A presentation to the President of Tynwald, Steve Rodan by Steingrímur Sigfússon, the Speaker of the Althingi, the Parliament of Iceland, has served to symbolise the strengthening of the Isle of Man’s Nordic links.

Mr Sigfússon, together with his wife Bergný Marvinsdóttir, were among invited guests at this year’s Tynwald Day celebrations which took for its theme, shipping and the associated maritime connections with the island’s Nordic neighbours Iceland and Norway, the latter represented by Magne Rommetveit, vice-president of the Storting, the Parliament of Norway.

Mr Sigfússon took the opportunity of his visit to present Mr Rodan with a decoratively carved bull’s horn that bears the inscription: ’Til Manarþings fra Alþingi Islendinga 2019’ (’To the Parliament of the Isle of Man from Althingi of Iceland 2019’).

Mr Rodan, who represented the Isle of Man at the Union Treaty centenary celebrations of the Althingi in July 2018, said: ’This is a magnificent gift from the Parliament of Iceland and Tynwald is honoured and delighted to accept it.

’This beautiful example of Icelandic craftsmanship will go on permanent display and enhance our buildings for years to come. It will be a lasting reminder of the shared parliamentary origins of Tynwald and Althingi over 1000 years ago, and of the continuing friendship between the Manx and Icelandic people.’