Arrane Ashoonagh Vannin
The "National Anthem of the Isle of Man" (Manx: Arrane Ashoonagh Vannin, [əraːnʲ əʒuːnəx vanənʲ]) was written and composed by William Henry Gill (1839–1923), with the Manx translation by John J. Kneen (1873–1939). It is often referred to by its incipit, "O Land of Our Birth"[1] (Manx: O Halloo Nyn Ghooie, [oː haluː nən ɣu̯iː]).
English: Isle of Man National Anthem | |
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National anthem of the Isle of Man | |
Lyrics | William Henry Gill and John J. Kneen, 1907 |
Music | William Henry Gill |
Adopted | 2003 |
Audio sample | |
Digital instrumental version
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History
It is sung to an adaptation of the traditional Manx melody of "Mylecharaine’s March", which had been described as the "Manx national melody" long before Gill's composition. The words that originally accompanied the melody date to around 1800 and concern the impoverishment of a father to pay a dowry. However, those curious words have been identified as disparate pieces of older songs amalgamated together incompletely. The first verse of the song is: O Vylecharaine, c'raad hooar oo dty stoyr? / Nagh dooar mee 'sy Churragh eh dowin, dowin dy liooar? / My lomarcan daag oo mee (O Mylecharaine, where did you get your store? / Did I not get it in the Curragh, deep, deep enough? / Alone you left me).[2]
First performed at the Manx Music Festival on 21 March 1907, there are eight verses in total in the modern anthem, but only the first verse is usually sung. The anthem was given official status by the Isle of Man's legislature, Tynwald, on 22 January 2003, with "God Save the King" being designated as the royal anthem. The National Anthem is used on official and ceremonial occasions and in schools; the Royal Anthem is normally reserved for use additionally on those occasions when the Sovereign, members of the Royal Family, or the Lieutenant Governor are present.
The traditional song "Ellan Vannin" ("Isle of Man") had up to that point vied to be an equal unofficial national anthem, and had been re-popularized by a 1997 Bee Gees recording of it released as a single.[3]
Lyrics
English lyrics[1] | Manx lyrics[1] | IPA transcription[lower-alpha 1] |
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I |
I |
1 |
Notes
- See Help:IPA/Manx, Manx language § Orthography and Manx language § Phonology.
- Sometimes written h'anmeenyn.[4][5]
References
- "Island Facts". Isle of Man Public Services. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- Manannan's Cloak: An Anthology of Manx Literature by Robert Corteen Carswell, London: Francis Boule Publishers, 2010, pp. 121–123
- "Island factfile - Culture". IsleOfMan.com. Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure / Lily Publications. Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- NÓS. "Amhrán náisiúnta Mhanann canta i nGaelg do Laa Tinvaal". NÓS. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- "MANX NATIONAL ANTHEM [Manx Gaelic] | ManxMusic.com". Manx Music. Retrieved 5 February 2022.