An album of music celebrating the life of one of the Isle of Man’s most important cultural icons has been re-released online.

’Mona’s Isle: The Legacy of Mona Douglas’ has been made available via the Culture Vannin Bandcamp page on the date of what would have been the birthday of the late and noted folklorist and cultural archivist Mona Douglas by Culture Vannin.

The album features 11 tracks of modern and traditional Manx music, inspired by the work, poetry and life of Mona Douglas RBV, who was born on September 18, 1898 and died in 1987, aged 98.

The songs were recorded by musicians and artists who were connected to Mona, including singers and instrumentalists, such as Aalin Clague, Alanna Cowley, Annie Kissack, Bob Carswell, Breesha Maddrell, Chloe Woolley, Clare Kilgallon, Dave Kilgallon, Greg Joughin and Mandy Griffin.

The project was originally conceived by the local musician Dave Mclean who, among many other figures involved in Manx culture and arts today, had been a member of Mona Douglas’s youth group, Aeglagh Vannin, in the 1960s.

The songs of Mona’s Isle are sung in Manx and English and include new songs and re-workings of traditional folk melodies collected by Mona in the early 20th century.

Some are new settings of her poems whilst others are original songs which explore Mona’s life and philosophy.

There is also an archive audio of Mona singing ’Arrane ny Niee’, a song that she had collected in the 1920s.

The album was originally released in 2017, featuring artwork by Bruno Cavellec and was accompanied by a DVD of a commemorative concert held and filmed at the Peel Centenary Centre.

Dr Chloe Woolley, Manx music development officer at Culture Vannin said:

’Mona Douglas’s life-time work for Manx culture was so important for the Isle of Man, then and now.

’She inspired so many, and not least the musicians featuring here.

’It is wonderful to mark her birthday with releasing this album of music celebrating her life and work, bringing it to the attention of new audiences around the world.’

’Mona’s Isle - The Legacy of Mona Douglas’ is available from the Culture Vannin BandCamp page or from culturevannin.im