As most of us know, there is more to the world of Manx folklore and fairy tales than just saying hello to the little people when you cross over the fairy bridge,

From the Fynoderee, to the bugganes, the tarroo ushtey, the glashtyn and the mooinjer veggey themselves, tales of the island’s folklore are rich and abundant in fantastical characters, arcane stories and mysterious otherworlds that seem to exist on the other side of the hedge.

So much so that UK fairy and folklore researcher has produced and released a comprehensive study of Manx fairy culture.

John Kruse released ’Manx Fairies- The Little People of the Isle of Man’, through Green Magic publishing.

Claiming to be the ’first comprehensive survey of Manx fairylore that has been published in at least a century’, John’s book examines every aspect of little people, creatures, animals and spirits that regularly feature in Manx fairy stories and draws comparisons with fairy folklore from the adjacent isles.

Chapters in the book will look at the physical appearance of the mooinjer veggey, such as their looks, clothing and even their smell.

Also, their habits and character are examined, as well as their homes, their pastimes and their connections to fishing and farming.

John also looks at the stories in which the little people come into contact with human’s in the stories.

’Manx Fairies’ is John’s sixth book, and it joins similar works, examining fairy culture in the British Isles, including ’British Fairies’, ’British Pixies’, ’The Darker Side of Faery’ and ’Faeries and The Natural World’.

He said he was drawn to studying Manx folklore when he noticed the similarities in stories between different cultures.

’When I was researching my books on British fairies, I would regularly come across Manx fairy stories, and it came to the time when I thought that the Isle of Man deserved its own book,’ said John.

’I found a lot of bits of information, but there didn’t seem to be a definitive study of Manx fairy folklore.

’The stories are fascinating in their own right, but what struck me the most was how the Manx stories are so close together.

’Geographically, obviously, the island is a small place, but with British fairy folklore, the stories are scattered everywhere. On the island, everything seemed to be very contained.

’Given the geographical location of the Isle of Man, in the centre of the Irish sea, its unsurprising that there awe stories with similarities to those from Ireland, Scotland and England, especially from the South West. Manx stories seem to share a lot in common with stories from Cornwall and around that area.

’The "fynoderee" was one story that grabbed me, with a large, often hairy creature offering help, but with the possibility of it becoming very angry if isn’t treated with respect.

’Many stories of the Little People show that they have both good and bad qualities, and how they treat us often depends upon how we treat them.

’I especially like the "lhiannan shee", fairy lovers, who can attach themselves to men, who fall hopelessly in love with them and end up wasting away at their hands.’

More information on ’Manx Fairies’ can be found at greenmagicpublishing.com