What were some of the petitions of Tynwald Day?

For centuries, the people of the Isle of Man have had the right to present petitions to Tynwald, making it one of the Island's oldest democratic traditions.

Records describe petitions being presented as early as 1691, and today this tradition continues through 'Petitions for Redress,' which members of the public can present directly on Tynwald Day.

This year, petitioners lined up to put forward a wide range of causes, from banning disposable barbecues, to housing solutions.

There was a large protesting presence in the crowd, rallying against the proposed Mooir Vannin offshore windfarm.

Ian Stratford and Georgina O'Sullivan presented a petition today requesting a "public mandate".

"Over 9,000 people have signed our petition to stop the proposed wind farm, and it's gaining massive support online, and the government needs to understand that.

"This project should not proceed without greater public involvement in the process", they explained.

Protesters also shared grievances about the project, proposed by Danish energy giant Ørsted.

One protestor explained: "87 turbines, each standing 350m (1,148ft) tall, 6 miles (9.7km) off our coastline, we are being used as a testing facility, and we will see very little benefits."

Another petition called for a ban on disposable barbecues, warning of the environmental damage they can cause.

"I don't want to be a kill-joy at all, but disposable barbecues are a temporary pleasure that risks the Island's heathland, damages wildlife habitats, and places unnecessary pressure on the fire service."

Butch Buttery put forward a petition, asking for the government to make it easier to convert empty office buildings into apartments.

"It's a no-brainer, really, there's a big shortage of housing, and a big oversupply of office space.

''You can't expect to grow an economy without affordable, available housing; this seems like a obvious pathway to explore," said Buttery.

Other petitions reflected a wide range of personal experiences and public concerns.

One called for stronger protections for children involved in family court proceedings, arguing Manx children should receive the same safeguards available elsewhere in the British Isles.

Another urged greater legal protections for whistleblowers and improved accountability within government and local authorities.

Petitions also raised issues including road safety, mental health, constituency boundaries, police complaints, environmental regulation, support for Manx creatives and calls for a public inquiry into the former CinemaNX film fund.