On 1st August a team of 12 volunteers and a delegation of Manx musicians and dancers will head off once again to represent the Isle of Man at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany. While the team of volunteers will run the pavilion promoting the Isle of Man, Rushen Silver Band, Birlinn Jiarg and Annym will participate in a busy schedule of performances during the festival.

This festival attracts 800,000 people over 10 days and the ‘Manx Pavilion’ is an excellent opportunity for the Isle of Man to present itself to the other Celtic nations and to the rest of Europe. The team from Event Management Solutions, supported by Culture Vannin and the Isle of Man Arts Council, will run the Manx pavilion as a food, drink and retail outlet, as well as providing tourist information and running a live stage to showcase Manx culture. Very much in the spirit of the recently released Food Matters strategy, the food and drink for sale at the pavilion will represent some of the best produce the Island has to offer, such as bacon from Ballakelly Farm in Andreas, kippers from Devereau’s, queenies caught just off our shores, and beer from the Island’s famous brewery, Bushy’s.

Bushy’s have always supported the Isle of Man team going to the festival, but 2017 sees a major change. As customers in mainland Europe tend to enjoy lighter beers, Bushy’s boss, Martin Brunnschweiler has brewed a ‘Bushy’s Manx Blonde Biere’ especially for the Manx pavilion at Lorient.

Peter Young, who leads the team going to Brittany in the north of France, said; “we really appreciate the support that Bushy’s give us year on year. Creating a new brew to give us better sales in Brittany has been a major bonus for this year. I am looking forward to trying the first pint when we set up. Thanks must go to Martin and our other supporters, IOM Steam Packet Company, Athol Garage, and of course our major backers, the IOM Arts Council and Culture Vannin.”

Martin from Bushy’s said; “we received feedback that the customers wanted a blonde beer and it was our pleasure to create something new and refreshing which we hope everyone will enjoy. Bushy’s like to support this event to market the best of the Island to a very wide audience.”

The Manx pavilion at Festival Interceltique de Lorient provides the perfect setting to demonstrate that food and drink go hand in hand with culture and the arts in promoting the Isle of Man.

www.bushys.com
www.culturevannin.im
http://www.festival-interceltique.bzh/

Photo - Birlinn Jiarg.