The Reih Bleeaney Vanannan is the Isle of Man's most prestigious annual award for culture.[1] It is presented by Culture Vannin to the person or group who, in the opinion of the panel of assessors, has made the most outstanding contribution to Manx culture. It is officially presented by the President of Culture Vannin (the new name of the Manx Heritage Foundation), normally in January each year.
Recipients of the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan ('Manannan's Choice of the Year' in Manx Gaelic) are entitled to use the letters RBV after their name. They hold the trophy for one year, as well as receiving a medal and a donation to be split between themselves and a Manx cultural cause of their choice.[2]
It was first awarded in 1987, as a part of the Foundation's overarching policy "to support and promote Manx culture"[3] established at the creation of the Foundation through the Manx Heritage Foundation Act 1982 (an Act of Tynwald). The panel of assessors for the award is appointed by Culture Vannin and represents the key Manx cultural organisations. The panel consists of representatives from Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh, Yn Chruinnaght, the Isle of Man Arts Council, Culture Vannin and Manx National Heritage. Nominations are invited from the public in November of each year.
The RBV trophy consists of the figure of the sea-god Manannan standing on a piece of Pooilvaaish marble, resting on a plinth. It also contains traces of quartz from the South Barrule, one of Manannan's fortresses, and a brooch of Laxey silver in the form of the Three Legs of Man presented by Mona Douglas.[4] It was designed by the late Eric Austwick. The medal presented to each recipient is designed by Jennie Kissack and executed in silver and enamel by Tony Lewis of Peel.[5]
Recipients of the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan award
edit| 1 | Maureen Costain Richards[4] | 1986 |
| 2 | Mona Douglas | 1989 |
| 3 | Constance Radcliffe | 1990 |
| 4 | Geoffrey Crellin | 1991 |
| 5 | Colin Jerry | 1992 |
| 6 | John Gelling | 1993 |
| 7 | Robert Thomson[6] | 1994 |
| 8 | Jane Narasimham | 1995 |
| 9 | Mike Boulton | 1996 |
| 10 | Leslie Quirk | 1997 |
| 11 | Fred Radcliffe | 1998 |
| 12 | Allan Skillan | 1999 |
| 13 | Tony Hopson | 2000 |
| 14 | Walter Clarke | 2001 |
| 15 | Marshall Cubbon | 2002 |
| 16 | Frank Cowin | 2003 |
| 17 | Leslie Quilliam | 2004 |
| 18 | Juan Crellin | 2005 |
| 19 | Bunscoill Ghaelgagh[7] | 2006 |
| 20 | Dollin Kelly[8] | 2007 |
| 21 | Brian Stowell[9] | 2008 |
| 22 | Robert Farrer[10] | 2009 |
| 22 | Joan Caine[11] | 2010 |
| 23 | Fenella Bazin[12] | 2011 |
| 24 | Manx Folk Dance Society[13] | 2012 |
| 25 | Robert Corteen Carswell[14] | 2013 |
| 26 | Clare Kilgallon[15] | 2014 |
| 27 | William Cain[16] | 2015 |
| 28 | Bernard Caine and John Kennaugh[17] | 2016 |
| 29 | The Michael Players[18] | 2017 |
| 30 | Phil Kelly[19][20] | 2018 |
| 31 | John Kaneen[21] | 2019 |
| 32 | Stephen Miller[21] | 2020 |
| 33 | Peter Kelly[22] | 2021 |
| 34 | Nigel Crowe[23] | 2022 |
| 35 | Fiona McArdle[24] | 2023 |
References
edit- ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2013' on the Ynsee Gaelg website (accessed August 15, 2013)
- ^ 'The Manx Heritage Foundation Reih Bleeaney Vanannan Trophy' on www.manxmusic.com (access August 15, 2013)
- ^ 'Who We Are' on the Culture Vannin website (accessed February 15, 2014)
- ^ a b 'National Award' from Our Heritage Still: More Memories of the Past in Rushen, Book Four, Douglas: Norris Modern Press, 1986 (accessed on the Rushen Heritage Trust Facebook page, 29 January 2015)
- ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan' on the Culture Vannin website (accessed February 15, 2014)
- ^ "Papers of Robert Thomson, Scholar and Linguist". Archives Hub. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan' in New Manx Worthies ed. Dollin Kelly, Douglas, Manx National Heritage, 2006
- ^ "Reih Bleeaney Vanannan". Culture Vannin. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ 'Dr Brian Stowell receives top Manx cultural award' on IOM Today (accessed August 15, 2013)
- ^ "Robert Farrer". Culture Vannin. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2010' on the North American Manx Association website (accessed August 15, 2013)
- ^ 'Dr Fenella Bazin receives prestigious cultural award' on isleofman.com (accessed August 15, 2013)
- ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan' on the Manx Folk Dance Society website (accessed August 15, 2013)
- ^ ‘Manx Culture Award for Bob’ on IOM Today (accessed August 15, 2013)
- ^ 'Clare Kilgallon awarded Reih Bleeaney Vanannan prize' on Manx Radio (accessed February 15, 2014)
- ^ 'Culture award for former deemster' on Manx Radio (accessed February 02, 2015)
- ^ 'Cultural champions are honoured posthumously' on IOM Today (accessed February 09, 2016)
- ^ 'Michael Players, Guardians of Manx Dialect Manuscripts' on Manx Radio (accessed 17 January 2017)
- ^ 'RBV award to Phil' on IOM Today (accessed 19 March 2018)
- ^ 'RBV award ceremony 2018: Phil Kelly' on SoundCloud (accessed 19 March 2018)
- ^ a b "Kaneen's contribution to Manx culture is recognised". IOM Today. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Architectural historian Peter Kelly receives the RBV cultural award". Culture Vannin. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Shiaght Laa 27th January 2022 - Shiaght Laa". Manx Radio. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "Teacher and singer given top Isle of Man cultural award". BBC News. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.