This year’s Australian Celtic Festival celebrated the Isle of Man.
The festival, which ended on Sunday, took place at Glen Innes in New South Wales. Glen Innes is the site of the Australian Standing Stones, an Australian National Monument that pays homage to Australia’s Celtic pioneers.
Members of the New South Wales and Queensland Manx societies were joined by renowned Manx singer/songwriter Christine Collister, who sang the Manx National anthem in Manx and English at the festivals opening ceremony.
Christine said: ‘It was a wonderful opportunity to explore my musical roots and to delve into the history and folklore of the island in ways I haven’t before.
‘The festival has also given me the opportunity to premiere a wonderful documentary - Island Bound - which was commissioned for the Island of Culture in 2014.’
Also travelling from the Isle of Man was Alastair Kneale, president of the London Manx Society, who formally opened the festival.
Alastair spoke to a crowded Glen Innes town square in both Manx and English. He talked about the island’s = history and the importance to the Manx people of their Celtic identity.
After the ceremony Alastair said: ‘It was a real honour to formally open the festival, I am very proud of my Manx nationality and it was a privilege to be able to tell others of what a great and special place the Isle of Man is.’
In the build up to the festival a number of events took place to promote the island. Local schools presented a concert with Manx song and dance, along with artwork featuring the island. There was also an outdoor presentation undertaken by a local community group on the Viking influences on the Isle of Man and the history of the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles.
Also present at the ceremony was Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
Alastair said: ‘The profile of the Isle of Man has been raised in Australia by their presence with many people describing an interest in travelling to the island as a result of the information they’ve been given.’