Despite being one of the smaller nations of the Celtic world, the Isle of Man more than make up for it with their contribution to a large European cultural festival.

A Manx contingent of dancers, musicians, artists, craftsmen and artisan producers have traveled to Brittany this week to take part in the mammoth 10 day inter-Celtic festival held at Lorient, which this year will be hosted by the small nation of Galicia.

The festival is expected to attract up to 750,000 visitors over its 10 days.

This year, the Isle of Man are represented by the Peel-based dance group Skeddan Jiarg, who will be performing on a huge stage at the Espace Marine and taking part in the televised La Grande Parade des Nations Celtes, as well as taking part in many other community outreach and festival events.

Local harpist Mera Royle will be performing at the festival for the first time, where she will be joined by fellow young musicians from the band Scran.

Mera is coming to the end of her time as the reigning BBC Radio 2 young folk musician of the year, and will perform a series of concerts with fellow young musicians Owen Williams and Raygie Dolloso.

She was the feature of a short documentary, produced by Isle of Man film-makers, Dark Avenue, which was premiered at the festival’s Cine-FIL.

The legendary Manx folk-pop group the Mollag band will also make a return journey to the festival.

Having last played there in 2014, the group, led by Greg Joughin and also featuring singers Hilary Gale, Julie Matthews and Sarah Hewson, will take part in high profile performances at the Quai de la Bretagne and Espace Paroles.

The official artist representing the Isle of Man is Julia Ashby-Smyth, who will showcase her stunning and highly distinctive illustrative work, based around Manx and Celtic folklore at the Euro Celtic Art exhibition.

Much of the Isle of Man’s presence is centred around the Manx Pavilion, which is a hub of activity on the busy Quai des Pays Celtes.

The pavilion offers festival -goers the chance to sample a taste of the island, with local food, drink, including queenies and Fynoderee gin.

The pavilion, backed by Culture Vannin and the Isle of Man Arts Council, with the support of Visit Isle of Man, by also hosts live music and dance performances through out the festival.

The Manx team is being led by Grainney Sheard, who is looking forward to her first year as the island’s official delegate.

’I’m thrilled to be representing the Island as the official delegate alongside our Manx performers this year,’ said Grainney.

’The island has a very high standard of talent and we are incredibly proud to showcase this on such a prestigious international stage as Festival Interceltique de Lorient.’

by Mike Wade

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