With visiting musicians, singers and lecturers from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall, the packed programme had something for everyone – from beginners to fluent speakers and those just interested in hearing some great Celtic music.

The festival highlight was a fabulous inter-Gaelic concert at the Centenary Centre in Peel featuring musicians and singers representing each of the three Gaelic languages. Award-winning Scottish Gaelic singers Mairi MacInnes and Sineag MacIntyre enchanted the audience with a wide range of songs – from Gaelic prayers to lively 'mouth music' songs – accompanied by Mark Sheridan at the keyboard. Belfast-based trio Aodán Mac Sheafraidh, Maeve McKibben and Declan Devlin introduced pipe, flutes, guitar and some gorgeous singing by three people totally immersed in their culture.

On Saturday afternoon, visiting groups were split between a fascinating song exchange workshop in St John's and a Bree traditional youth music session in Douglas before they all came together for a driving music session at the Albert pub in Port St Mary.

Throughout the week there were plenty of opportunities for learners to improve their language skills, with teaching and informal sessions at Eary Cushlin, Java Coffee Lounge in Douglas and a wonderfully detailed lecture in Manx about the development of Venice by Bob Carswell. One of the most exciting developments was the launch of Possan Aeglagh, a new Manx Gaelic youth club in Peel opened by Graham Cregeen MHK.

A wealth of Manx musical talent was on display – not only in the form of established and new groups such as Cliogaree Twoaie, Strengyn, Fiddyl, and solo singers Greg Joughin, Phil Gawne, Annie Kissack and Clare Kilgallon – but also in the form of budding song-writers in Manx Gaelic. The annual Arrane son Mannin (Song for Man) competition organised by Fiona McArdle in conjunction with the Cooish saw Andy North win a £250 prize and the chance for his group 'Cabbyl Ushtey' to represent the Island at the Pan-Celtic Song Contest in Dingle next Easter. With prize money from the Manx Heritage Foundation, the competition attracts groups who may never have performed in Manx before.

The prestigious Ned Maddrell Memorial Lecture was given this year by Jenefer Lowe, Cornish Language Development Officer for the Cornish Language Partnership 'Maga'. In a very thorough presentation, she discussed Four Spellings and a Strategy. Jenefer also had time to visit the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, where she chatted to headteacher Julie Matthews and looked at the teaching and resources available.

The visit was an important way of feeding some of the experiences from the Island into the developing Cornish language curriculum. In fact, all visiting musicians and speakers were excited about the developments on the Island. For most it was their first visit, and they were very pleasantly surprised at how strong Manx language and music are, and the wonderful sense of community that has emerged.

Manx music development officer for the Manx Heritage Foundation and committee member for the festival, Dr Breesha Maddrell, said: 'We've been delighted with this year's Cooish. It's always hard work but also great fun to develop a varied programme of language and music events so that we can appeal to as wide a range of people as possible.

'The festival is a celebration of Manx identity, with the opportunity to put Manx speakers in touch with other Gaelic speakers so that they can explore the links between cultures. One of the most rewarding things is that exchange of ideas – visiting performers from both Northern Ireland and Scotland have already started to plan exchanges for young music and language groups.

'It's also very rewarding for the Department of Education and those involved with the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh more directly to again be seen internationally as a model to follow.'

The Cooish wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of a volunteer committee: Phil Gawne MHK, Annie Kissack, Cathy Clucas, Adrian Cain, Bob Carswell, James O'Meara and Breesha Maddrell. The committee is very grateful for financial and advertising support from the Manx Heritage Foundation, the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx Telecom and Cains.