Efforts to help promote and spread the use of the Manx language has led to the Isle of Man Post being given a cultural award.

Representatives from the post office were given the Londeyr award by the Manx language educational group Jeebin in recognition of the use of Manx Gaelic in several editions of original Manx stamps.

In the citation for the Londeyr award, which translates as ’lantern’ in Manx Gaelic, Jeebin praised the Post office for is forward thinking and inventive use of the Manx language in designing locally-themed stamps, which it says helps to promote and encourage the use of the Manx language.

Jeebin pointed to a recent editions of stamps, entitled ’Bannaghtyn’, released in 2019, which helped enable the public to become more familiar with popular Manx greetings, along with a set of phrase cards that were printed and distributed by the Isle of Man Post Office.

The award was presented to representatives from the Post Office by Manx Language officer Ruth Keggin-Gell during the recent Cooish Manx language festival.

Maxine Cannon, General Manager of Stamps and Coins at the Isle of Man Post Office, said she was delighted to have been recognised for the language work.’Being at the heart of our community, we are incredibly proud of our Manx heritage and beautiful Manx Gaelic language,’ said Maxine.

’To have the opportunity to act as a worldwide ambassador for our island, through our diverse range of stamps, means a lot to us and we are absolutely delighted to have been awarded with the Londeyr 2021.

’Spurred on by this recognition, we will continue to fly the Manx flag high to make it visible in every corner of the world. Gaelg Aboo!’

The Londeyr award was introduced by Jeebin in 2018 to highlight and reward an individual or a group who shine a light on, and for, the Manx language.

The most recent recipient of the award is illustrator Vicky Webb, who won last year