Fires burned, the weird and wonderful characters cavorted and the champions of Winter and Summer clashed in the spectacular Oie Houney fire festival.

Held to celebrate the island’s Celtic heritage, the unique Hop Tu Naa festivities and to mark the turning of the seasons, the Oie Houney festival saw procession of costumed actors parade under torchlight along the sea front of Peel and enact a staged performance, where against two bonfires, the fiery champion of the summer queen fought against the terrifying winter champ, dressed in a ghoulish skull mask in front of a crowd of well over 1,000 people.

Also on display were the huge costumed figures of the Moddey Dhoo and the Phynoderee, while Odin’s raven, Huginn, cawed and flapped over head.

Fittingly for the Hop tu Naa, and for the time of year, the winter demon triumphed and winter was welcomed in for the next few months.

The event was crowned by a huge fireworks display.

The Oie Houney fire festival was created after the Oie Voaldyn festival, held over the May Bank holiday, was cancelled as an early victim of the Covid-19 restrictions and, following the success of the event, the organisers are keen to run both events in the future.