Manx National Heritage Library
Select Bibliography No. 5
“Manx folklore is a curious mixture of that of various races. The population, based on a Gaelic and Pre Celtic stock, but crossed with Scandinavian and tinged with Lancashire and Derbyshire followers of the Stanleys with an infusion... of the Galloway Scots.. would necessarily inherit customs from its component parts” C.I.Paton - Manx Calendar Customs p.vi 1939
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ABOVE: The White Boys at Port Erin, Christmas 1926. Back Row: the Doctor, the Turkish Champion, Samson. Front Row: St. George, Devil Doubt.
The following is by necessity a selection of the material available in the Library. Researchers who require access to other material should consult the Library Catalogue, primarily at class E 244.
Broderick, George
Manx Stories and Reminiscences of Ned Beg Hom Ruy (Edward Faragher of Cregneash 1831-1908)
Zeitschrift fur Celtische Philogie Band 38/9, 1981/2 reprinted Douglas: Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh, 1991
33 stories in Manx with English translations together with biographical notes on Faragher.
Library Ref H140/A155
Cashen, William (1838-1912)
Manx speaker, fisherman, Assistant Harbour Master and custodian of Peel Castle, he assisted collectors of folklore material such as Moore and Morrison
Manx Folklore
Douglas: G & L Johnson, 1912
A volume prepared for press after his death by Sophia Morrison with a memoir of him. Contains many pieces in Manx: 1. Home life of the Manx; 2. Fairies, Bugganes, Giants and Ghosts; 3. Fishing; 4.History and Legend, and a section of Songs, Sayings and Riddles.
Library Ref E244/32
William Cashen’s Manx Folk-Lore (1912)
Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 1993
ISBN 1 898613 00 1
Edited selective reprint of above which leaves out introduction, a Cushag poem and the folk songs.
Library Ref E244/92
Clague, John (1842-1908)
Dr Clague was a medical practitioner in the South of the Island who collected music and sayings.
Manx Reminiscences
Castletown: M.J.Blackwell, 1911
In this volume the text is in Manx and English on opposite pages.
Library Ref E244/30 and H140/K9-10
Manx Text reprinted P.Kelly: Kirk Michael, 1994
Library Ref H140/L8q
Crellin, A.M.
Manx Folklore: Fairy Legends, Customs and Superstitions
Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 1994
ISBN 1 898613 06 0
These are the collected reports of the IOMNHAS Folklore Section as published in Yn Lioar Manninagh 1893-1900, edited by Stephen Miller.
Library Ref E244/95
Gill, W.Walter (c.1876-1963)
William Walter Gill was a poet, folklorist and scholar. He worked with William Cubbon, first librarian of the Manx Museum and later compiler of the Bibliography of Manx Literature and was a one time joint editor of the Manx Museum Journal.
A Manx Scrapbook
London: Arrowsmith, 1929
Contents: Well names and well lore, coast names of Rushen, old roads and road lore, place names and place lore.
Library Ref E244/36
A Second Manx scrapbook
London: Arrowsmith, 1932
Contents: Second sight, divinations and observances, witchcraft and charming, fairies and spirits, animal and vegetable kingdoms, songs and rhymes, Hunt the Wren, sundry traditions.
Library Ref E244/37
A Third Manx Scrapbook
London: Arrowsmith, 1963
Contents: surnames, place names, dialect words and phrases, customs and traditions, cures and charms, fairies and phantoms, visions and dreams.
Library Ref E244/52
N.B. A card index to these scrapbooks is kept in the library.
Customs and Traditions, Cures and Charms, Fairies and Phantoms
Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 1993
ISBN 1 898613 07 9
Selective reprint of material from the Third Manx Scrapbook.
Library Ref E244/93
Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society Proceedings of (1906-date)
Previously known as Yn Lioar Manninagh (1889-1905). They contain numerous references to folklife. An index is available on request at the counter.
Kermode, E.
Celtic Customs.
Peel: Frank Quayle, 1985
ISBN None
Notes collected in 1885, published in facsimile.
Useful comparison with customs of other countries but no index.
Library Ref E244/85
Killip, Margaret I. (died 1995)
Part time administrator and collector for the Manx Folklife survey from 1957-1984, she gathered a wealth of material.
The Folklore of the Isle of Man
London: Batsford, 1975 paperback 1986
ISBN 0 7134 3087 7 / 0 7134 5238 2
This volume includes an index of tale types and motifs.
Library Ref E244/67
See also extensive references in the Journal of the Manx Museum
Manx Museum Journal (1924-80)
This contains references to folklife: an index is available at the library counter.
