Mona’s Isle — The Isle Of Man
A Truly Authentic UK Heritage Holiday Destination
The significance of the nation’s heritage assets on the Isle of Man is recognised by the government and visitor economy alike. Their long-term protection is ensured by Manx National Heritage, the statutory heritage organisation charged with the mission ‘ to lead the Island’s community in recognising, understanding, valuing and promoting its cultural heritage and identity to a world-wide audience’.
http://www.manxnationalheritage.im
The Isle of Man, otherwise known simply as Mann, is a self-governing British Crown Dependency located at the very centre of the British Isles - between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland in the the middle of the Irish Sea.The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is represented by a Lieutenant Governor, but its foreign relations — outside of the ‘Council of the Isles’ — and defence are the responsibility of the British Government.
The island has been inhabited since before 6500 BC. As one of the six Celtic nations, Gaelic cultural influence began in the 5th century AD, and the Manx language, a branch of the Gaelic languages, gradually emerged.
In 627, Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man along with most of Mercia. In the 9th century, the Norse began to settle there. Norse people from Scotland then established the Kingdom of the Isles. The King’s title would then carry the suffix, “and the Isles.” Magnus III, the King of Norway, was also known as “King of Man and the Isles” as part of the Hebrides civilization between 1099 and 1103.[5] A Norse-Gaelic culture arose and the island came under Norse control. In 1266, the island became part ofScotland, as formalised by the Treaty of Perth.
After a period of alternating rule by the kings of Scotland and England, the island came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown in 1399.
The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1764, but the island never became part of the kingdom of Great Britain or its successor the United Kingdom, retaining its status as an internally self-governing Crown dependency.
Fiercely proud of its diverse culture and fascinating heritage this sea-bound kingdom has a captivating story to tell – one which stretches back for thousands of years.
Legend has it that the Island’s name comes from the Celtic sea god Manannan Mac Lir who protected the land from invaders by shrouding it in a cloak of mist.
It is these folklore stories, and the history that follows, which are carefully safeguarded by the Manx people to ensure the Island doesn’t lose any of its unique charm of character.
A visit to the Isle of Man will be a voyage of discovery and will present the chance to explore Celtic crosses and ancient Viking burial grounds as well as a number of heritage landmarks
You’ll also hear tales of giants, fairies and brownies — which were said to intervene in the lives of ordinary people – and although times have changed many of the original customs and superstitions live on. Don’t forget to say “Hello” to the fairies as you pass over Fairy Bridge!
Modern day culture is well showcased throughout the year with a packed programme of entertainment including the annual inter-Celtic festival – Yn Chruinnaght – where the native Manx Gaelic language, song and dance is celebrated.
The Isle of Man’s strong identity is due in part to its independence and the fact that the Island is self-governing. It has the oldest continuous parliament in the world, Tynwald, which dates back over 1,000 years. You can tour the Tynwald building and visit Tynwald Hill – where parliament meets in the open air once a year.
With such an abundance of cultural and heritage sites, a holiday on the island can be devoted entirely to visiting these & the great outdoors - ie. it can be the sole reason for travel for people with a high level of interest in natural and cultural heritage.
However - nature, adventure,walking, cycling, motoring & vintage transport holidays can also be combined with historic or cultural tourism products as many often involve heritage places.
Tourism to heritage places often works very effectively in combination with other tourism themes & specialities.
Some of the island’s major heritage centres and events:
Manx National Heritage collections put you in touch with the Island, it’s environment, it’s history, and people. Centuries of paintings, costumes, objects and archaeological finds reveal what makes the Isle of Man special.
Highlights include Viking treasure and its association with the Island’s archaeological sites. Another is the collection of First and Second World War internment artefacts. The National Art collection contains the work of Archibald Knox, art nouveau artist and designer for Liberty & Co. Natural history collections give you access to the Island’s diverse landscape, seascape and wildlife. The National Library & Archives brings documentary focus to the Island’s many histories and stories. From the political life of Tynwald, to personal letters and diaries. The vast collection of books and manuscripts is the largest of its kind about the Isle of Man. The National Photographic, Film and Sound Archive contains some of the earliest images of the Island and recordings of native Manx Gaelic speakers. You can research the Island’s history through its written record from start to present day in the Manx Museum Reading Room. The iMuseum is home to our digitised collections and can be viewed online at www.imuseum.im. You can search all of the Manx newspapers from 1792 to 1960, the TT and MGP database, your family tree, war memorials, census records, general histories and photographs. All available at the click of a button. — See more at: http://www.manxnationalheritage.im/our-collections/#sthash.H8F3cugc.dpuf
Looking for an authentic place to stay in Douglas, Isle of Man? I recommend the Inglewood on Queens’ Promenade http://www.inglewoodhotel-isleofman.com in my view the finest Guest House in the island’s capital
Please visit my visual blog: http://www.holiday-isle-of-man.com
My UK holiday islands blog: http://www.holiday-island.co.uk
HolidayIOM Pinterest Board: http://www.holiday-iom.co.uk
I’m grateful to the following sources from which much of the inspiration & information is obtained:
http://tinyurl.com/344ql49
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Isle_of_Man
British Isles Holiday Destination — Isle Of Man
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