Each year students attending secondary schools in the island are invited to submit a piece of writing in Manx Gaelic to Caarjyn ny Gaelgey (friends of the Manx Language) in order to be considered for the prestigious Aundyr Lettyragh (Literacy Award). All entries must be the candidate’s own work and may be factual or fictional as long as they are written in Manx Gaelic.

The most recent recipient of the Aundyr Lettyragh is Chloe Spooner, a Year 10 student at Queen Elizabeth II High School. Chloe chose to write an account of a normal day (Laa Cadjin) which she typed on her home computer in her own time, printing it out in the form of a booklet. Peter Karran MHK and Joan Caine RBV from Caarjyn ny Gaelgey were delighted to present the award to Chloe at morning assembly on Wednesday, 14th November at the School.

Interestingly, when Chloe attended Marown Primary School after her family moved to the island from England, she did not know that there was a language peculiar to the Isle of Man until she noticed that some of the children were going out of lessons in order to attend their weekly half hour of Manx tuition. Chloe soon became keen to find out what Manx Gaelic was like and within a short time she had joined the weekly lesson. Several years later, Chloe is now studying the GCSE Manx course.

Caarjyn ny Gaelgey hope that students from the islands schools will continue to enter the competition in future years. Any members of the public who would like to learn Manx are welcome to attend classes provided by Caarjyn ny Gaelgey at the Old School House in St John’s. For further information please contact Joan Caine RBV on 843436.