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 My world is Ramsey, Isle Of ManThe Sulby River as I have mentioned before is one of those lovely Viking names they left their mark with on the island. I know this upsets a few Manxies (people born on the Isle Of Man) out there, but you know some you of you are viking stock you can't deny it. Anyway the Sulby. It's the largest river in the Isle Of Man. Starting at the hills of Tholt y will, through, Sulby Glen and Village, through deep and shallow, pooling into waterfalls, past Lezayre, Ramsey, into the harbour, and into the Irish sea. It's apparently good for salmon fishing when it's been as wet as this. Well yippe for those fisherman but bad news for me. My walkway down by the riverbanks is under water at the moment. The psot I stood on to take the image is usually not in danger of being swamped under water. Hopefully we can have a few dry days and the riverbanks won't be so swollen. I mentioned Sulby was a place named by the Viking who firstly invaded, but secondly stayed and integrated. Here is the meaning of Sulby and a few other Isle Of Man Viking Place names. Ramsey/Rhumsaa - as I have said before is wild garlic riverLaxey/Laxa - wild salmon riverTynwald/Thingvollr - parliament field/assembly/ meeting placeFoxdale/Foss tal - waterfall glenCregneash/Krok-nes - crooked (coastline)Sulby/Sula- by- farm by cleft fork in a riverDalby/Dalr-by - dale townFleshwick - Flesjar -vik - green grassy, spot creekDo you recognise any of these place names or similar in your area. If so the Viking were there. For more my entries click MY WORLD and thank the skywatch gang once again for another inspired idea.
 Well we've had Canada Day and American Independence Day, well make way for the big one(heavy dose of irony) put your hands together for July 7th, Tynwald Day, the Isle of Man's very own National day. It's actually July 5th, but we are celebrating on the 7th as the 5th fell on a saturday. It's still Ramsey week, but no activities today in Ramsey and the shops closed. The Triskelion, the odd shot above, I'll get to later. Tynwald Fair Day, held annually on old midsummer's day in July is the Isle of Man's national day and is the occasion of the Tynwald Midsummer Court. The Members of Tynwald - the Manx parliament - meet at St John's village in the west of the Island for the ceremony, a legal requirement established by the Island's ninth century rulers. The name comes from Thing-Vollr, the Norse for parliament field. Tynwald Court, together with the Island's senior public officer-holders, assembles on Tynwald Hill - a four tiered hill in the centre of St John's, reputed to be constructed from sods of earth from every parish. The open air sitting at Tynwald Hill dates back more than 1,000 years. During the ceremony, the Deemsters (the Isle of Man's High Court judges) promulgate Acts of Tynwald by proclaiming to the people in English and Manx Gaelic the titles of new laws which have been passed during the year. It is also an opportunity for Island residents to exercise their ancient right to present a petition for redress of grievance at the foot of Tynwald Hill, and for the swearing-in of the Island's four Coroners. The Triskelion, the 3 Legs of Man symbol displayed in the photo is the national image of the island and is actually the wrong way round on the Laxey Wheel. They forgot to reverse the image when it was transfered and so remains the opposite to it should be. Incidently you may have seen the 3 legs symbol on another islands flag, that of Sicily. There are many theories about how and why the Triskelion is on the National flag, but again it seems a lot of people believe it was introduced by our friends the Vikings. Wil have to have a dedicated post to Triskelion theories. I have recently received a few blog awards. As they are pay it forward kind of rewards, I will this week be displaying them and passing on to some deserving blogs who I'd like to highlight that may slip under the radar, but I am an ardent fan of. Want to join Odd Shots Monday? Then see KATNEY
