People encouraged to 'celebrate everything Manx'

The Tynwald Day ceremony is held on July 5 every year

People have been encouraged to "celebrate everything that is Manx" during the island's national week.

A series of community and cultural events are set to take place during the first week in July, which also sees the open air sitting of Tynwald, the world's oldest continuous parliament, on 5 July.

The events, ranging from a sports day to a guided walk, will be held around the island between 28 June and 7 July.

President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly said the week is a chance to "promote pride in our island".

'Unique nation'

Mr Skelly said, while many islanders will attend the ceremony and fair ground at St John's, it was also an opportunity to get involved with events in local communities and across the island.

He said: “I feel it is important to commemorate our origins, remember what makes us a unique nation and ultimately promote pride in our island."

The week will see annual events like the Cronk-y-Voddy Sports Day take place alongside new events across the island.

They include photography exhibition by documentary maker Martin Parr featuring images of last year's national week at the Manx Museum, and special displays put together at some of the island's primary schools.

Mr Skelly said, as well as national culture and heritage, it was also a chance for the smaller communities to promote their own history, and local authorities were "very proud of their areas and rightly so".

As part of the Tynwald Day celebrations the North American Manx Association would be holding a "home coming", with 65 people with local ancestry travelling the island to meet up with friends and family, he added.

Schools, local authorities or individuals interested in running an event during Manx National Week can apply for funds from the government's domestic events fund.