Manx Society
Manx Society
33 volumes published between 1859-1894. These contain many references to Manx Folklife. (see Cubbon vol 1. pp 496-504 for summary of volumes)
| v | Vestigia Insulae Manniae Antiquiora - includes customs of Manx people in chapter 3 pp 103-156. |
|---|---|
| xi | Description of the IOM by George Waldron edited by William Harrison includes stories of Fairies and pp 48-50 dancing, sport, festivities as described by Waldron pp 105-6 Fairy cup of Kirk Malew and the Ballafletcher drinking glass |
| xv | Antiquitates Manniae, edited by J.G.Cumming pp 119-140 Mananan Mac Lir- connection with IOM by Richard Brash |
| xvi | Mona Miscellany, a selection of Proverbs, Ballads, Customs Superstitions and Legends collected and edited by William Harrison. |
| xxi | Mona Miscellany, second series. |
Library Ref F64
Moore, A.W. (1853-1909)
Member and subsequently Speaker of the House of Keys, prolific author and historian.
Folk-Lore of the Isle of Man
Llanerch Publishers, 1994
ISBN 1 897853 42 4
Facsimile reprint of 1891 edition.This is the standard work on Manx Folklore.
Library Ref E244
Further notes on Manx Folklore
In The Antiquary vol 31, 1895.
11 short pieces adding to his work on Manx Folklore above.
Library Ref E244/21
see also IOMNHAS proceedings index.
Morrison, Sophia (1859-1917)
Sophia Morrison was prominent in the Manx Society, an authority on Manx folklore and editor of ‘Mannin’.
Manx Fairy Tales
Douglas: Manx Experience, 1991
ISBN 1 873120 01 X
The second expanded edition of 1929 illustrated by Knox contains over 50 local tales.
Library Ref E244/33
Paton, C.I. (c.1874-1949)
Primarily a naturalist but he was also interested in entomology and the Manx language.
Manx Calendar Customs
London: Folk-Lore Society Vol CX c.1942.
Useful guide which includes Manx Gaelic names.
Library Ref E244/41
Quayle, George E. (1895-1992)
Born and raised in Lezayre, a leading member of the IOMNHAS, a naturalist with a love of folk life and lore.
Legends of a life time: Manx folklore
Privately published: 1973 (and later reprints).
Mainly about the north of the Island.
Library Ref E244/64
See also IOMNHAS proceedings index
Rhys, Sir John (1840-1915)
Celtic scholar, first Jesus Professor of Celtic at Oxford, prolific writer who visited the Island to study Manx language and folklore.
Celtic Folklore, Welsh and Manx
Oxford: Clarendon Press: 1901
see vol 1, chapter 4 Manx Folklore, chapter 5 The Fynoderee and his friends pp 284-353
Library Ref E244/25-6
Roeder, Charles (c.1848-1911)
Born in Germany he moved to Manchester and whilst visiting the Island collected folklore in the south with the assistance of Edward Faragher of Cregneash.
Contributions to the Folk-Lore of the IOM
In Yn Lioar Manninagh vol III part IV pp 129-191, 1897
LIbrary Ref L6
Manx Notes and Queries
Douglas: S.K.Broadbent, 1904
Library Ref E244/27 and H140/A52
These notes are based on his column published in the IOM Examiner newspaper.
Manx Folk Tales
Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 1993
ISBN 1 898613 02 8
This is a selection of folk narratives originally published in Yn Lioar Manninagh vols 1 & 3 and republished with an introduction by Stephen Miller and an annotated bibliography.
Library Ref E244/94
See also IOMNHAS proceedings index and joint publication with Morrison above.
Train, Joseph
History of the Isle of Man
Douglas: M.A.Quiggin, 1845
Includes the following:
Mananan Beg - i, pp 50~55
Spell bound giants and black lady of Castle Rushen - i, pp 303-304
Fairies, witches, customs etc, - ii, pp 61, 102-184
Holy Wells and popular superstitions, - ii, pp 121, 142-184
Suit service of strewing rushes, - ii, pp 262-3
Library Ref F64/30
Waldron, Joseph
A description of the Isle of Man
London: 1744 reprinted as Manx Society Vol XI (1864)
Resident here as an official of the British Government c.1720-1730.see Manx Society above.
Yn Lioar Manninagh (1889-1905).
The first series of proceedings of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, these contain some folklore articles.
These have been reprinted in Manx Folk Tales (above) E244/94 and Crellin Manx Folklore (above) E244/95. See Index to IOMNHAS Proceedings at the counter.
Library Ref L6
SECONDARY SOURCES
Callow, Edward
The Phynodderree and other Legends
London: J.Dean & Son, c1882 Contains:
1. The Phynodderree
2. Fairy cup of Kirk Malew
3. King Olave the second and the great sword Macabuin.
4. The Buggane’s vow: a legend of St Trinian’s Church.
Library Ref E244/10
Craine, David (1878-1963)
Teacher, Linguist and scholar he was asked to compile this volume by the Trustees of the Manx Museum. It provides useful background details.
