Cooish

The Cooish is the name of a festival that promotes Manx language and culture that takes place on the Isle of Man each November. The word 'Cooish' is a Manx word that has many meanings. It can translate to mean a chat, a meeting, a cause, an issue, or a get-together.[1]

Cooish
The Cooish logo
GenreCultural, language
FrequencyMostly annual, with some fallow years
Location(s)Peel, St John's, Douglas
CountryIsle of Man
Years active25 years
Established1996
FounderPhil Gawne
Most recent12 November 2020 (2020-11-12) – 14 November 2020 (2020-11-14)

History

The festival was founded by Phil Gawne in the 1996 under the name Feailley Ghaelgagh (Manx Language Festival), following a research trip to Scottish Gaelic development agencies in Inverness and the Isle of Skye.[2] Feailley Ghaelgagh was later renamed The Cooish.[3]

The Feailley Ghaelgagh became an important feature of Manx cultural life and throughout the 1990s and 2000s and was a week long festival during this period.[4] It later reverted to a two-day festival which is the current length.[5] By gaining support from local businesses and the Manx government, as well as employing extensive advertising, the festival has been able to "ensure that most people in the country are aware of the language."[2]

After a period of fallow years,[6] The Cooish was re-launched in 2017 in Peel by Adrian Cain, Yn Greinneyder:

The Cooish was really successful in promoting and raising the profile of Manx,’ said Adrian. ’But after a while I thought we were doing so much work promoting Manx language throughout the year that it seemed quite strange to say that we must do something in one particular week. So we left it for a while.[1]

In 2018, the Londeyr (Lantern) Award for people who have made new efforts to promote the everyday use of the Manx language was launched.[7] The award is given recognition of the efforts of members of the community who have been seen to use and support the use of the Manx language on a daily basis.[8]

Events

The Cooish is organised by Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh with support from the Manx Heritage Foundation and the Isle of Man Arts Councils along with local businesses.[9][10]

Most of the events that take during the festival are based around the Manx language and the encouragement of its use. Coffee mornings and Pop-Up Gaeltaghyn are used as an opportunity for people to practice their Manx in a casual, informal setting.[11] There are language workshops to help people who are interested in learning or improving their Manx, as well as general information sessions for parents to discuss the advantages of bilingualism and of sending their child to the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh or Mooinjer Veggey.[12]

Although the primary purpose of the Cooish is to promote the Manx language, it aims to bring together different elements of the Gaelic world to celebrate their shared heritage. Artists and musicians from other Gaelic countries frequently perform at Cooish events.[4][13][14]

There are music and song writing workshops and as well as traditional dance and music performances throughout the festival.[6] Evening pub sessions and concerts are also an important part of the festival.

The Cooish has also provided the space for new Manx language publications by Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh to be launched, such as Christopher Lewin's Droghad ny Seihll and First Thousand Words in Manx.[15][16]

References
  1. "Cooish Review". Learn Manx. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. Gawne, Phil. "Securing the Future of Manx Gaelic". http://www.poileasaidh.celtscot.ed.ac.uk/gawneseminar.html Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. Vrieland, Seán D. (7 September 2013). "What Norfolk Island can learn from Manx". Revived Languages. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. "Cooish Festival: Manx language and culture celebration gets under way". BBC. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  5. "Cooish celebrates the Manx language". IOM Today. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. Caine, Valerie (December 2017). "The Cooish: Manx Language Festival Re-launched". Isle of Man. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. "Cooish award for Manx Radio journalist". Manx Radio. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  8. Wade, Mike (25 November 2018). "The Cooish 2018: Helping people to learn to speak Manx". IOM Today. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. The Manx Heritage Foundation: Annual Report and Accounts 2001 - 2002 (PDF) (Report). 31 May 2002. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  10. "Cooish Gaelic festival kicks off". BBC. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  11. "Cooish 2019: Claare y Chooish 2019". Learn Manx. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  12. Kneale, Alastair (30 October 2019). "Cooish Manx Language Festival 2019". Transceltic. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  13. "The Cooish will celebrate Manx language and Gaelic heritage". BBC. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  14. "Cooish - Manx Language Week". Manx Music. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  15. "Cooish: Book Launch of Droghad ny Seihill". Cowag: Blog ayns Gaelg cour studeyrn. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  16. "First 1000 Words". Learn Manx. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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