Edward Faragher & Karl Roeder, folklorists & friends

'“I often think of you and but very few beside you” - Edward Faragher and Karl Roeder, Folklorists and Friends'

A full-length talk by Stephen Miller RBV on the fascinating, unique and culturally vital relationship between Edward Faragher (1831–1908) and Karl Roeder (1848–1911).

Rather than informant and folklorist, the relationship between the Cregneash crofter, Edward Faragher ('Ned Beg'), and the German-born Manchester-based sales agent, Karl Roeder, is one more of collaborators and friends.
From at least 1896 through until Faragher's death in 1908, the two worked on gathering in one of the most remarkable collections of folklore to be found anywhere in the Isle of Man or beyond.
Through a series of notebooks and letters, the two men from very different walks of life not only assembled a brilliant picture of Manx life, experience, tales and language in that period, but also grew in a friendship which meant so much to the two of them.

In this talk, Stephen Miller RBV offers an overview of their lives and friendship, and, most importantly, their work together to pass on on to our generation a phenomenally rich source of folklore and other cultural treasures.

Further information:
• Chiollagh Books: https://chiollaghbooks.com/
• Celtic Congress in the Isle of Man: https://www.celticcongressmannin.com/

This talk was delivered for the Mannin Branch of the Celtic Congress, in the Atholl Room of the Centenary Centre in Peel on 18 April 2026.

This recording was made with thanks to Stephen Miller RBV and the Celtic Congress.

The recording was filmed by Culture Vannin in 2026.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
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