The next name to be added to a growing line of national poets was announced at a ceremony last weekend.

Zoe Cannell was named as the sixth Manx Bard at a special event, held at Moorhouse Farm in Colby on Sunday afternoon.

Zoe was announced by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney, and dressed in the ceremonial blue bardic robes by her predecessor, Annie Kissack, before taking her seat on the throne of the Manx Bards.

She was then joined by the four other surviving Bards, including John ’Dog’ Callister, Stacey Astill and Sara Goodwins, along with the first Manx Youth Bard, Holly MacRae, where she was also handed the official bardic staff.

She then read out two of her poems, ’Ruthless Revenge’ and ’Being Manx’, in front of the large crowd.

Speaking after her ceremonial robing, Zoe, the daughter of the famous Manx Radio personality Geoff Cannell, said that the role of the bard was one that she had set her sights on four years ago, when the role was first revived.

’I am absolutely thrilled to bits,’ said Zoe.

’This is something I have aspired to for many years, becoming a Manx Bard.

’I have been to every presentation over the years and to be here now, dressed in these robes and sat on the throne, is a wonderful feeling. I’m thrilled to bits and really proud.’

Zoe wrote three poems for the selection process, which displayed the range of her work.

’I wanted to make sure I had a diverse range of poetry to offer, and I wanted to show my different skills, by including serious and humorous ones.

’I’m now looking forward to working really hard with the committee, and I want to develop the ideas on what I would like to do with the role.

’Really, I want to do as much as I can to make poetry accessible to as many people as possible.

’I want to speak to people who don’t have any interest in it at the moment and see how I can develop poetry with them, while having a lot of fun at the same time.’

Zoe was chosen from a short-list of five poets, and the decision was described by Bridge Carter, the chairman of the Manx Bard committee, as one that was very close.

’She was a very worthy winner’, said Bridge.

’What swung it for Zoe was the strength of her performance.

’We do look for the power of the poetry, but also the power of the performance too.

’Rudyard Kipling said that "words are the most powerful drug available to mankind", and Zoe stood out because she was able to deliver her words in a very direct and powerful way.

’Each poet is unique, and what they write and bring to the role is different from the last.’ Bridge added.

’For me, there is nothing more terrifying and thrilling than watching a dream come to fruition in front of you and seeing the people come forward to support you.

’I feel this must be the same for the chosen Bards.

’This is Zoe’s time to shine and I am really excited for her and look forward to seeing what she will bring to the table in her role as the sixth Manx Bard.’

The afternoon also heard poems from the Bards present, plus a reading of T.E.Brown by Phil Gawne, and original poems written by Kinley Clugstone and Meri Wade, both 10 years old and Finn Franklin, aged seven.

by Mike Wade

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