The Manx Connection, which went on sale at the weekend, charts author John Quirk's visits to Manx societies around the world established as far back as 1851.

Mr Quirk travelled through America, Dubai, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand collecting stories of colourful Manx characters and their amazing adventures overseas.

On the eve of its release, he said he hoped the book would serve as 'a tribute to the early Manx pioneers, who left home on an often perilous journey to start a new life in distant lands'.

The 37-year-old said: 'I'd been looking for an idea for a travel book for a couple of years, and then while researching a story, this idea popped into my head — and wouldn't go away.

'I was drawn by the opportunity to mix some travel writing with history, not to mention some character study. I've tried to relay the history of the societies, but with a splash of colour and a bit of humour.'

His quest saw the Colby man and former Isle of Man Newspapers chief reporter follow a trail of evidence left behind by our ancestors in the US states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Ohio and Washington DC.

He also traced the voyages of Manx migrants down under, passing through Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania in Australia, as well as Christchurch and Auckland in New Zealand.

After a little digging, he unearthed some vivid examples of the Isle of Man's influence abroad, such as Laxey Cemetery and the site of old Laxey Church, built in Wisconsin in 1855.

A big discovery was made at the San Diego Maritime Museum in California, home of a ship built in Ramsey in 1863 called the Star of India.

Even Tasmania produced the goods, boasting the Tynwald restaurant and colonial accommodation.

One of the highlights was discovering a cocktail called Douglas Town served in a small Illinois settlement called Galva.

Mr Quirk said: 'It's an old cliché, but one that's true — wherever you travel in the world, you usually end up bumping into someone with a Manx connection.

'The last 200 years has seen many Manx pioneers leave their homeland. For an island this size, the impact the Manx have left and continue to leave on their new homes is remarkable.'

Despite all his globe-trotting, the public relations worker admitted he had 'barely scratched the surface' of emigration from the Isle of Man.
'I just hope the book will provide readers with an insight into how the Manx have influenced places in which they settled, and encourage people to find out more about their ancestors,' he added.

Support for the project came from the Manx Heritage Foundation and local firms Total (IoM), Manx Telecom, Emirates and Isle of Man Advertising – Mr Quirk works at the latter company.

Gwynneth and Colin Brown, of publishers, The Manx Experience, called the book a 'unique project' which would 'appeal to both Island residents and to Manx people abroad'.

The Manx Connection is available from bookstores, at £9.99, or by post direct from the publisher to the rest of the world at various international rates.

For more information, go to www.manxconnection.com