Interview with Leslie Quirk of Peel speaking Manx Gaelic about the Manx language and its speakers
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Date(s): 20 January 1989
Scope & Content: Leslie Quirk, born in Peel, talks about the old people speaking Manx at Weatherglass Corner who mentioned John Quirk the guide; falling in the harbour; fishing and farmers; his brother Kione Dhoo fishing when he came over in the summer; living in Seaforth when he was two-years-old and returning to the Isle of Man around 1925; attending King William’s College; Mr Stanning; Caesar Cashen speaking Manx; milk rounds in Peel and writing Manx words he heard in his order book; William Quane the poet; relationship with Caesar Cashen (died 1943); Cowley the chemist and Tom Dodd; women who spoke Manx, making food and looking after the house; mother’s stepmother who lived in Greeba; Mrs Watterson and Professor Jackson; old words that are little used now; Mrs Lowey and Sage Kinvig, her husband ‘the Contractor’ and Ned Maddrell; the Gaaue, John Tom Kaighen and Harry Boyde.
Leslie talks about the difference in pronunciation between the north and south; Philly Quayle; meeting with Kione Dhoo, Caesar and Mr Howland of Ballaghennie; Mrs Quayle from Ballagarrett; the old speakers having gone and the sound recordings of them; story told to him by his paternal grandfather about boat owners who went on holiday in a boat to Lerwick; not many Manxmen left and rich foreigners buying the land and building on it; youngsters having no interest in Manx; working for the Forestry Board in Wales; family in which the parents spoke English but children learned Welsh and married Welshmen; maternal grandmother speaking Manx at home and paternal grandfather not knowing English until he started school; John Tom Kaighen; learning Manx from his grandmother; Dougie Faragaher’s widow and reminisces about Dougie who worked hard to preserve the Manx language; and he says the old Manx people were wonderful, as is the Manx language.
Administration / Biographical History: Leslie Quirk, Manx language student (1914-2004).
Language: Manx Gaelic
Extent: 1 hr. 7 min. 4 sec.
Item name: magnetic recording tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0128
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
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