 This is a very friendly seal, who popped up to say hello, is in the town of Peel, situated on the east coast of the island. Yesterday I posted a photo of Peel Castle and it's Viking history. This image was taken on the far right of the castle in the harbour. Peel is a great place to see seals up close as they are often in the harbour competeing with the fisherman for fish. I have been having a Viking theme and it's history in relation to the Isle of Man. I had planned on posting a lot more but I have a very poorly laptop. I am in the middle of saving and backing up all my photos before it dies completely and have been off the net all day, and may be for sometime. Here though is a historical Viking find found at Peel Castle. Pagan Lady’s NecklaceThe Pagan Lady’s necklace, excavated in 1984 from a grave at Peel Castle, Peel, German | Dimensions: Largest bead diameter 3.3cm. Manx Museum Accession Number - 1984-16/L 483 |
Thought to date to mid to late 900 AD, a total of 73 beads were found in the grave of the “Pagan Lady”, mostly clustered around the area of her head, and probably forming one long necklace. Every bead is different: most are made of plain glass (white, red, yellow, green, orange and blue), coloured patterned glass, and a few others are of amber and jet. Their shapes also vary - round, square, rectangular, oval, flower-shaped, melon-shaped, spiraled and grooved beads are all represented. The largest bead is 3.3cm in diameter, whereas the smallest is only 0.3cm diameter. Both the number of beads found and their variety is striking. Perhaps the beads had been collected by the “Pagan Lady” herself, or had been brought to her as gifts from trading or travels around the Viking world. The shores of the Baltic and the North Sea provided sources for amber during the Viking period. The only known source for jet was the Whitby area of North Yorkshire. Glass and bead making took place throughout the Viking world, including Great Britain and Ireland. The necklace was certainly a demonstration of wealth and status. The beads, and other objects from the grave, are on display at the Manx Museum. A selection of Viking objects - If you get the chance take a look at yesterday's pic to see Peel Castle, where the necklace was found. We have had many Viking finds and this is considered to be quite an important one. Got to run and save my photos, thousands of them. For more camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera ctrittrers.
  How to combine ABC "W" with the vikings theme? Had to be words that have been assimilated into the Manx language, place names and surnames. It appears the one thing that that the vikings didn't vanquish was the Manx language, but there are a few examples. Norse words seem to be a very murky area to research. So much contradiction of what is a pure Manx/ Celtic/ Norse word or phrase. I have however found more than I was lead to believe exsited in present day form, so here they are. A SELECTION OF PLACE NAMES Ramsey/Rhumsaa - as I have said before is wild garlic river Laxey/Laxa - wild salmon river Tynwald/Thingvollr - parliament field/assembly/ meeting place Foxdale/Foss tal - waterfall glen Cregneash/Krok-nes - crooked (coastline) Sulby/Sula- by- farm by cleft fork in a river Dalby/Dalr-by - dale town Fleshwick - Flesjar -vik - green grassy, spot creek A SELECTION OF NORSE MANX SURNAMES | Current Name | Mac + Old Norse Name | | Carroon | Mac Thorfinn | | Casement | Mac Asmundr | | Christian | Mac Kristinn | | Corkill | Mac Thorkill/Thorketill | | Corlett | Mac Thorliotr | | Cormode | Mac Thormódr | | Cottier | Mac Ottarr | | Cowley | Mac Olafr (Gaelic: Mac Amblaibh) | | Crennell | Mac Raghnall | | Kewley | Mac Joleifr (Gaelic: Eoile) |
Only a handful of words as such are now incorporated into conversational Manx. Manx language, viz, cleg, from kleggi; a horse-fly; blaber, from blaber, a bilberry; ling, from lyng, "heather;" gil, from gil, "a deep narrow glen;" ghaw, from gja, "a chasm," rift, and kirk, from kirk-ja (this being derived from Greek, kupixkos, "belonging to the Lord") a church. I hope at some stage to delve deeper with the Norse side of the language and see what else can uncover. It is again very subjective as the Manx language is in the main of Irish/Celtic origin. The photo is Sulby River which runs into the Harbour and along the nature reserve. Just to be confusing the river is Norse, the reserve name isn't! Like to join ABC Wednesday? Please got to this link, MRS NESBITT'S PLACEMrs Nesbitt is the host for ABC Wednesday, where you can find details for joining, her own ABC shot to comment on and a list of fellow bloggers who are playing today, who would also appreciate your comments.
