Bob Carswell RBV | |
|---|---|
 Bob Carswell in 2013 with the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan trophy | |
| Born | Robert Corteen Carswell 1950 (age 73–74) |
| Nationality | Manx |
| Occupation(s) | Radio presenter, author |
| Awards | Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2013 |
Robert Corteen Carswell RBV (born 1950) [1] is a Manx language and culture activist, writer and radio presenter. In 2013 he received the Manx Heritage Foundation's Reih Bleeaney Vanannan award for outstanding contributions to Manx culture.
Bob Carswell was introduced to Manx in a written form at an early age, through the classic Manx texts of Edmund Goodwin's First Lessons in Manx and a 1775 edition of Conaant Noa (the New Testament). [1] In his early twenties he became a member and then a committee member of Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh (The Manx Language Society). [2] It was through this association that he first came into broadcasting in the early 1970s, when he volunteered to create content for the weekly 15 minute slots allotted to Manx language programming on Manx Radio. His contributions included news and comment, but also original comic vignettes, short plays and documentaries. [2]
Carswell is a member of the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee, and is today considered to be one of the most important voices in Manx broadcasting. [3] His current programme for the radio is Claare ny Gael , a weekly programme that "looks at Manx life and culture through a wealth of traditional Manx and Gaelic music". [4] He has previously produced the programmes Traa dy Liooar ("Time enough") and Shiaght Laa ("Seven days"). [5]
Bob Carswell is a poet and writer, especially significant for his contributions to contemporary Manx literature. In addition to his writing for radio since the early 1970s, Carswell contributed most of the content for the weekly Manx language column, Cree ny Cooish ('The Heart of the Matter'), which appeared in the Isle of Man Weekly Times between 1982 and 1984. [6] Most of the contributions were translations of stories, official notices, jokes, magazine pieces and encyclopaedia articles, as well as historic material and some original creative writing. Carswell contributed a similar variety of content to the magazine, FRITLAG, which was published for 14 editions between 1983 and 1987. [6] He has also contributed many poems and other pieces to other publications and to events such as Yn Chruinnaght. Carswell has had a number of poetry books published, including Shelg yn Drane (1994) and Arraneyn 'sy Ghaelg (1996). [7]
Carswell is an authority on Manx literature.[ citation needed ] In 2010 he edited Manannan's Cloak: An Anthology of Manx Literature. The book traces Manx literature from its earliest appearances through to the present day, connecting the bilingual extracts with a commentary that places them in the context of Manx history. [8] The book is the first full-scale collection of Manx literature, and as such it is a highly significant contribution to Manx culture and identity.[ citation needed ]
Within Manannan's Cloak, Carswell includes the following example of his own poetry:
| Irree Ny Greiney / Sunrise [extract] [9] | |
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Bob Carswell is highly involved in Manx music, through his songwriting and performance, as both dancer and musician, and also through his voluntary work for the Manx Heritage Foundation. His songs have been arranged and recorded by local groups including the Mollag Band, Caarjyn Cooidjagh and Barrule, and he has been commissioned to write new songs for primary schools on the island. [5] He has danced with the Manx Folk Dance Society, Bock Yuan Fannee and Bock Bane and continues to play music at sessions and with the Calor Gas Ceilidh Band. [3]
In 1983 Bob Carswell began researching, revising and devising stories and rhymes for the Manx-language playgroup that was run by his first wife, Peg. [1] Since 2006 he has been working as translator and creator of Manx language resources for the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh. [10] He also creates similar resources for Unnid Gaelgagh (Manx Language Unit). [3] His role in non-classroom Manx education includes involvement in media projects such as Caarjyn as Fennee (children's cartoons) and producing YouTube broadcasts on aspects of culture. [3]
Bob Carswell has a long-standing relationship with Manx music, culture and language festivals like Yn Chruinnaght and the Cooish, where he helps on a voluntary basis with the organisation. [3]
In 2013 he was awarded the Manx Heritage Foundation's annual award, Reih Bleeaney Vanannan (Manannan's Choice of the Year), for outstanding contributions to Manx culture. Carswell's contribution was summed up in the report of the award in the Manx newspapers:
“Described as one of the most knowledgeable and modest of men, Bob is a skilled poet, songwriter and translator, a fine musician, singer, and historian. Through his work in broadcasting and education he has made his deep understanding of Manx culture, language and history accessible to a wide audience.” [3]
Also in 2013 Bob Carswell was appointed Yn Lhaihder (The Reader) for Tynwald Day, described by Clare Christian, the President of Tynwald, as "a role central to reaffirming the Manx identity of the formal proceedings of our national day." [11]
Manx, also known as Manx Gaelic, is a Gaelic language of the insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family. Manx is the historical language of the Manx people.
The "National Anthem of the Isle of Man" was written and composed by William Henry Gill (1839–1923), with the Manx translation by John J. Kneen (1873–1939). It is often referred to by its incipit, "O Land of Our Birth".
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.
Thomas Christian (1754–1828) was the translator of John Milton's Paradise Lost into Manx Gaelic, while leaving out passages in a way that were widely considered to have greatly improved the narrative structure of Milton's original. Rev. Christian was also an author of Manx carols and other Christian poetry important to Manx literature. He spent most of life as the Anglican vicar of Marown parish, Isle of Man.
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.
Bunscoill Ghaelgagh is a government-run Manx-language primary school in St John's, Isle of Man that has enabled 170 children to learn fluent Manx. As of 2011 it is the only school in the world where children are taught their lessons solely in Manx and which allows children to learn the language fluently. Pupils may then go on to Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel where they can study a GCSE equivalent qualification in Manx as well as up to two subjects in the language to maintain their fluency, or to the high school in their catchment area.
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.
Thomas Allen (1710–1754) was Vicar of Maughold and an author of Manx carvals.
John Lewin is the author of a number of Manx carvals in the early 19th Century which advocated temperance.
John Moore was a Manx poet and privateer of the late 18th Century. Originally from Camlork, in Braddan, Isle of Man, Moore later settled in Bride, where he owned an inn. It was here that he came to be known as “John the Tiger” due to his often singing the song describing his time as the privateer on board The Tiger.
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.
Edward Faragher (1831–1908), also known in Manx as Ned Beg Hom Ruy, was a Manx language poet, folklorist and cultural guardian. He is considered to be the last important native writer of Manx and perhaps the most important guardian of Manx culture during a time when it was most under threat. The folklorist, Charles Roeder, wrote that Faragher had "done great services to Manx folklore, and it is due to him that at this late period an immense amount of valuable Manx legends have been preserved, for which indeed the Isle of Man must ever be under gratitude to him."
William Kinrade (1769-1854) was a renowned writer of Manx carols who lived at Ballachrink, Maughold, in the Isle of Man.
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".
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.'
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.
Claare ny Gael is a bilingual radio show presented by Robert Corteen Carswell and broadcast on Sunday evenings each week on Manx Radio.
Charles Craine (1911-1979) also known as Chalse y Craayne, was a Manx language activist and teacher who was involved with the revival of the Manx language on the Isle of Man in the 20th century.
Yn Lhaihder is an official who takes part in the annual Tynwald Day ceremony at St John's, Isle of Man. After the Coroner of Glenfaba "fences the Court" in English, Yn Lhaihder repeats the same declaration in Manx.