'Manx dancing makes us part of something bigger'

A teacher by profession, Juan Garrett has been responsible for nurturing the early educational careers of thousands of children.

But his drive to encourage younger generations to embrace the Isle of Man's traditional culture is not confined to the classroom.

For three decades he has been at the helm of a festival that brings families together to celebrate Manx music and dance and share it with like-minded people from the other Celtic nations.

Shennaghys Jiu – Manx Gaelic for Tradition Today – has seen hundreds of young people take to the stage to perform alongside their contemporaries from the other nations.

In recognition of that tireless dedication to bringing those traditions to new generations, Juan has been awarded the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan.

Also known as Manannan's Choice, it's the island's highest cultural award, presented by Culture Vannin.

Previous recipients of the award include some of the most significant players in the island's cultural revival.

Looking back on his life-long love of Manx traditional music and dance, he said he was surrounded by a family environment that had been "entwined" with stories of the island's heritage and the cultural revival.

That was built upon by the "hugely influential" years he spent at primary school in Ramsey, where he recalled singing anthems and songs from the Manx National Songbook and performing Manx dancing at inter-Celtic competitions.

"All those influences that were at school at the time were the building blocks for where I am today," he said.

"I can only say primary school is probably the big turning point."

He said making those connections with other nations made young people realise thy were "part of something a bit bigger".

"The Celtic nations are hugely special, there is that camaraderie and there is that understanding that everybody's slightly different, but there is aspects of all our nations that really drive each other on," he said.

And it was his involvement, along with good friend Andrew Hannan, in the already established annual festival Yn Chruinnaght- Manx Gaelic for The Gathering - that acted as the catalyst for a similar event aimed at showcasing younger performers.

Shennaghys Jiu came into being in 1998, after Scottish fiddler and Speyfest founder James Alexander – who was a regular performer at Yn Chruinnaght – arranged to bring a group of teenagers to the island to perform.

"Born from a phone call and a 10-minute quick conversation, 27 years has come out on the back of it," Juan said.

And it has been friendships that have played not only an important part in the origins of the festival, but also its longevity.

"I think it's the whole concept of making new friends and being part of something bigger, and realising that everybody actually can take part, everybody's interested in the same sort of things," he said.

"They're not a little group from the Isle of Man, there's these groups of teenagers all over the Celtic world."

Juan said keeping it family-based had always been at the heart of the festival, making sure it stayed true to its roots of "young people and their families having fun together".

Although Shennaghys Jiu is set to take a planned hiatus following the 2026 event, over the past three decades it has provided an early stage for several musicians who have gone on to become respected members of the traditional music scene.

They include Thomas Callister, Adam Rhodes, Mera Royle and David Kilgallon.

And that growing interest in the island's music is something Juan is keen to see mirrored in its dancing.

Through his involvement with Ny Fennee he ensures those traditions continue to be passed on to up and coming generations.

"We were really fortunate," he said. "We've travelled the Celtic world from Cornwall to Scotland to Ireland, Lorient and Galicia.

"And that really is a carrot at the end of the stick when you can bring young people and have their eyes opened by other cultures in other places."

"It's hugely satisfying and enjoyable to be part of."

On receiving the accolade, Juan said he was "very honoured to sit amongst some of those hugely influential names".

"They are some of the most important people in my life growing up when you look at the names on the trophy - Mona Douglas, Claire Killgallon, Bob Carswell, Mike Bolton and Walter Clarke – people that have done immense things for the culture," he said.

"To be one small part of that in the continuity of moving forward, bringing culture forward, and introducing it to new people, is something that I am really proud of and continue to enjoy to this day."

This year's Shennaghys Jiu takes place from 2 to 5 April in Ramsey.

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