John Kinvig

Epithet: Native Manx speaker (c.1860-1953)

Record type: Biographies

Biography: John Kinvig, married to Sage Kinvig, took on a variety of occupations including fisherman, mason and Common Lands Inspector. He spoke the Manx language fluently and was able to remember the days when most of the people in the Ronague area spoke nothing else but Manx.

The Kinvigs were very conscious of the changes that had occurred in their lifetime and the threats these changes posed to the future of the Manx language. They were keen to encourage students of Manx Gaelic and many visited them to study pronunciation. Lola Kinvig, youngest daughter of Sage and John Kinvig, recalls that the house was always busy, but not just with Manx students. All the farmers and young men in the area would congregate in the evening at Garey Hollin to hear the latest news gathered by John Kinvig as he worked his way around the south fulfilling his various contracts with the Common Lands Board. John would even cut their hair and mend their shoes when required.

Gender: Male

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