Manx Bard
The Isle of Man’s new Manx Bard, Declan, has said his poetry “focuses on the quirks of pop culture” as well as drawing from Manx folk culture and history.
Declan told the BBC his work was “generally written to be performed rather than read”, adding: “I speak-sing my poetry, which is basically my territory.”
He said he was looking forward to performing at Manx Litfest this weekend, as part of the Celebration of Poetry.
Declan was installed as the 12th person to hold the role in September, a post that has existed on the Island since 2014.
The Manx Bard
Asked about the relevance of poetry, he said he was not sure “relevance” was the right word for it.
“I believe everybody should have a creative outlet in some form,” he said.
“Some people go and tinker in the shed, some people play with words and make a poem. It helps people make sense of the world; it helps people make sense of their own lives.”
He admitted he is not a Manx speaker himself, despite weaving the language into his work.
Declan said he was most looking forward to the Celebration of Poetry, part of Manx Litfest this weekend.
It is also the event where he first started putting his own poems forward.
What is the Manx Bard?
The role traces back to Celtic tradition, where a bard was a storyteller or musician who captured an area’s traditions and passed them on to the community.
The modern Manx Bard initiative began in 2014, when the Island’s national poet T. E. Brown (1830-1897) was posthumously recognised as the inaugural Bard. Since then, a different contemporary Manx poet has been installed annually after an application and interview or performance process, with the role running for a year at a time.
Declan is the 12th person to hold the post, and one of 11 living Manx Bards.
The Bard is considered an ambassador for the Island, expected to bring poetry to national occasions and community events, work with schools, and forge links with poets off-Island.
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New top poet aims to ‘be a voice’ for Manx people
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