Isla Callister

Last updated
Isla Callister
GenresFolk
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Fiddle
Member ofHeisk
Trip
Website islacallister.com

Isla Callister, also Isla Callister-Wafer, [1] is a folk musician and fiddle player from the Isle of Man. [2] [3] She is a member of the all-women folk group Heisk, [2] and the band Trip. [3] [4] She performed with both ensembles at Celtic Connections in 2024. [3] Trip were nominated for the BBC Folk Awards Young Folk Award in 2018. [1]

In 2023, to celebrate International Women's Day, Culture Vannin released a composition by Callister which celebrated the roles of women in Manx history. [5]

Callister is from Peel, [4] and is a Gaelic speaker. [6] From 2016 she studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for a degree in Traditional Music. [2] [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Man</span> Self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea

The Isle of Man or Mann, is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations and is the homeland of the Manx people, a Celtic ethnic group. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. The government of the United Kingdom is responsible for the isle's military defence and represents it abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of the Isle of Man</span> Element of Manx culture

The music of the Isle of Man reflects Celtic, Norse and other influences, including those from its neighbours, Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales. The Isle of Man is a small island nation in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of the Isle of Man</span>

The culture of the Isle of Man is influenced by its Celtic and, to a lesser extent, its Norse origins, though its close proximity to the United Kingdom, popularity as a UK tourist destination, and recent mass immigration by British migrant workers has meant that British influence has been dominant since the Revestment period. Recent revival campaigns have attempted to preserve the surviving vestiges of Manx culture after a long period of Anglicisation, and significant interest in the Manx language, history and musical tradition has been the result.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manx people</span> Ethnic group originating in the Isle of Man

The Manx are an ethnic group originating on the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea in Northern Europe. They belong to the diaspora of the Gaelic ethnolinguistic group, which now populate the parts of the British Isles and Ireland which once were the Kingdom of the Isles and Dál Riata. The Manx are governed through the Tynwald, the legislature of the island, which was introduced by Viking settlers over a thousand years ago. The native mythology and folklores of the Manx belong to the overall Celtic Mythology group, with Manannán mac Lir, the Mooinjer veggey, Buggane, Lhiannan-Shee, Ben-Varrey and the Moddey Dhoo being prominent mythological figures on the island. Their language, Manx Gaelic is derived from Middle Irish, which was introduced by settlers that colonised the island from Gaelic Ireland. However, Manx gaelic later developed in isolation and belongs as a separate Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hop-tu-Naa</span> Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man

Hop-tu-Naa is a Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man on 31 October. It is the celebration of the traditional Gaelic festival of Samhain, the start of winter. It is thought to be the oldest unbroken tradition in the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Stowell</span> Manx writer

Thomas Brian Stowell, also known as Brian Mac Stoyll, was a Manx radio personality, linguist, physicist, and author. He was formerly Yn Lhaihder to the Parliament of the Isle of Man, Tynwald. He is considered one of the primary people behind the revival of the Manx language.

Walter Clarke, or Walter y Chleree, was a Manx language speaker, activist, and teacher who was one of the last people to learn Manx from the few remaining native speakers on the Isle of Man. His work recording them with the Irish Folklore Commission helped to ensure that a spoken record of the Manx language survived.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mona Douglas</span> Manx cultural activist and writer

Mona Douglas was a Manx cultural activist, folklorist, poet, novelist and journalist. She is recognised as the main driving force behind the modern revival of Manx culture and is acknowledged as the most influential Manx poet of the 20th century, but she is best known for her often controversial work to preserve and revive traditional Manx folk music and dance. She was involved in a great number of initiatives to revive interest and activity in Manx culture, including societies, classes, publications and youth groups. The most notable and successful of these was Yn Chruinnaght.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reih Bleeaney Vanannan</span>

The Reih Bleeaney Vanannan is the Isle of Man's most prestigious annual award for culture. It is presented by Culture Vannin to the person or group who, in the opinion of the panel of assessors, has made the most outstanding contribution to Manx culture. It is officially presented by the President of Culture Vannin, normally in January each year.

Aeglagh Vannin was a youth group in the Isle of Man whose purpose was the engagement with and revitalisation of Manx language, history and culture. It was established by Mona Douglas in 1931, went through a number of mutations, and faded out in the 1970s. It is best remembered for its central role in the revival of Manx folk dancing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture Vannin</span> Organization

Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, established in 1982 by the Isle of Man Government to promote Manx culture, heritage and language. It was rebranded in February 2014, having previously been known as the "Manx Heritage Foundation", since the former title "held connotations more towards the cultural history of the island" which were not felt to be accurate to the organisation's progressive approach to invigorating Manx culture. Culture Vannin's motto is "Taking our culture forward".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Jerry</span> Manx cultural activist

Colin Jerry was a Manx cultural activist best known for his contributions to Manx music through his books, Kiaull yn Theay, published in two volumes. He was awarded the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan in 1991 for his contributions to Manx culture which were 'extensive and staggering.'

<span title="Manx-language text"><i lang="gv">Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh</i></span> Manx language organisation

Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh, also known as the Manx Language Society and formerly known as Manx Gaelic Society, was founded in 1899 in the Isle of Man to promote the Manx language. The group's motto is Gyn çhengey, gyn çheer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrule (band)</span> Manx folk band

Barrule was a Celtic and folk trio from the Isle of Man. The band's three members were: Tomas Callister (fiddle), Jamie Smith (accordion) and Adam Rhodes (bouzouki). Barrule's discography included both original and traditional Manx language songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Keggin</span> Musical artist

Ruth Keggin is a Manx Gaelic singer-songwriter. She holds degrees from the University of York and the University of Cambridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Michael Players</span> Manx dialect theatre performance group in the Isle of Man

The Michael Players are the oldest existing body of performers of Manx dialect theatre in the Isle of Man. They are centrally important to the continued tradition of Manx dialect theatre, both through their performances and in their unique collection of Manx plays.

John William Radcliffe, more commonly known as Bill Radcliffe, or also Illiam y Radlagh, was a Manx language activist, author, and teacher who was involved with the revival of the Manx language on the Isle of Man in the 20th century. His work recording the last native speakers of the language with the Irish Folklore Commission helped to ensure that a spoken record of the Manx language survived.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bree (Manx youth movement)</span> Manx traditional youth music and dance movement

Bree is a youth educational movement organised by Culture Vannin on the Isle of Man that gives children between the ages 10 and 18 the opportunity to learn traditional Manx music, dance, and culture. Bree is a Manx word that means 'vitality or 'energy'. The movement organises the annual workshop weekend every autumn and also runs monthly sessions through the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shennaghys Jiu</span> Manx youth music and performing arts festival

Shennaghys Jiu(English: Tradition Today) is a four-day youth music and performing arts festival on the Isle of Man. The festival's aim is to give young performers of traditional Manx music and dance the opportunity to come together in a non-competitive environment, and share culture with the other Celtic nations.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Two young musicians take a step towards the BBC 2 Folk awards | iomtoday.co.im". 2022-10-07. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "Festival marks full circle moment for trad girl band". BBC News. 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  3. 1 2 3 "Musicians to fly the Manx flag at Celtic Connections". Isle of Man. 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  4. 1 2 "June's Album Review: Trip, "A Drop for Neptune"". Boston Irish. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  5. "Culture Vannin releases musical celebration of Manx women to mark International Women's Day". Manx Radio. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  6. 1 2 "Isle of Man Arts Council - Celebrating Women in the Arts: Isla Callister". www.iomarts.com. Retrieved 2024-04-20.