Interview with Mrs and Mr Comish of Grenaby
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Date(s): between 1950 and 1970
Scope & Content: Mrs and Mr Comish of Grenaby talk about the walk to school at Ballamodha; headteachers Miss Kewley, Miss Faragher, Mr Smethurst; the walk home; wildflowers; pupil teachers Jenny Cringle, Mary Cowin, Ella Marshall (Foxdale), Gell; Ella Marshall, Head of Rushen School; Sunday School at Kerrowkeil Chapel; Superintendent John Maddrell; Evan Gale; girls’ misbehaviour; annual picnic; Glen Cam, Billy ‘Bill’ Quayle; John Keig, Ballasalla; biennial trip to Ramsey with Ballamodha Sunday School on the train from Foxdale.
Mrs Comish remembers the Band of Hope at Grenaby Schoolhouse; Tom Taggart and an impromptu choral performance for visitors on Niarbyl Beach; Caeser Watterson and Billy Watterson; Tom Taggart’s role at Kerrowkeil Chapel; Ned Quayle, son of John Edward ‘Moddey’ Quayle from Kerrowmooar; tune raising; Johnny Taggart; Tom Watterson; Billy Ballavoddan; Tom Taggart tailoring, his love of nature, gardening, music and the Manx language; Oie’l Verrey on 4 January; hymns; Rushen Silver Band; Manx supper; collection for National Childrens’ Home; Ballaugh Old Church, Sandygate Chapel.
Interviewer asks about Hunt the Wren. They talk about Andrew Kelly and Ernest Clark singing at New Year; Mrs Comish makes the sound of clapping out an oat or barley cake; Kinless family; only employing Manx speakers; travelling dressmaker; types of men’s clothes; using cloth made from own wool; meeting wool dyer; Mrs Quayle of lower Kerrowmooar spinning; the Quayles of top Kerrowmooar; Cain family at The Cornerhouse, Billy Kennaugh’s old house; Annie Crellin’s shop; taking butter and eggs to Castletown on the carts; baker from Ballasalla.
Mrs Comish discusses folklore and superstitions; the Phynoderee; placing tongs or trousers on a cradle; changelings; belief in fairies; the Moddey Dhoo; spectral noises; Mr Cooil of Grenaby and sweeping the three roads to heal a horse.
Mr Comish mentions Counsell’s restaurant at Glen Maye; describes attempt by Mr Kelly to tune raise at Ronague; remembers The White Boys in Ballabeg; Ballagilbert; and describes food and drink at mid-19th century wakes.
Language: English
Extent: 33 min. 50 sec.
Item name: magnetic recording tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0112
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
I went to see a Mr. Comish at Grenaby c.1975 regarding the Manx music tradition at a time when I was dealing with that tradition at the time. I'm not sure now whether I made a cassette recording of him. I'll have a look. - George Broderick Report this