American dancers join isle's Celtic festival
BBCA group of dancers from western Massachusetts say their "teenage rebellion" was choosing Manx dancing over the Cotswold's Morris tradition they grew up with.
It comes as they have visited the island to take part in this year's Yn Chruinnaght festival for the first time.
The week‑long event, now in its 48th year, celebrates Manx culture through music, dancing, and language, alongside performers from other Celtic nations.
Celia Bales said travelling from the US had been "such an adventure" and a "joy" for them to take part in.
She said: "Our fathers got together and formed a Cotswold Morris [dancing] team in western Massachusetts back in the 80s."
As part of their families' love of the dancing, a group came to the island 13 years ago to learn dances, she said.
"Our teenage rebellion was to do Manx dancing instead of Morris dancing," she said, adding they "loved how it looked and loved how it was different - the delicacy".
Yn Chruinnaght committee member Grainne Joughin said the festival brought together "song, music, dance" and communities from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall, with a focus on Manx traditions.
She said while it had been going for 48 years, what was important was that it was "fun still".
As a dance teacher, she said there had been a resurgence of Manx dancing in recent years, which was "fantastic", with more young people and schools taking part.
Many of those attending described the festival as a highlight in the Manx calendar.
Meri Wade said she had grown up surrounded by musicians and had been coming for years, calling the week "the best" because "everyone's so friendly" and the sense of community "all comes together".
She added: "We're not getting any sleep this week, this week is just, it's the best."
Morag Burnard is originally from the island but now lives in the UK.
She said while they had tied in their trip to attend some of the festival's events, they stumbled across a folk music session while having their lunch at a Douglas cafe.
According to Burnard the atmosphere had "a wonderful feeling" and said the island had a "brilliant" sense of community, adding "it's fantastic".
Layla Caley said she loved Yn Chruinnaght because "the people are so nice and all of the music's just amazing".
"You always know that you're going to have a good time," she added.
Mairead Kirwin, who brought along her penny whistle to join in, has lived on the Isle of Man since 1969, said musicians were "usually nice people". and hoped to attend all week
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