Manx Nationalists have been urged to embrace and celebrate their political and cultural past by remembering those who have devoted their lives over the years to the cause of Manx Freedom.
Speaking at the annual Illiam Dhone ceremony on 2nd of January Bernard Moffatt of the Celtic League said that the obvious focus, on an annual basis, on the sacrifice of Illiam Dhone should not obscure the commitment and sacrifice of others.
He reminded those at the Hango Hill gathering that several years ago the late Freddie Cowle together with others had organised a series of Island wide commemorations for significant figures from our cultural past including Sophia Morrison and J J Kneen.
Mr Moffatt said that there were a wide range of individuals during more recent times who were also resolute in their commitment to Manx Nationalism and Independence and to the Manx language, amongst others he mentioned Jack Irving for many years a leading figure (and finally President) in Mec Vannin. He also cited the work of Manx Language stalwart Dougie Faragher .
All these people, Mr Moffatt said, deserve to be honoured and remembered and he concluded by suggesting that the idea first mooted by Freddie Cowle of a regular series of commemorations should be revisited in 2010 and thereafter.
Related links:
Tribute to Freddie Cowle on Celtic News also link to obituary in Irish Times:
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/1865
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/1897
Link to biography of J J Kneen:
https://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people/antiqarn/jjkneen.htm
Wikipedia link for Sophia Morrison:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Morrison
A tribute to Jack Irving `Politically a Gentle Giant’ – Yn Pabyr Seyr July 1999;