FOCKLE AYNS DTY CHLEAYSH
Troddanyn Traauee - Shenn Schlei son Sleih Noa

S'treih lhiam gra nagh vel agh peesh beg scruit aym 'sy chiaghtin shoh. Yn leshtal t'aym, shen dy vel yn emshyr er ve feer vie son goll traaue car y chiaghtin shoh chaie as kyndagh rish shen ta mee er ve magh ayns magheryn Creneash lesh yn shesheraght aym, ayns ynnyd jeh screeu er dty hon. Dy jarroo ta mee son screeu mychione traaue er y fa dy vel shen yn un red ta mee er ve smooinaghtyn er 'sy chiaghtin shoh. Gow my leshtal diuish nagh vel jeean er y chenn schlei shoh - erskyn insh da Billy Creer.

Hed daa troddan traauee er cummal er yn ghaa Yesarn shoh cheet as adsyn reaghit son cabbil nyn lomarcan. Ta troddan traauee reaghit ec Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin hed er cummal ayns Creneash er 6oo Mee Averil ec 10.30 sv as yn fer elley reaghit ec Sheshaght Traauee Cabbil Vannin ec Cronk Fisher, Skeerey Chairbre, Jesarn shoh cheet ec 10.30 sv.

Bee tooilley fys ry-gheddyn mychione y troddan EAV 'sy chiaghtin shoh cheet gyn ouyrys agh shoh dhyt beggan d'ys mychione y chied 'er as troddanyn traauee dy cadjin. Ta fys mie aym dy vel sleih ayn ta smooinaghtyn dy vel lheid ny taghyrtyn shoh shenn emshyragh gyn scansh da'n lhing noa ain. Cha nel mee son arganey nyn 'oi agh cha nel ad myr shen dooys.

Ta troddan traauee ny smoo na jus traaue. She leshtal mie da eirinee as cummaltee y cheer dy heet cooidjagh son cooish as cappan dy hey. Ta mee hene jeean dy liooar er traaue agh ny share na shen ta ny skeealyn as spotchyn ry-chlashtyn. Gyn ouyrys she red feer Vanninagh ta ny troddanyn shoh as my t'ou geearree toiggal cultoor as bea ny Manninee shegin dhyt cheet lesh shilley orroo.

Cha neeu veg cheet roish munlaa er lhiam er y fa nagh vel agh stoo dree ry-akin agh lurg shen Jesarn shoh cheet ec Cronk Fisher bee cappanyn dy hey as peeshyn dy verreen ry-gheddyn as dy chooilley sorch dy bee mie. Ec jerrey yn troddan Jesarn, mysh 3.15 sa bee caa dhyt traaue y phrowal - soilshaghys mie er creoiys lhing ny gabbil!

Ploughing Matches - Old Skills for a New Age

I'm afraid I've only got a small bit for you this week. My excuse is that I've bee making the most of the weather to go ploughing with my horses in Cregneash - a far more agreeable activity than being stuck in the office typing all day. As I've got ploughing on the brain this week its ploughing I'm going to write about, so apologies in advance to Billy Creer and others who don't share my enthusiasm for this ancient art.

We've got a ploughing double bill coming up with two horse ploughing matches being held over the next two Saturday's. The Manx National Heritage match is being held at Cregneash on 6th April starting at 10.30 am and the Manx Horse Ploughing Society is holding its match this Saturday at Fisher's Hill, Arbory again starting at 10.30 am.

There'll be more information about the MNH match available next week but here's some information about this Saturday's match and an explanation of the undoubted attraction of ploughing matches generally. I know that there are some people who are sceptical about the relevance of ploughing matches to the contemporary life of the Isle of Man and who knows - maybe they're right. However, for those who regularly attend such events they are an important part of the rural calendar.

A ploughing match is much more than just ploughing as it provides an opportunity for farmers and others from rural communities to gather together for a skeet and a yarn and some tea and cake. As you may have gathered, I'm keen enough on ploughing but the ploughing is nothing without the stories and good humoured leg pulling which can be heard throughout the day. I've no doubt that these matches encapsulate our culture and way of life in a way that few events can.

As for this Saturday's match there's not much to see before dinner time except for the ploughing aficionados, but from round about midday onwards there'll be tea, cake and all kinds of goodies being served in the refreshment tent. Then from about 3.15 there'll be an opportunity for those who wish to have a go at horse ploughing - an excellent chance to discover the hardships of the age of the horse! Anyway, no more ploughing talk for at least six months.

Phil Gawne