THE arts have helped in the revival of Manx, but much work needs to be done.
That is the verdict of delegates who attended the International Celtic Congress in Oban, Argyll.
Supported by the Manx Heritage Foundation, 25 delegates from the Island joined those from Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the event
.
The Celtic Congress is a non-political organisation working to protect and develop Celtic languages and cultures.
Its latest meeting focused on the role of the arts.
Anne Kissack told how choirs and music groups played a part in the revival of Manx Gaelic and presented some of the poetry composed by children at the Manx medium school in St John's.
Mactullagh Vannin and Share na Veg performed at the meeting.
The Welsh delegates focused on drama and theatre, the
Cornish on poetry and the people of Brittany looked at the use of the Breton language in advertising posters.
Brian Stowell said: 'The general message was that the art has to be of high standard and not just a vehicle to promote the various languages. As Anne Kissack said, the Isle of Man is generally behind the other countries as regards the use of our language in the arts, but we will catch up in many areas.'