 Tynwald In 800 AD the Vikings founded Tynwald, the oldest working parliament in the world. This Parliament is still in existence on the island today. Iceland and San Marino lay claims to being older, but it is now acknowledged that The Isle of Man Tynwald, since it's conception, is the one with the unbroken record of service. Therefore, it is officially, the oldest known continuous Parliament and a model for followers of the Nordic System Of Parliament elsewhere.
Tynwald means open assembly in old Norse and can be linked to similar assemblies on Island (Tingvellir) and the Faroe Islands (Logting).
The Tynwald might have been local and regional to begin with and then later developed into one centralized assembly or goverment. These Tynwalds were already in operation before the establisment of Parliamentary Goverment in England. Long Before!
At Tynwald old laws or rules from the local areas were made official, new laws submitted and punishments were metered out to law breakers. Again, the Vikings implemented rules and regulations, and a system of government not just as we are often lead to believe plunder for spoils and sail away. In fact the evidence proves otherwise, with the Tynwald being the best, lasting legacy.
This is why I chose the photo to accompany the text today The unofficial Manx National Flower is the yellow Ragwort, known locally as Cushag, which blooms in late summer. However landowners are legally obliged to clear it as it's poisonous to cattle. Gorse, spurned by farmers in many other parts of Britain, is an integral part of the Manx landscape and many gorse and earth sod hedges date back to Viking times. So again you see not only the Parliament is Norse, so too is the albeit unofficial National Flower, which just happens to grow on my beloved nature reserve. 
  Viking Week, the mini series! This is skyhill. Nothing particualry odd about the shot except perhaps it could have been a skywatch shot. What's odd to me is, that people here seem to confuse the mountain and hill names and hardly anyone can name this particular place correctly. Why so important? It's the site of the most important battle in the history of the Isle of Man, and yes those Vikings are involved again. The Battle of Scacafell or Skyhill took place in Ramsey, Isle of Man in 1079. It was the third and final time that the Norse-Gael warrior Godred Crovan invaded the island, taking it from Dublin and Orkney. His victory over the Manx brought together the Isle of Man with the Hebrides, establishing the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles. At the time of the battle, the Isle of Man was part of a larger political entity called the Kingdom of the Sudreys, which consisted of Man and the Hebrides. Godreds father, Harald the Black was king from c. 1035-1040, but on his death the kingdom appeared to come under the control of the Earls of Orkney. When their control over the islands lapsed around 1049, the throne passed to a distant relation of Harald the Black, Sigtrygg, whose brother was King of Dublin. His son, Godred II, who reigned until 1075, succeeded Sigtrygg. In 1075 Godred II died and the throne was passed to Fingall, but he does not seem to have remained there long. In 1075, Godred Crovan assembled a fleet and an army, probably of Norse from the Hebrides, and attacked the island. He was repulsed, but was soon back for a second attempt. Again he was repulsed, but is during this period that Fingall disappears from the record, and it is probable he was killed during one of the invasion attempts. In 1079, Godred Crovan came back, and the chronicles are reasonably clear as to what happened next: A third time he gathered a massive force and came by night to the harbour which is called Ramsey, and three hundred men he hid in a wood which was on the sloping brow of the mountain called Sky Hill. At dawn the Manxmen formed up in battle order and after a massive charge joined battle with Godred. When the battle was raging vehemently, the three hundred rose from their place of hiding at their rear and began to weaken the resistance of the Manxmen and compelled them to flee. Now when they saw themselves defeated without any place for them to escape to, for the tide had filled the riverbed at Ramsey and the enemy were pressing constantly from the other side, those that were left begged Godred with pitiful cries to spare them their lives. Moved with compassion and taking pity on their plight, since he had been reared among them for some time, he called off his army and forbade them to pursue them further. Godred Crovan ( Old Irish: Gofraid mac meic Arailt, Gofraid Méranech; Guðrøðr[1]) (died 1095) was a Norse-Gael ruler of Dublin, and King of Mann and the Isles in the second half of the 11th century. Godred's epithet Crovan may mean "white hand" ( Middle Irish: crobh bhan). [2] In Manx folklore he is known as King Orry. The photo was once again taken from the nature reserve looking onto the mountains and hills, apparently under the watchful eye of King Orry's Vikings. It seems the Norse people and the relationship with the island is ever present. Want to join Odd Shots Monday? Then see KATNEY
