One of the traditional fixtures in the Manx music festive calendar is this year returning to Douglas.

Having been held at the Peel Masonic club for the past three years, the annual Mollag Ghennal night, usually held in the week in between Christmas and New Year, is to be returning to the capital, this time being held at the Manx Legion Club on Market Hill.

The evening is a firm favourite within those who are associated with Manx music, dance and culture, and frequently features a stunning line-up of quality local musicians and performers.

This year will be no different, and will feature music from Claasagh, a harp group led by Rachel Hair, a selection of carvals, sung by Caarjyn Cooidjagh and a set by singer/songwriter Matt Kelly.

Clash Vooar, the experimental jazz-folk group, will also appear, alongside a Manx ’supergroup’, comprised of Malcolm Stitt, Jamie Smith and David Kilgallon.

Also appearing this year will be a Welsh fiddle player, Selyf Edwards, which marks a slight departure for the Mollag Ghennal, as the organisers have mainly featured only Manx performers.

Rounding off the night will be the Mollag Band, led by Greg Joughin who is the organiser of the Mollag Ghennal.

This year marks 25 years since the Mollag band took over the running of the festive show. When Greg and the group decided to take the reins, the show was being held in the Villa Marina garden rooms.

’We inherited it from the Calor Gas ceili band,’ said Greg. ’They used to have a Christmas party for themselves at the Villa, and it was really good and very popular.

’When they gave up doing that event, I thought that it was a pity, as it was such a good night. I always went to it, or at least I always tried to, as it would sell out very quickly. As they gave up, we, the Mollag band, took it over and kept it going.

’Apart from a few years that it was run as Yn Chruinnaght Ghennal, we have run it ever since. It was something that we organised essentially as a party night for ourselves that we could invite our friends, musicians and various band mates to come and play.’

The event moved from the Villa, after the work to reconstruct the venue began in 2001, to the Douglas Masonic hall, where it stayed for many years, before moving to Peel. However, the need for a bigger venue has led them to return to Douglas.

Over the years, anyone who been connected with Manx traditional music has appeared at the Mollag Ghennal night.

Singer Christine Collister appeared during the late 90s, and Davy Knowles made an appearance in 2013.

But Greg stresses that he doesn’t want the night to be thought of as purely a folk night.

’I always wanted to get people who are different, who aren’t necessarily folk orientated,’ he said.

’One year we had a band called the Big Train Blues band, a big Glenn Miller-type big jazz band playing.’

One of his favourite bands to appear at the Mollag Ghennal was the trio ’Barrule’, which featured Jamie Smith, Tom Callister and Adam Rhodes.

’They were a great band, and they also played a lot of Manx music,’ said Greg. ’They were so good at it and they took it all over the world. It was such a pity when they folded.’

Bringing the young talent through and giving stage time to young performers has long been a feature of the Mollag Ghennal, as can be seen this year with the youth folk group Scran and the young dancers from Skeddan Jiarg, who will be performing the traditional ’White Boys’ sword dance, a traditional dance usually performed around Christmas time.

’It has been a great thing to be able to work with kids and to see them come through,’ said Greg. ’And there are a load of them now, with Scran being an example. We are always more than willing to give them a slot on the stage. Mera Royle, a harpist who plays with both Scran and Claasagh, has been playing with us for years too. She is a fabulous talent.

’And also Skeddan Jiarg are doing the Whiteboys dance. We used to have the dance at the Mollag Ghennal each year, as it is a traditional Christmas dance. But we haven’t had it for the past few years now. It will be good to get it back.

’Essentially, I think it is a highlight of the year for people who are involved in and working with Manx music, in whatever way they do it. It’s a good Christmas party night, that’s how I see it.’

Mollag Ghennal takes place on Friday, December 29, starting at 7.30pm at the Manx Legion hall, Market Street, Douglas.

Tickets are £13, available from Shakti Mann, Ramsey, Celtic Gold in Peel, Peter Norris Music, in Douglas and Thompson Travel in Port Erin.

by Mike Wade

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