The North American Manx Association (NAMA) honoured young people from across the Island for their exceptional contributions to Manx culture and life today.
Each year NAMA presents awards to under 25-year-olds who have excelled in their field. A silver medallion has been specially minted for presentation to each category winner.
Peter Kelly MBE CP, President of the World Manx Association, and Professor Ronald Barr, Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Education and Children, judged nominations this year.
Hon Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children, welcomed guests to the awards ceremony at the Barrool Suite.
The award winners received their medallions from Jody Morey, President of the North American Manx Association. Her great grandfather, John Beck, was from Laxey and emigrated to America in 1864. Ms Morey is here with a delegation of 70 NAMA members who are paying an eight-day homecoming visit to the Island to coincide with Tynwald Day.
Ms Morey said:
'We welcome this annual awards ceremony as a great tradition, honouring the young peoples’ achievements. It is hoped that they have a sense of accomplishment and go on to encourage others with their experiences of Manx culture, language and learning.'
Winners are:
Outstanding achievement in Manx Music: Owen Williams, 13, Castle Rushen High School
Owen is a dedicated member of the Manx music youth group Bree – Manx for ‘vitality’ – which performs at many community events. He is self-taught on a wide range of instruments, such as the whistle, concertina and bagpipes, takes piano lessons and plays cornet with a brass band. He enjoys composing Manx music, with his band ‘The Unwanted’ recently winning a Manx Folk Awards competition category with his composition.
Outstanding achievement in Arts and Crafts: Clara Nathan, 18, Queen Elizabeth II High School
Clara is an exceptionally talented young artist who achieved an A at AS level and is looking forward to undertaking a Foundation Arts Diploma on the Isle of Man. Taking her inspiration from the Manx countryside, light and shadow, weather and our dramatic landscapes, she works with quiet reflection and determination to bring them together to form unique mixed-media canvasses.
Outstanding achievement in Manx Language by a student under the age of 18: Isla Callister-Wafer, 17, Queen Elizabeth II High School
Winner of the Manx music category in 2012, Isla continues to make a remarkable contribution to Manx culture, making it both visible and accessible to people of all ages. Her enthusiasm, commitment and sense of humour have all helped her in working closely with Culture Vannin to help develop, record and produce numerous short Manx videos for the Manx Gaelic Video-a-Day project.
Outstanding contribution to Manx Culture by a student under the age of 18: Michelle Jamieson, 16, Castle Rushen High School
Michelle is an accomplished and dedicated musician, actor and dancer, who has held the titles of Young Singer in Mann and Young Actor in Mann. Representing the Island at the recent Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, the band Shenn Scoill, in which Michelle is the Manx Gaelic singer, beat off competition from five other Celtic nations with their song, Tayrn Mee Thie (Drawing Me Home). She has played various roles through her work with amateur dramatic societies on the Island including her role as Mary in the promenade performances of the Manx Passion during Holy Week 2014.
Outstanding contribution to Manx Culture by a student over the age of 18: Christopher Lewin, 21, University of Edinburgh and former Ballakermeen High School student
Christopher is a highly talented linguist and Manx speaker, using this skill to translate and develop a wide range of literature into Manx for learners and speakers alike. Recently he has edited a book on 19th century Manx language, called Lhaih-lioar Ghaelgagh: Original Manx Gaelic Prose 1821-1907. This has undoubtedly been one of the most important pieces of work about the Manx Language in recent years. Christopher’s support for the language has made a significant contribution to the quality of available written material in Manx.
Outstanding contribution to Manx Culture by a group under the age of 25: Michael Primary School
As part of their Island of Culture celebrations, the school held a special week exploring Manx culture ending in an exhibition and concert for family and friends. The pupils have created Archibald Knox-style artwork and Celtic crosses, listened to Manx folklore and performed Manx traditional dances, researched local wildlife and learnt to make Bonnag (a traditional flat cake made with dried fruit). The school staff and pupils strive to ensure that Manx culture is an everyday part of school life from Infants right through to Year 6.
Outstanding contribution to Manx Community: Joanna Akitt, 18, Castle Rushen High School
Joanna is a member of her school’s intergenerational scheme, through which she became interested in volunteering. At a recent Annual General Meeting of the Southern Befrienders she spoke passionately about what volunteering for them means to her. She has made an outstanding contribution to the Manx community through her mature, positive attitude in being a committed and reliable volunteer, even taking training in chair-based exercises, which she helps to run each week.
Hon Phil Gawne MHK, a fluent Manx speaker, presented the awards for the ‘Most Progress in Manx’ to Caitlin Dodd, Ballakermeen High School and Breeshey Crookall, Queen Elizabeth II High School. Nominees for this annual award were made by Bob Teare, Head of the Department of Education and Children’s Manx Language Team.
Closing the event, the Honourable Clare Christian, President of Tynwald said:
'I thank the North American Manx Association for their continued commitment to this award, which inspires our young people to develop their passion for our unique Manx culture and heritage. The community spirit, creativity and understanding of Manx language shown by the standards of the nominations, demonstrate how relevant our traditional culture and practices are. Our gratitude should also be expressed to those who tutor, mentor and guide all our young people in the many different aspects of our heritage.'
The award winners below with, from left, Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children; Peter Kelly MBE CP, President of the World Manx Association; Jody Morey, President of the North American Manx Association; Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for Infrastructure; the Honourable Clare Christian, President of Tynwald.
Photo top right: Caitlin Dodd (left), Ballakermeen High School, and Breeshey Crookall, Queen Elizabeth II High School, who received the awards for ‘Most Progress in Manx’
