Some of the island’s most noted singers have gathered together to produce a special and poignant version of the Manx national anthem, which is set to be released in time for Tynwald Day.

Produced during the recent period of lockdown, the collaborative rendition of ’O, Land of Our Birth’, sung in Manx Gaelic, was created online and features the voices of many Manx singers, both young and old and on and off the island.

The singing was arranged and led by local professional singer Ruth Keggin and was put together when it seemed that social restrictions would mean that there would be no celebrations to mark the Manx National Day this year.

The project features the voices of sisters Isla and Maeve Callister, some of the children and parents from the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh and musicians Aalin Clague and Breesha Maddrell from Clash Vooar, along with members of the choirs Caarjyn Cooidjagh, Cliogaree Twoaie and the Lon Vane Ladies’ Choir.

Also featuring are Cairistiona Dougherty, a Manx exile living in Glasgow, and Manx Radio presenter Christy DeHaven, who was keen to give the Gaelic version a go.

The project was part organised by Manx music development officer Dr Chloe Woolley and Culture Vannin.

’The national anthem, or the ’Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin’ in Gaelic, received renewed interest over the lockdown by singers and instrumentalists in the Isle of Man, but we realised that it is rarely heard in Manx Gaelic,’ said Chloe.

’Being distant gave us the surprising opportunity to come together, to celebrate our language and identity in song.

’It was a pleasure to bring these talented singers together virtually for this special collaborative video.’

Written in 1907 by the writer and folklorist William Henry Gill (1839-1923), ’O Land of Our Birth’ is based on an old Manx folk melody, ’Mylecharaine’ or ’Molly Charane’, which was already thought of as the ’Manx national air’, to form an anthem ’worthy to stand side by side, although at a respectable distance from, ’God Save the King’. The video can be viewed at culturevannin.im