A Manx Gaelic choir will travel to Ireland to represent the Isle of Man at a prestigious event.

Caarjyn Cooidjagh, meaning ‘friends together’ in Manx, will perform in Dublin this Friday (September 4) as part of Blein ny Gaelgey – the Year of the Manx Language.

The event has been organised by the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s premier academic body and one of the country’s leading cultural organisations.

Professor John Walsh will speak about the invaluable recordings made by the Irish Folklore Commission of native Manx speakers during the late 20th century.

The choir will accompany the talk with a programme of traditional and contemporary Manx songs, arranged by its director, Annie Kissack RBV.

For the choir, the invitation represents a significant honour after more than 35 years of singing together in various line-ups.

While Caarjyn Cooidjagh has performed at festivals and competitions across the Celtic world, members say they are particularly honoured to have been invited to perform for the Royal Irish Academy.

The programme will showcase the breadth of Manx musical tradition, with the oldest known Manx text, the Manannan or Traditionary Ballad, being performed alongside a prayer for St Columba.

The choir will also perform Annie Kissack’s setting of the carval words from ‘Roish my row Flaunys’, which references the creation of the world.

Songs covering themes including fishing, love and historical events will complete the programme.

Phil Gawne will also perform a solo, ‘Marish ny Fiddleryn’ – meaning ‘With the Fiddlers’.

The performance will be recorded by the Irish Traditional Music Archive, creating a permanent record of the choir’s contribution to the event.

As well as the Royal Irish Academy performance, Caarjyn Cooidjagh will perform at an outdoor venue in Meeting House Square and will give informal performances at locations around Dublin.

The choir sings almost exclusively in Manx, with its repertoire composed, arranged or researched by Annie.

Members have been singing together for more than three decades and have recorded five CDs, with their songs also featuring on numerous other recordings.

The choir has enjoyed a busy summer performing at community events and is now looking forward to taking Manx language and culture across the water.

Caarjyn Cooidjagh said as a group they are extremely grateful to the Isle of Man Arts Council for all of its support through a travel grant, which, alongside the choir’s own funds, has made the trip possible.

They also thanked Douglas City Council for providing contacts with Dublin City Council, which helped lead to further performance opportunities during the visit.

The choir’s trip comes as the Isle of Man celebrates Blein ny Gaelgey, highlighting the language’s history and its continued use in modern Manx culture.

Some of their recent performances on island include a clifftop concert at Groudle and their involvement in this year’s Yn Chruinnaght, a week-long Celtic gathering which takes place in the island every July.

Caarjyn Cooidjagh can be found on Facebook and online music distribution platform Bandcamp.