Illiam Dhone ceremony 'culturally significant'

A wreath was laid at Hango Hill where Illiam Dhone was executed in 1663

A ceremony marking the death of a 17th Century martyr is "culturally significant" to the Isle of Man, one of the event's organisers has said.

The service to commemorate the death of William Christian, known as Illiam Dhone, took place at Hango Hill, the spot where the Manxman was shot by a firing squad in 1663.

While the event had been arranged by nationalist group Mec Vannin for the past 25 years, musician Tomas Callister was among those who stepped in to organise the 2024 event.

Mr Callister said it remained a "really important day in the Manx calendar".

Dhone led an uprising against the Isle of Man's royalist rulers in 1651 to negotiate a surrender with a parliamentary invasion fleet in order to protect the island's traditional rights.

After royalist rule was restored under Charles II, Dhone was shot for treason at Hango Hill in Castletown, a site where Manx nationalists gather annually in a ceremony to mark his death.

About 50 people braved strong winds and rain to attend the event, which included addresses in Manx by Cesar Joughin and Phil Gawne and the laying of a wreath.

A group of about 50 people gathered to remember the Manx martyr

Mr Callister said he had attended the annual service with his family since he was a child and it was "important to celebrate Illiam Dhone", he said.

After the service, people congregated at a local public house to play traditional Manx music and speak in the native Gaelic language.

As an established fiddle player, Mr Callister said it was "really important" to "get together and play music and use the language".

"Illiam Dhone is important in Manx culture and for a lot of Manx people," he added.