 As is Critters Sunday and my Viking week, I thought I would try and combine the two themes. Unfortunately I have no Isle of Man raven pics, but I do have this coy crow that people always mistake for a Raven. So the pic covers the Critters part. Next the Viking/Norse theme. This leads me to the obvious conclusion of showing you the Isle of Man coat of arms. Rhumsaa(Ramsey) as I said in yesterdays post takes it's name from the Norse for "wild Garlic river."This is the popular theory and the one that you will find in most literature and offered by the Isle Of Man itself. The lesser theory is it actually means " Raven's Isle." It is a smaller school of thought, but when you consider the coat of arms contains a Raven, the Ramsey swimming team is called the Ravens, and Ramsey Grammar School's in house magazine has a Raven theme you could be drawn towards the " Raven's Isle" theory. Ravens or wild garlic river, either way, it's a Norse derivative that no one can deny. Below is the Manx Coat Of Arms. Note the raven on the right which represents the Norse Settlers and their influence on the island. The Raven | The Supporters assigned to the Arms were chosen because of their historic significance. The Raven is a bird of legend and superstition and there are a number of places on the Island which include Raven in their names. The Island has a strong Viking element in its history and Odin, the Norse God, was, according to mythology, accompanied by two Ravens. During the Millennium Year of 1979, a replica of a Viking longship was sailed from Norway to the Isle of Man by a mixed Norwegian and Manx crew. The longship, which is now preserved on the Island, is called "Odin's Raven". |
Two ravens sit on Odin's shoulders, and bring to his ears all that they hear and see. Their names are Hugin and Munin. At dawn he sends them out to fly over the whole world, and they come back at breakfast time. Thus he gets information about many things, and hence he is called Rafnagud (raven-god). As is here said: - Hugin and Munin
- Fly every day
- Over the great earth.
- I fear for Hugin
- That he may not return,
- Yet more am I anxious for Munin
The Isle of Man is steeped in myth and legend, hand me down fables and facts. It is a curious mix and a trial to sift the real from the imagined. The Raven though it seems, does play it's part in the making of the Island, thanks to our Viking Ancestors of which there is no doubt. For more camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera ctrittrers.
 For this week "Ramsey Daily Photo" will be known as "Rhumsaa Daily Photo". This is it's Norse name, as Ramsey is one of the many things about the island that bears a Norse name tag. Rhumsaa was named so by the Norse after the wild garlic that grew in abundance around the river and surrounding area. Quite literally it translates as "wild garlic river" and the smell must have been quite pungent. Sadly, no wild garlic now, and garlic of any kind is confined to the shops, that is when they bother to re stock. Again I thought this would be a great idea to enlighten you about the island and as usual I have hit the proverbial Manx brick wall. I am, however indebted to the local library for the Norse literature and Manx conncections, and to the websites that have tried to at least document any Norse connections. With this in mind, I will try and convey a little of the Norse and Viking history to you, starting with this great page of I found, where the dates have been confirmed. The Vikings first set foot on the Isle of Man in the year 798. By 820 they had conquered and settled in the Isle of Man, establishing a prosperous Viking colony that benefited greatly from the trade between Ireland and the Scottish islands.
The Isle of Man had a central location was on the sailing route from Scandinavia to Ireland. With it's excellent fertile agricultural land and good harbours around the coastline, it was an important base not just for raiding and settlement, but also for trading with Scotland and Ireland.
