About Shennaghys Jiu

Welcome to Shennaghys Jiu 2024, this year marks a special year for all involved with the festival as we reach the milestone of the 25th Festival. It seems hard to believe that so much time has passed since that first festival in 1998, as it seems like yesterday that the first ideas of the festival were discussed. Little did we know that that first year would be the beginning of a journey of new friendships and one of the platforms for so many of our young talented musicians from the Island to develop their skills and share Manx culture to a wider audience. 

We remain incredibly proud of our involvement with Manx culture over the years and continue to watch with admiration the successes of many talented artists who first performed at Shennaghys Jiu as young people and who are now blazing trails for others to follow. The success of the festival is though not just measured in the amazing talents of those who perform each year, but also in the large community involvement the festival receives each year. It has become firmly established on the Manx Cultural calendar, with 

Shennaghys Jiu continues to be grateful to the many sponsors who have helped towards the cost of the festival, their continuing contribution and support is as welcome as ever. We thank them for the friendship and encouragement, especially to Culture Vannin, who continue to be a pivotal and vital financial support to the festival. We are also lucky this year to have the continued support of Island Aggregates and Corletts, both of whom play a significant roll ensuring the festival is able to take place. 

Joining us from Ireland are our friends from Kilarney. Maureen, Lisa and Padraig have been regular visitors to the festival and bring with them each year a new and exiting team of musicians and dancers who are ready to entertain and perform. Their interaction with young people of the same age is one of the highlights of the festival as new bonds and friendships are formed. Joining us from Cornwall is a new group of musicians and dancers call Karrygi Du. Although some have visited the Island and the festival in previous guises this will be their first venture to the Island as a group. We know they bring with them a great talent and enjoyment of sharing Conrwall’s rich music and dance heritage. Our final group is a new collaboration of musicians from the Isle of Man and Ireland. Cairde Gael is a mix of some of the top traditional music talent from the Isle of Man and Ireland, all excellent talents in their own right. We’re very grateful to them all for coming together at short notice to showcase their talents. We are all really excited to hear and see them perform at various events during the festival. 

Shennaghys Jiu continues to enjoy its programme of visiting schools. This year has proved a little more difficult to organise due to the Easter holidays, but we are once again delighted to welcome Greta Curtin, Jessie Healey and Ellie Allen to the festival to help with this venure. Alongside our visitors, some of our local talent will also be taking the time to showcase their talents to many primary school children around the Island. 

We hope that the festival is another successful one, and that you all enjoy the fun that we hope it provides, whether that be by performing, taking part, or just enjoying the craic! 

Thank you to all of our sponsors