The passing of the last native Manx speaker has been commemorated in the lyrics of a new song, written by a songwriter from Merseyside.

Ian Prowse, a singer and guitarist from Liverpool, has penned a tribute to Ned Maddrell, after hearing the tale of the last native Manx speaker dying in 1974.

The frontman, who has previously the indie-rock groups Pele and Amsterdam, has included the song, entitled ’Ned Maddrell’, on his latest album, ’Here I Lie’, which is due to be released in the spring, later this year.

Ian said he was moved to write the song following hearing about the Manx language while taking a degree course about Irish history in Liverpool.

’Manx Gaelic and the fate of Ned came up in a lecture I was attending about the Easter Uprising. It really struck a chord with me, and I remember thinking that it must have been a huge thing for people to realise after he had gone’ said Ian.

’To have hundreds, possibly a thousand years of this unique and wonderful culture come down to the point of this one last native speaker, I found that incredibly powerful and quite moving, and I wanted to pay tribute to it on my new album.’

Ian said that he also wanted to pay his own tribute to the island, which he said he considers very special to him.

’I spent my first summer here after leaving school, in 1982 when I was 16, working to save up for a guitar and an amp,’ he said.

’I worked at Summerland, looking after the kids play area all summer. It was mad, and really busy.

’That is, in fact, the only job I have ever really had. I came home, brought a guitar and became a professional musician.

’My family also spent a lot of time here too. Of course, coming from Liverpool in the 70s and 80s, everyone came here for their summer holidays.

’I wanted to mention the Summerland disaster, as it was something that everyone in Liverpool knew about, and it was very raw, still, when I worked there, so, although the song began as a tribute to Ned, I ended up turning the song into my own tribute to the Isle of Man.

’I mention some of the places I remember, and pay my respects to this magical and enchanting little island. ’Hopefully I’ll be able to come over to the island with the band when we get out on tour.’

The song ends with a poem in Gaelic, ’Graih my Chree’, read by Lauren Gray.

Ian performed in the island with Amsterdam in 2006, playing a series of memorable, sweaty pub gigs at the Cornerhouse and the Creek.

With both Pele and Amsterdam, Ian has release 14 albums, touring and playing with the likes of Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, Mick Jones amongst many others.

’Here I Lie’ is Ian’s third solo album, although he still tours and records under the name ’Ian Prowse and Amsterdam.

by Mike Wade

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