'Twentieth Century Scottish Gaelic Magazines and the Isle of Man' Dr Petra Johana Poncarová

Culture Vannin
Culture Vannin
Oct 6, 2026

Throughout the twentieth century, Scottish Gaelic magazines that sought to promote the Gaelic language and Scottish political independence showed much interest in the developments in fellow Celtic countries, including the Isle of Man.
The lecture discusses Manx-related content in the magazines founded and run by Ruaraidh Erskine of Mar in the 1900s – 1930s and in the quarterly Gairm (1952–2002), established by Derick Thomson and Finlay J Macdonald.
These include contributions by Manx authors, scholars, and activists, including Mona Douglas and Robert L. Thomson, reviews of new Manx publications, and Manx folklore material translated into Scottish Gaelic.
In addition, the talk will mention contacts between Scottish Gaelic and Manx delegations at pan-Celtic congresses, especially those held in the Isle of Man, with reference to archival materials from the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth.

This is the 2026 Ned Maddrell Lecture.
It was organised by Possan Ronsee Gaelgagh - Manx Language Research Group, hosted by Manx National Heritage, and delivered in the Manx Museum, Douglas, on 26 September 2026.
It was delivered as a part of the Cooish Vooar Manx Language Festival:
https://www.learnmanx.com/cooish

More about Dr Petra Johana Poncarová:
* https://petrajohanaponcarova.com/
* https://ualk.ff.cuni.cz/staff/academic-staff/poncarova/
* https://www.facebook.com/erc.nudgers/

This film was produced by Culture Vannin in 2026.
Culture Vannin exists to promote, support and celebrate the culture of the Isle of Man.
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