring back to the Island our Galician friend Anton Davilá (Galician pipes), who in turn brought his accompanist on bouzouki, Xosé Liz.
This line up would be the
envy of many organisers trying to promote Celtic music; however, the
Shennaghys Jiu committee, in trying to provide the best young talent
possible, also invited a past performer, Callum Stewart to Shennaghys
Jiu. Callum brought his new group, Three Bags Full, comprising fellow
music students some from as far away as the US of A (three blokes two
ladies if you’re wondering about the name!). The visiting
line up proved to be as exciting as we had hoped, providing inspiration
for our children and complementing our own local performers.
Bands Night provided an excellent opening to the festival where all our visiting musicians performed alongside many local groups; indeed, Brendyn performed with a local group, Corragh. Many people who attended came especially to hear the well known Mannin Folk. We had tried for a number of years to get them to perform. They are especially important to Shennaghys Jiu as they were instrumental in the “Ramsey revival” and the inspiration behind Mike Boulton’s interest in traditional music. Their performances stretching back to the Seventies (sorry guys) were indirectly responsible, (through Mike’s evangelism at Albert Road School), for many of the present committee’s involvement in Manx and traditional music.
THE ONE - THE ONLY - MANNIN FOLK!
St.Mary’s Church, Port St. Mary once again provided an
excellent venue for our visiting performers and, alongside Caarjyn
Cooidjagh and Scooil Vallajeelt provided an excellent
afternoon’s acoustic entertainment. The ladies of the church
provided us with superb refreshments and, as usual, made us feel
extremely welcome.
Our formal event at the Grand Island maintained its high standard and
even higher levels of support, as Albert Road School, the Dhoon School
and Bee er dty Hwoaie joined visiting groups to perform to the sponsors
of the festival. Kind words of praise were expressed by the Fenella
Basin on behalf of the Manx Heritage Foundation and by our local
MHK’s.
The Creg Malin is now our regular venue in Peel. It has become many of
the committee’s favourite night of the festival as many of
the problems and disasters have been overcome and therefore many can
relax and enjoy the night (this is code for Juan gets drunk –
see below). We were joined by Staa, stalwart supporters, who broke
virgin ground in a Manx version of “Wimoweh” - you
really had to be there! Katie Lawrence, one of those nurtured by
Shennaghys Jiu in the early days, played alongside her father Al as
well as being part of Corragh. Those who attended will recall an
excellent nights entertainment rounded off superbly by King Chiaullee,
who played a range of tunes from Manx through Irish to Bela Bartok and
Celtic Jazz!
For more information on the origin of Shennaghys Jiu please take the "about" link on the left. If you are interested in playing for 2005, please
mail us here!
