Interviews with Phillip Leighton Stowell about the White Boys play (Ny Guillyn Baney) and with Mrs Kerruish about Laxey
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Date(s): 1970-1971
Creator(s): Manx Museum
Scope & Content: Track 1: Phillip Leighton Stowell talks to Margaret Killip about the tradition of White Boys plays in the Isle of Man. He describes the stories, characters and costumes.
Track 2: Mrs Kerruish, aged 86, talks to Margaret Killip about her early life and memories of the Laxey mines, as well as her later life in Ramsey. She recalls the funeral procession of the victims of the Snaefell mine disaster in 1897; the December 1904 Laxey mine disaster and her eldest brother Willie’s assistance with the rescue; her father, a Laxey miner, who emigrated to South Africa; her mother’s retelling of the 1872 miners' strike; and her three brothers. Mrs Kerruish's daughter Dorothy describes her grandfather’s return to the Isle of Man and his death caused by typhus.
Mrs Kerruish then describes the rail bogies that ran through Laxey; her upbringing as one of twelve children; Laxey Fair; cutlery bought in Ramsey from Mrs Waggett’s; a tradesman’s outing with Kennedy’s stables; climbing the ‘Lhergy’ to Laxey school; schoolmaster Mr Collister and teacher Miss Ward; Ramsey tradesmen including Mr Powell-Brown (shopkeeper), Mr Bruce (confectioner), Mr Underhill (blacksmith); Freddie Kerruish (brother-in-law); Brown’s café; she talks about a wall in Laxey being demolished to use as runway materials at RAF Jurby; brothers Ben and John Kelly; and she recalls how she met her husband.
Administration / Biographical History: This recording was made for the Manx Folk Life Survey.
Phillip Leighton Stowell (1897-1978) was a folk dancer and Manx scholar. Margaret Killip was a Manx Folk Life Survey recorder.
The White Boys play (Ny Guillyn Baney)
This traditional Manx 'mumming' play is not performed to any stable script, but it always includes a few key elements: saints, a fight, a death, a resurrection thanks to 'the Doctor' and a happy ending. This play has been seen on the streets of Manx towns and villages all over the Island during the Christmas period in the 19th Century and beyond. The play includes a special White Boys' Carol, and it concludes with a sword-dance which finishing with the distinctive holding aloft of the swords interlocked into a hexagon.
Language: English
Extent: 1hr. 3 min. 4 sec.
Item name: magnetic tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0104
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, #UOSHManxFolkLifeSurvey, #UOSHArts
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