The Isle of Man has a new Manx Bard!
Declan was inaugurated as the 12th Manx Bard on Sunday, at St John’s Methodist Hall.
The role of the Manx Bard includes fostering an appreciation of poetry, encouraging new writing and bringing poetry into community life through their own initiatives, collaborations, events and work written for special occasions.
Declan is the pen name for John Davies, a poet and a musician from Port Erin. He impressed judges with poems that fused the two cultures.
He said: “The subject matter of my poems is usually pop culture and folklore, in particular music. There is a distinct Manx flavour to my work.
“I am fascinated by how tales and songs were passed down the generations, mutating along the way and being influenced by music from outside the Island.”
He said he hoped to use his poetry and music connections to “bring the two worlds together”.
Bridge Carter, founder of the Manx Bard, said: “Declan was so engaging and his enthusiasm really shone through. He’s already as well-known local poet and musician and I loved his take on Manx culture and his ideas for bringing poetry and music together.
“I’m excited to see what he brings to the role and where he takes it over the next year.”
Carter thanked the 11th Manx Bard, Bradley Chambers, who had “worked extremely hard attending events and activities across our community, has written lovely new poetry” and ended the year with a Bardic collaborative poem.
The Manx Bard is sponsored by the Isle of Man Arts Council and supported by Culture Vannin.
Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer and Lady Lorimer attended the inauguration and were thanked for their support. The event was compered by Phil Gawne and Manx Bards and Manx Youth Bard Matilda Watson, performed, as did singers from Caarjyn Cooidjagh.