Archaeological evidence confirm the presence of Vikings on Isle of Man. The various findings from burials and settlements and Nordic place names still used creates a fuller picture of Vikings life on the island.
Peel Castle Peel Castle has been a site of religious and secular importance in Isle of Man history.
I 1982 archaeologist began excavating the ruins of the castle to prove the importance and date the many building faces. With the walls is a Round Tower from the 11th century, a cathedral from the 13th century and small apartments from the later Lords of Mann, who ruled on the Island. During the excavations they found seven pagan burrials all located at the later christian cemetry.
One of the most spectacular finds was a buried pagan lady from the Viking Age with an obvious high status in society. The grave had several rich grave goods, including a necklace made of beads. The necklace dates to late 900 AD and consist of 73 beads of glass and amber. The beads are all in different size, shape and colour. The number of beads on the necklace and the variety of them makes this one of the most impressive jewellery finds ever. Faktum: other grave finds from Isle of Man include the boad grave at Balladoole and the burial mount at Gronk Moar. The boat grave dates to 850 - 950 AD and contained a Vikign ship at 11 metres with a burried mand and woman dressed in fine clothing as well as equipment for horse riding, tools and a shield. In the burial mount was a fully dressed man in a coffin with a cloak, knife, sword and a pin for the cloak. Tynwald In 800 AD the Vikings founded Tynwald, the oldest working parliament in the world. This parliament is still in existence on the island today.
Tynwald means open assembly in old Norse and can be linked to similar assemblies on Island (Tingvellir) and the Faroe Islands (Logting). The Tynwald might have been local and regional to begin with and then later developed into one centralized assembly or goverment. These Tynwalds were already in operation before the establisment of Parliamentary Goverment in England.
At Tynwald old laws or rules from the local areas were made official, new laws submitted and punishment were given to law breakers. The myth of Sigurd Great decorated stone crosses with Viking motitfs are today preserved in many parishes on the Isle of Man. These crosses are all dated to the 1000 - 1100 century and their carvings tells stories of Nordic heroes, legends and myths. Four of the stone crosses, from the parishes of Andreas, Jurby, Malew and Maughold, tell the myth of Sigurd. Sigurd grew up in a king's household, but was brought up by the dwarf Regin, who was king's black smith. Sigurd was destined to become a great hero some day. When Sigurd was young Regin told him the story of how The god Loki had killed the great fisherman Ottar. To recompense Ottar's father Hreidmar, the gods made a cover of gold for Ottar to be burried in. But the gold were cursed and Hreidmar was soon killed by his other son Fafni, the serpent dragon. When Sigurd got older he convinced Regin to make him a great sword. He also selected one of the finest horses from the king's stables. Following the advice of Odin, Sigurd set out to find the Fafni's gold. Sigurd dug a pit and hit under some branches, and when Fafni passed by he drove his sword into the monster's belly. He cut out Fafni's heart and roasted it to give to Regin. When touching the meat to see if it was done he burned his fingers. When he sucked the blood, tasting the dragon blood, he could suddenly understand the birds singing. The birds told him that Regin would kill Sigurd, steal the gold and Fafni's wisdom.
Regin couldn't kill Sigurd, but after several years of adventure the curse of the gold took effect, when Sigurd was killed by his own brother Gunnar.
Gunnar stole the gold, but the curse followed him as well and he later died by a snake bite to the heart. The Viking rule ended in 1265 when Isle of Man was handed over to Alexander III of Scotland. Hopefully as the week goes on I can find other bits and pieces of interest, especially for our Norse readers. The photo is of North Barrule which overlooks Rhumsaa. Several meaning have materialised when trying to establish the meaning of Barrule. Barrule it appears comes form the Norse word Vorofjall, Beacons Fell. Quite how it went from one to the other remains subjective. Feel free to chip in. I am open to suggestion. No egos on this blog, but I will ask just for the facts rather than conjecture. I, at least am trying to document the island so others may not find it so hard to glean correct info.
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My world is Ramsey, Isle Of Man
