Manx poet and playwright given top cultural award

Annie Kissack was formerly the Manx Bard

A Manx poet, actor, and playwright has received the Isle of Man's top cultural award.

Annie Kissack has been awarded the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, or Manannan's Choice of the Year, by Culture Vannin.

A former teacher, Ms Kissack was the fifth Manx Bard in 2018, and published her collection of poems Mona Sings in 2022.

A Culture Vannin spokeswoman said she deserved the award for her "lifelong contribution to creativity and education in Manx culture".

She had a "particular emphasis on the Manx language, traditional and original song, music and choral arranging, poetry, literature and folklore", she said.

Among Ms Kissack's numerous roles over five decades, she has played a key part in the annual Manx festival Yn Cruinnaght, of which she is the president.

'The beating heart'

She formed a choir called Caarjym Cooidjagh, meaning Friends Together, which has been going for 25 years, and has performed with the group at the festival as well as many solo performances.

Alongside her husband, Ms Kissack "played a key role in establishing Manx language provision for early years", setting up playgroup and pre-school initiatives throughout the 1990s.

These were attributed to the establishment of the Manx language primary school Bunscoill Ghaelgagh in 2001.

She has also co-written seven Manx Gaelic musicals with fellow teacher Aalin Clague.

The Reih Bleeaney Vanannan is the island's highest cultural honour, and decided by a panel made up of representatives from various arts and heritage institutions.

A spokeswoman said that Ms Kissack embodied the "living spirit of the Manx tradition, as expressed in the poems, songs and music she creates".

"In so many ways, Annie represents the beating heart of the Isle of Man," she added.