Skeealyn Vannin, Disk 3 Track 01: Speaker: John (Jack) Gell, Arbory
https://www.youtube.com/embed/VAX93kLj0ioDate(s): 1948
Creator(s): Irish Folklore Commission
Transcript: Dr. Clague: ‘Cooinaghtyn Manninagh’ Yn Trass Chabdil ‘Laa Boaldyn’
‘ Manx Memories’ The Third Chapter ‘May Day’
Va ny mraane obbee smooinit dy ve lane pooar oc er Laa Boaldyn, as v’ad cliaghtey dy phrowal ooilley yn phooar va fys oc dy
The witches were thought to have full power on May Day, and they used to try all the power they knew to
yannoo assee da sleih elley. T’ad er ve cronnit shassoo cheu-mooie jeh thieyn moghey moghrey er Laa Boaldyn, as
do harm to other people. They have been seen standing outside of houses early on May Day morning and
gobbraghey ny roihaghyn oc dy hayrn yn aigh vie veih sleih elley. Beagh er ’astyr Oie Voaldyn
working their arms to draw the good luck from other people. On the Eve of May Day
ec guillin aegey crosh keirn ayns ny bayrnyn oc as veagh crosh kianglt rish famman yn ollagh, ny baagh elley
the young boys would have a cross of mountain ash in their caps, and a cross would be tied to the tail of cattle or other beast
veagh ayns y thie. Ta’n aght cair dy yannoo crosh keirn dy scoltey un vaidjey as cur maidjey elley trooid,
that would be in the house. The right way to make a kern cross is to split one stick and put the other stick through it
as myr shoh kiangle ad cooidjagh. Va blaaghyn vluight, shiunyn, as cleesagh currit roish yn dorrys jeh ny thieyn
and thus bind them together. May flowers, rushes and flags were placed before the doors of the houses
as ny thieyn ollee dy reayll ad voish assee as drogh spyrrydyn. Va blaaghyn as lossreeyn currit er bun dorrys,
and cow-houses to keep them from harm and bad spirits. Flowers and plants were placed on the door side,
as stoyl uinnagyn, as ayns ny thieyn dy reayll ersooyl ferrishyn. Va ushtey dy kinjagh freaylt ayns yn chrockan
and window seats, and in the houses to keep fairies away. Water was always kept in the crock
ec yn oie da ny ferrishyn.
at night for the fairies.
Va bollan feailleoin ceauit ayns y chooat, as ny keayrtyn ayns ny bayrnyn ‘syn ‘astyr Laa Boaldyn, as er fastyr Laa’l Eoin. Va
Mugwort was worn in the coat and sometimes in the caps on the eve of May Day and on the eve of St John’s Day. Fires were
aileyn foaddit, as aile ayns cleiyee, as conney va losht dy agglagh ersooyl ny drogh spyrrydyn. Ren ad cur er ny cleiyee
lighted and fire in the hedges and gorse was burnt to frighten away the bad spirits. They made the hedges look like
jeeaghyn gollrish boallaghyn dy aile. Shen bun y fockle ‘Boal Tiene’. Boal aile. Va guillin aegey lheim trooid yn aile, as va’n
walls of fire. That is the meaning (root) of the word ‘Boal Teine.’ Fire place. Young men were leaping through the fire, and
ollagh ny keayrtyn eiyrt trooid yn aile, dy reayll ersooyl voish assee son slane blein. Veagh carryn sleodey dy bollan feailleoin
the cattle were sometimes following through the fire, to (them) away from harm for a full year. Sleds of mugwort would be
tarynit veih boayl dy voayl, dy eiyrt ny drogh spyrrydyn ersooyl. Va bollan feailleoin smooinit dy reayll jeh dy chooilley horch
drawn from place to place, so the evil spirts would follow away. Mugwort was thought to keep off every sort of
dy goghanyn currit lesh liorish drogh spyrrydyn, son dy row ad feer agglagh roish. Va’n aght cair dy reayll yn lhuss dy hayrn
ailment brought by evil spirits, for they were very fearful of them. The right way to keep the plant (was) to pull
seose ee lesh ny fraueyn er yn astyr Laa’l Eoin, ec y vean oie. Dy beagh ee tayrnit seose ayns yn aght shen, yinnagh ee freayll
it up with the roots on the evening of St John’s Day, at midnight. If it were pulled up in that way, it would keep
yn ymmyd kiart son yn clane blein.
the use(fulness) right for the whole year.
Va paart dy leih gemnys eh yn bollan bane, kyndagh rish yn daah bane fo ny duillagyn. Va cayrnyn sheidit fud-ny-hoie, as
Some people were naming it bollan bane, on account of the white colour under the leaves. Horns were blown through the
dollanyn chiaullee cloieit. Ta sleih er yarrood dy row clig hoshiaght ymmyd jeant jeu dy agglagh drogh spyrrydyn ersooyl
night and music dollans (bodhrans) played. People have forgotten that bells were first made use of to frighten evil spirits away
voish y cheeill.
from the church.
Language: Manx
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: WHOLE
ID number: SA 0579/3/1