Manannan’s Isle: A collection of Manx Historical Essays
Douglas: Manx Museum, 1955
Library Ref F64/121
See also Indices to Manx Museum Journal and IOMNHAS Proceedings.
Cubbon, William (1865-1953)
Former Director and Librarian of the Manx Museum.
A Bibliographical Account of works relating to the Isle of Man volume 1
A Bibliographical Account of works relating to the Isle of Man volume 1
see pp 397-410 for listing of items relating to Mythology and Folklore, pp 496-504 for summary of Manx Society volumes.
Library Ref H364
Douglas, Mona (1898-1987)
This prolific author spent most of her long life collecting or working with folklife material particularly music and dance and was a key figure in establishing the modern Yn Chruinnaght.
The following items are more collected anecdotes:
This is Ellan Vannin: A miscellany of Manx Life and Lore
Douglas: Times Press, 1964
Collected articles first published in the IOM Weekly Times newspaper.
Library Ref E244/54
This is Ellan Vannin Again
Douglas: Times Longbooks, 1966
Library Ref E244/61
We call it Ellan Vannin
Douglas: Times Longbooks, 1970
Library Ref E244/99
Manx Folk-Song, Folk Dance, Folklore: Collected Writings
Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 1994
ISBN 1 898613 05 2
Collection of articles written outside of her activities as a journalist for the Manx press. With an introduction by Stephen Miller.
Library Ref E244/96
Fraser, Maxwell (died 1980)
Pseudonym of Mrs Dorothy May Phillips, Bard of Welsh Gorsedd, who had a strong interest in Celtic topics.
In Praise of Manxland
London: Methuen, 1948
See the index for folklore references.
Library Ref F65/119
Garrad, Larch S
Former Assistant Keeper at the Manx Museum (retired 1996) and prolific author.
See Manx Life Index and Library Catalogue.
Harrison, Stephen
Voice of the People: The work of the Manx Folk Life Survey
In 100 Years of Heritage pp 190-205 Douglas: Manx Museum & National Trust, 1986
ISBN 0 948308 04 4
An illustrated account of the origins and work of the Manx Folklife Survey from its origins in the 1940s.
Library Ref A365
Kelly, I. M.
Twas Thus and Thus they Lived
Castletown: the author, c.1989.
Basically a history of a Manx farming family but contains some oral traditions. A secondary source without an index.
Library Ref G4/12
Killip, Kathleen (died 1991)
Sister of Margaret, sometime teacher and radio broadcast scriptwriter, a native of Lonan, who was also involved with Yn Chruinnaght.
London: Hamish Hamilton, 1975
ISBN 0 241 89187 6
Stories from the Isle of Man retold for children.
Library Ref E244/65
Twisting the Rope and other folktales from the Isle of Man
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1980
ISBN 0 340 24832 7
Library Ref E244/72
Kinrade, Thomas
Life at the Lhen
Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 1993
ISBN 1 898613 01 X
Based on manuscript notes dated 1945 on the Lhane Mooar & Largagh district of Kirk Andreas edited by Stephen Miller.
Library Ref E244/91
Manx Folkways: A Gleaning of Writings No 1
Onchan: Chiollagh Books, 1994
ISBN 1 898613 09 5
Includes: Roper, C. IOM Superstitions, 1894;
Wentz, W.Y. Taking of Evidence in the IOM, 1911 Morrison, S. Manx Folklore Notes, 1904.
Library Ref E244/97
Manx Life (1971-1996)
see card index in Library especially under Folklore and Garrad.
Penrice, Harry
Fables, Fantasies and Folklore of the Isle of Man
Douglas: Manx Experience, 1996
ISBN 1 873120 26 5
Retold versions of folk lore
Library Ref E244/100
Rydings, Egbert (c.1832-1912)
Founder of St George’s Mills, Laxey and friend of John Ruskin
Manx Tales
London: John Heywood, 1895
A collection of four stories in Anglo Manx dialect set around Lonan and Laxey with a foreword by T.E.Brown.
Library Ref K12/R2/1
Wentz, W. Y. Evans
The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries
London : OUP, 1911
pp 117-135 Taking of evidence in Man with introduction by Sophia Morrison. Based on research submitted for BSc at Oxford in 1910 with additional material.
Library Ref E244/29
Republished in Manx Folkways above
Library Ref E244/97
Wood, G. W. (died c.1924)
He built up a large library of Manx related material which was sold to the Museum on his death.
On the classification of proverbs and sayings in the IOM, with a collection of proverbs in Manx and English
From: Folklore Sept 1894 pp 229-274
Library Ref E244/12
The Manx National Heritage Library holds a wealth of various and extensive source material. Staff at the library and throughout Manx National Heritage, are always pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in Manx history.
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| Telephone: | + 44 (0) 1624 648000 |
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