A ’Manks Concert’ in honour of Manx cultural icon Sophia Morrison is to be held in the Centenary Centre in Peel at 7.30pm on Friday, May 24.

That date will be the 160th anniversary of the birth in Peel of Sophia Morrison.

The concert will feature young performers from the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, recitation from poet T E Brown by Deborah Taubman, award-winning harp player Mera Royle, Manx Bard Annie Kissack, the Gaelic choir Caarjyn Cooidjagh and the play performed for their annual Oie’ll Verree concert by Michael Players, RBV.

Concert tickets cost £7.

They are available online through the Centenary Centre website (centenarycentre.com), in Celtic Gold in Michael Street, Peel, or through the Manx branch of the Celtic Congress. There may be tickets available on the door.

Sophia Morrison was an important figure in the island’s cultural life.

She was a founder member and committee member of the Manx Language Society from 1899. As the secretary of the society from 1901 until she died in 1917, she published (often at her own expense) a magazine called Mannin, bringing together her interest in every aspect of the island’s cultural life.

She was instrumental in encouraging others to promote the island’s culture in all sorts of ways, as well as being actively involved herself.

She represented the island in the pan-Celtic movement and her knowledge and abilities were valued by international academics.

She is perhaps best known now for her Manx Fairy Tales.

The organisers of a short story competition connected with the concert have renewed their appeal for people to enter.

The stories must be written in Manx.

There’s a prize of £100 for a short story in Manx of 600-1,000 words, on any subject.

Entries have to be in for May 1.

There is no entry fee and the entry form to accompany each story is at the celticcongressmannin.com website.

The winner will be announced at the concert.