Quizzes & Puzzles5 mins ago
Why is the Isle of Man called that
01:00 Mon 17th Dec 2001 | People & Places
A. This lovely island, between England and Ireland, was called Mona by Caesar in 54 BC. Nennius in 858 referred to it as Eubonia, while the Welsh Annals of 1154 call it Manaw and the Scandinavian Sagas use Mon or Maon. The present local name is Ellan Vannin, or, more affectionately, Ellan Vannin Veg Veen ('The Dear Little Isle of Man'). It has also been suggested that it took its name from Mannanan, the Celtic Neptune. It's most likely to refer to its description as a hilly land.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Q. A lot of people seem to have an opinion - Roman, Welsh, Scandinavian ...
A. Aah, that's the trouble. The island is right in the middle of Britain and has tended to be overrun by its powerful neighbours - successively Irish, Scandinavian, Scottish and English. And today it is politically independent of them all. That's the reason for its three-legged emblem and its motto: Quocunque jeceris stabit (Whichever way you throw me I shall stand).
Q. Christian influence
A. Missionaries arrived from Ireland in the 5th or 6th Century, and St Patrick is rumoured to have visited and established the bishopric. Seems unlikely, though. The old Manx Keills - illuminated gospels - were similar to the Irish examples of that era. Norsemen arrived in the 9th Century, making Man an important base to connect their settlements in Dublin, North-west England and the Western Isles. These Vikings owed allegiance to the King of Norway, but tended to ignore him - moave that added to the independence of Manx people.
Q. So it's still very much like that
A. Yes. Swiftly passing over a millennium to modern times, the Isle of Man is now a self-governing dependent territory of the Crown, but not part of the United Kingdom.
Q. How so
A. Tynwald, the island's 1,000-year-old Parliament [more about that fascinating institution at a later date] makes its own laws and oversees all internal administration, fiscal and social policies. External issues, such as foreign representation and defence, are administered on the Isle of Man's behalf by the British government - for which the island pays.
Q. It's also a tax haven
A. The island has its own income tax and customs services and it has long been a low-tax area totally independent from the UK. There is low corporate and personal tax and no capital transfer or inheritance tax. As a result, the Isle of Man has developed into a flourishing modern-day international offshore business centre.
Q. And tourism
A. The Isle of Man's colourful heritage, scenic beauty and its quality of life, plus many annual sporting events - including the TT Races - give it a successful tourist industry.
Q. How big is the isle
A. It is some 33 miles long and 13 miles wide. The coastline encompasses 227 square miles and there is a population of 73,489 - one of the lowest in Europe. The climate is equable, lacking the extremes of mainland Britain. The major business centre is based in Douglas, the capital. A range of hills stretches obliquely across the island, the highest being Snaefell at 2,036ft. The Isle of Man has sometimes been described as the whole of Britain in miniature.
Q. And are the natives friendly
A. Yes - and magical. The Isle of Man's heritage is rife with ghosts, goblins and giants. There are the stories of the spectral black dog of Peel Castle and of Gref the talking mongoose, who haunts many a lonely mountain farmhouse.
On 30 April many islanders fix a wooden cross, bound with sheep's wool, to their front door to ward off malicious fairies.
Q. Fairies
A. Yes - they even have their own bridge, just past Santon Station on the main Douglas-Castletown road. Make sure you always say Laa Mie (good day) to the fairies and you cross - and you'll be sure of a safe and pleasant visit.
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Steve Cunningham
