The New Year’s edition of Yn Pabyr Seyr has a lead article, by Greg Joughin, on the contribution Colin Jerry - who was born in Sussex in 1936, and collapsed and died in the Tynwald Inn on the 19^th December - made to the revival of traditional Manx culture; particularly in the field of music.

This touching, and clearly sincere, obituary to Colin contrasted remarkably to the ire that spouted forth from renown Manx nationalist, Bernard Moffatt during his introduction to this year’s Illiam Dhone commemoration, held at Hango Hill on Friday (2^nd Jan).

Responding to an upbeat and optimistic New Year’s message from the Governor, His Excellency, Vice Admiral, Sir Paul Haddacks KCB, Mr Moffatt was uncompromising in his comments; and left no one listening in any doubt about his views on Sir Paul’s position and what he could do.

In telling him to “sling his hook” and “get lost”, Mr Moffatt said he believed he was speaking on behalf of most Manx people, when he said there had been no wish to have an English Governor imposed on them by the UK, and that he should keep his comments to himself.

In acknowledging that the Island faces “challenges like at no other time”, Mr Moffatt said he didn’t need Sir Paul to tell him to be optimistic, as he said he is always optimistic for the future well-being of the Island.

Mr Moffatt did try to temper his comments later by stating that there is no “narrow-minded nationalism” in the Isle of Man, but rather a sense of “national pride”; and that people who settle in the Island, and become part of the community, are welcomed. (Perhaps less so, having noted the comments in Yn Pabyr Seyr, if you only come to take advantage of Mr Bell’s ‘tax cap’ and plan to build a mansion in the countryside - Ed).

Introductions over, Mark Kermode presented the Manx language oration; the précis of which basically boils down to: ‘the English are out to get us again - just like they were in Illiam Dhone’s time’ and full ‘independence’, for the Island, couldn’t make things any worse than they already are.

Stephen Moore gave the English oration, as a representative of the ‘grumbling class’, and remarked how Illiam Dhone’s surrender of the Island to Parliament had probably saved the population from a fate similar to the one being currently experienced by the residents of the Gaza strip.

Although this had probably ensured the survival of our ability to govern ourselves he said this is “a two-edged sword: When things go wrong, we only have ourselves to blame”.

Listing his concerns for today’s politicians to get to grips with, he said “How our government deals with these issues will be the measure of them”.

Although he recognised some positives in several recent decisions he finished by observing how the “trappings of politics can alter the principles and views” of even former Mec Vannin members in Tynwald, and that “principled people like Illiam Dhone only seldom appear”.