Interview with Tom Karran speaking Manx Gaelic
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Date(s): 24 February 1952
Creator(s): Manx Society
Scope & Content: Manx Society interview with Thomas Karran. The interviewer begins by saying that this is the same recording as the one made in Douglas.
Tom Karran talks about his age and his early life in Cregneash where he lived until after his marriage; how old was he when he first spoke Manx Gaelic; his parents, who were Manx speakers; working on the fishing boats off Nalbin as Nerin catching breck as skeddan; boats he worked on such as 'Excelsior', 'Elizabeth and Harriet'; no Manx spoken on any of the fishing boats he worked on; end of the summer fishing off Lerwick in the Shetlands; children speaking Manx in Cregneash; the weather; joke about the relative merits of the North and South of the Isle of Man; drinking when young; other people, Gaelgeyryn, they all know; his going to school, first in Cregneash, to a little school held in the church by Mrs Callister (?) and later walking to Port Erin and Port St Mary to school with only English spoken at school; the weaver in Cregneash and other people; cattle; the war; his life going to sea out of Liverpool after leaving the fishing; his wedding; his never having visited Ramsey or the North of the Isle of Man; argument about which is best yn Twoaie or yn Jiass. The interviewers tell Tom that Leslie Quirk has gone to live in Wales and is learning to speak Welsh; and they end the interview talking about games children used to play in Cregneash such as cammag and marbles, rounders, and Hunt the Wren.
[Attempt has been made to improve the quality of the original sound recording. Despite this, the sound recording can be difficult to listen as the speed of the original recording increases.]
Administration / Biographical History: Thomas Karran of Cregneash. Walter Clarke, Manx speaker and translator (1928-2007). Douglas Faragher, Manx speaker. Charles Clarke was a Manx Folk Life Survey recorder.
This recording was made by Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh (Manx Society) as part of a collection of recordings made on 29 paper tapes from 1951-1953 by members of Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh on a ‘sound mirror’ recording machine. The machine was owned by Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh, purchased for them by member John Gell. Recording sessions usually took place on Sunday afternoon. In most cases speakers were interviewed in their own homes, usually by two or more interviewers.
(Information from Broderick, 'Language Death in the Isle of Man', 1999.)
Language: Manx Gaelic
Extent: 38 min. 8 sec.
Item name: magnetic recording tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0024
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH