Reih Bleeaney Vanannan

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.

The Reih Bleeaney Vanannan trophy

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

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Recipients of the Reih Bleeaney Vannanan Award
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

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  1. ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2013' on the Ynsee Gaelg website (accessed August 15, 2013)
  2. ^ 'The Manx Heritage Foundation Reih Bleeaney Vanannan Trophy' on www.manxmusic.com (access August 15, 2013)
  3. ^ 'Who We Are' on the Culture Vannin website (accessed February 15, 2014)
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan' on the Culture Vannin website (accessed February 15, 2014)
  6. ^ "Papers of Robert Thomson, Scholar and Linguist". Archives Hub. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  7. ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan' in New Manx Worthies ed. Dollin Kelly, Douglas, Manx National Heritage, 2006
  8. ^ "Reih Bleeaney Vanannan". Culture Vannin. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  9. ^ 'Dr Brian Stowell receives top Manx cultural award' on IOM Today (accessed August 15, 2013)
  10. ^ "Robert Farrer". Culture Vannin. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  11. ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2010' on the North American Manx Association website (accessed August 15, 2013)
  12. ^ 'Dr Fenella Bazin receives prestigious cultural award' on isleofman.com (accessed August 15, 2013)
  13. ^ 'Reih Bleeaney Vanannan' on the Manx Folk Dance Society website (accessed August 15, 2013)
  14. ^ ‘Manx Culture Award for Bob’ on IOM Today (accessed August 15, 2013)
  15. ^ 'Clare Kilgallon awarded Reih Bleeaney Vanannan prize' on Manx Radio (accessed February 15, 2014)
  16. ^ 'Culture award for former deemster' on Manx Radio (accessed February 02, 2015)
  17. ^ 'Cultural champions are honoured posthumously' on IOM Today (accessed February 09, 2016)
  18. ^ 'Michael Players, Guardians of Manx Dialect Manuscripts' on Manx Radio (accessed 17 January 2017)
  19. ^ 'RBV award to Phil' on IOM Today (accessed 19 March 2018)
  20. ^ 'RBV award ceremony 2018: Phil Kelly' on SoundCloud (accessed 19 March 2018)
  21. ^ a b "Kaneen's contribution to Manx culture is recognised". IOM Today. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Architectural historian Peter Kelly receives the RBV cultural award". Culture Vannin. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Shiaght Laa 27th January 2022 - Shiaght Laa". Manx Radio. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Teacher and singer given top Isle of Man cultural award". BBC News. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.