A range of new bilingual postcards will aim to help forge links between Gaelic speaking nations.

A series of seven postcards, also produced as a range of informative posters, have been produced in Manx Gaelic Scots Gallic and Irish, which will help school children who learn the Manx language on the island keep in touch with fellow students in Ireland and Scotland, and also help teach each other their own language, as well as celebrating the three nations’ shared heritage.

The postcards and posters feature seven different themes, including food, weather, emotions, pets, colours, clothes and the beach, and were created by Manx artist Vicky Webb and Irish artist Andrea McCloskey.

The project grew from an initial trip, undertaken by teachers Aalin Clague and Adrian Cain, along with 10 year five and six pupils from the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.

They visited Kilkeel in Northern Ireland, in 2019, with the aim of establishing a new relationship between the Isle of Man and Lower Mourne region.

This eventually produced the collaborative project called Cassan (’path’ in Manx).

Despite the challenges thrown up by lockdown, the project produced many online multi-lingual events and cultural exchanges, as well as developing the series of colourful educational posters in Irish, Manx and Scottish Gaelic.

The posters have been distributed throughout the three nations and even as far as Canada and the postcards, reproduced by Culture Vannin, have been given to the Unnid Gaelgagh, who teach Manx around the Island’s schools.

’The Manx postcard project will give our pupils the opportunity to use what they have learnt in lessons to communicate with pupils in other schools,’ said Claudia Koenig from the Unnid Gaelgagh.

’Year 6 pupils who learn Manx are looking forward to writing and sending these lovely postcards to their peers.’

The postcard were unveiled during last weekend’s Cooish Manx Language festival.