Ten-and 11-year-old pupils from across the island’s primary schools who are learning Manx took part in an inter-school postcard project recently.

The project was co-ordinated by teaching staff from the Department of Education and Social Care’s Manx language team, Unnid Gaelgagh, to coincide with the Cooish Manx Language Fesival.

The colourful postcards featuring pets, food, colours, feelings, weather, clothes and the beach in Manx Gaelic (as well as in Irish and Scottish Gaelic). They were produced by Culture Vannin from trilingual posters created as part of the Cassan (path) project involving the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh and a primary school in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland. Writing and receiving the postcards gave the pupils a great opportunity to use what they had learnt in lessons to communicate in Manx with pupils in other schools. The postcards have also helped them learn about the close connection between the three Gaelic languages.

The team from Unnid Gaelgagh extended their thanks ’to Culture Vannin for providing the postcards and the Post Office for their generous donation of stamps for this project’.

Claudia Koenig from Unnid Gaelgagh said: ’We congratulate Oik Postagh Ellan Vannin, the Isle of Man Post Office, on recently being presented with the Londeyr (’lantern’) award by Culture Vannin for their support of the Manx language.

’This is very well deserved, as the Post Office have been very helpful and generous in supporting our projects in the schools over many years with beautiful stamps and postcards featuring Manx Gaelic.’