A new poet for the Isle of Man will be chosen at a special event at the weekend.

The annual choosing of the new Manx Bard takes place on Sunday, at a ceremony held at Mount Gawne Farm , in Colby, from 3pm.

The new Bard, who will be the sixth to carry the title, will join the surviving poets, Stacey Astill, John ’Dog’ Callister, Sara Goodwins and the current Bard, Annie Kissack in representing the island’s culture, traditions and heritage.

Five poets have been shortlisted for the award, that Bridge Carter, the chairman of the Manx Bard Committee, said was chosen from the overwhelming response they had received from local writers.

’We have had such an amazing response this year,’ said Bridge.

’We have had so many entries that we have had to whittle them all down to a final shortlist.

’Initially we would have read out all the poems from people who have entered, but we would have been there all day this time around.

’The five chosen poems on the shortlist really are the best of the best, and we think that it is a big achievement in itself just to make that list.’

The new Bard will be chosen from a judging panel, which includes Annie and Stacey, along with Jane Corkill, the art development officer with the Isle of man Arts Council, and James Franklin, from Culture Vannin.

’We have chosen a deliberately diverse judging panel, who are not necessarily poetry-minded and will not see the entries in the same way that we, as writers ourselves, would see them,’ said Bridge.

’Having already seen the shortlist, I know it will be a very tough competition.

’It will be very difficult to pick one from that list, and every one of them are worthy winners.’

Bridge was full of praise for Annie during her year spent representing the island as the Manx Bard.

’Annie has been terrific as the Manx Bard over the past year,’ she said.

’She has been instrumental and highly involved in involving the position of the Bard in the community, and she has been a great ambassador for the position, and also for the island as a whole.

’Of course, her time as Bard does not end after her year. ’Once you are a Manx Bard, you stay one for life, and you can carry that title around with you.

’The four living bards still work as a team, and they help each other out at events. And, of course, we always include T.E. Brown, as often as we can.’

The ceremony, which will be attended by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney and the Chief Minister, Howard Quayle, who will annouce the winner, will also hear poems read by the Manx Youth Bard Holly McRae, along with original poems read by schoolchildren.

by Mike Wade

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