If you are able to hear more Christmas songs sung in Manx Gaelic this year, it may be thanks to a new music book.

Culture Vannin has released ’Nollick Ghennal: Songs in Manx for Christmas, a new published collection of both new and old songs and carvals, written in Manx, for Christmas, along with traditional carols, which have been translated into Manx Gaelic.

The Christmas collection has been compiled by Dr Chloe Woolley, the Manx music development officer for Culture Vannin, with extra editing by Gaelic speaker Chris Sheard.

Chloe said that the book was initially aimed at children, and for use in schools, but realised that there was a bigger interest in Manx Christmas songs.

’The book was inspired by a conversation with the teachers at the Bunscoill, particularly Annie Kissack and Aalin Clague,’ said Chloe.

’They have written loads of songs for the Bunscoill Christmas carol service, many of them being easy little songs in Manx for the children to learn to sing.

’They said it would be useful for them to have them written down, as the songs weren’t published.

’They also suggested many songs that would also be useful to have collected together.

’Initially the book was supposed to be for children, but then we thought that we might as well make it a fuller, more comprehensive collection, so it is more appealing to adults too.’

Among the songs contained in the book are a collection of carvals, from the relatively new, such as ’Yeesey Chreest’, written by Bob Carswell, to the traditional old Manx carval, Oikyn anys Bethlehem, a song handed down through the oral tradition.

’Some of the tunes are from Carval yn Ghaelgagh, a collection by A.W. Moore, and there are also familiar carols, like Hark The Herald Angel and Jingle Bells, which have been translated by many groups over the years,’ continued Chloe.

’There are also nativity songs like ’Manger Beg’ or ’Lhig dooin goll dys Bethlehem’, which is well-known at the Bunscoill, but can be easily learned and performed by any one.

’Some schools are already singing Manx Christmas songs, and hopefully this will make it easier for them.’

’Nollick Ghennal: Songs in Manx for Christmas’ is available for £8, from local bookshops or online from culturevannin.im