Coordinates	37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N
native name
conventional long name	Isle of Man
common name	the Isle of Man
image coat	Isle of Man coat of arms.svg
map caption
national motto	''''(Latin)Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand.
national anthem	"O Land of Our Birth""''''" (Manx)
royal anthem	"God Save the Queen"
official languages	English, Manx
demonym	Manx
capital	Douglas
largest city	capital
government type
leader title1	Lord of Mann
leader name1	Elizabeth II
leader title2	Lieutenant Governor
leader name2	Adam Wood
leader title3	Chief Minister
leader name3	Tony Brown
area rank	191st
area magnitude	1 E8
area km2	572
area sq mi	221
percent water	0
population estimate	80,085
population estimate rank	196th
population census year	2006
population density km2	140
population density sq mi	362.4
population density rank	109th
gdp ppp	$2.113 billion
gdp ppp rank	162nd
gdp ppp year	2003
gdp ppp per capita	$35,000
gdp ppp per capita rank	11/12th
sovereignty type	Status
sovereignty note	Crown dependency
established event1	Lordship of Mann revested in British crown
established date1	1765
hdi	n/a
hdi rank	n/a
hdi year	n/a
hdi category	unranked
currency	Pound sterling1
currency code	GBP
time zone	GMT
utc offset	+0
utc offset dst	+1
date format	dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
drives on	left
cctld	.im
calling code	+44 spec.+44-1624(landline) area code+44-7524, +44-7624, +44-7924(mobile)
footnote1	The Isle of Man Treasury issues its own sterling notes and coins (see Manx pound). }}

The Isle of Man (; , pronounced ), otherwise known simply as Mann (, ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. The island is not part of the United Kingdom, but its foreign relations and defence are the responsibility of the UK Government. Although it does not usually interfere in the island's domestic matters, its "good government" is ultimately the responsibility of the Crown (i.e., in practice, the Government of the United Kingdom).

The island has been inhabited since before 6500 BC. It began to be influenced by Gaelic culture in the 5th century AD, and the Manx language, a branch of the Gaelic languages, gradually emerged. In the 9th century, the Norse began to settle there. A Norse-Gaelic culture arose and the island came under Norse control. In 1266, the island became part of Scotland. After a period of alternating rule by the kings of Scotland and England, the island came under the feudal overlordship of the English Crown in 1399. The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1764 but the island never became part of Great Britain or its successor the United Kingdom and retained its status as an internally self-governing Crown dependancy.

Etymology

The origin of the name "Man" is unclear. In the Manx Gaelic language the Isle of Man is known as '''', where '''' is a Gaelic word meaning ''island''. The earliest form of 'Man' is '''' or '''' giving the genitive name '''' leading to the word '''', which is lenited when used after the feminine word Ellan, giving Mhannin. As ''mh'' is pronounced like a ''v'' in Goidelic languages, in modern Manx the name becomes ''''. These forms are related to the figure of Celtic mythology known as Manannán to the Irish and Manawydan to the Welsh.

The name enters recorded history as ''Mona'' (Julius Caesar, 54 BC), and is also recorded as ''Monapia'' or ''Monabia'' (Pliny the Elder, AD 77), ''Monœda'' (Ptolemy, AD 150), ''Mevania'' or ''Mænavia'' (Paulus Orosius, 416), and ''Eubonia'' or ''Eumonia'' by Irish writers. In Welsh records it is ''Manaw'', and in the Icelandic sagas it is ''Mön''.

Though Mann was never incorporated into the Roman Empire, the island was noted in Greek and Roman accounts where it was called variously ''Monapia'', ''Mοναοιδα'' (''Monaoida''), ''Mοναρινα'' (''Monarina''), ''Menavi'' and ''Mevania''. The Old Welsh and Old Irish names for Mann, ''Manau'' and ''Mano'', also occur in ''Manau Gododdin'', the name for an ancient district in north Britain along the lower Firth of Forth. The name is probably connected with the Welsh name of the island of Anglesey, ''Ynys Môn'' and possibly with the Celtic root reflected in Welsh ''mynydd'', Breton ''menez'', Scottish Gaelic ''monadh'', "mountain"., which probably derive from the Proto-Indo-European root *''men''-, "to tower". In this case, such a name may have referred to the island apparently rising out of the Irish Sea on the horizon.

History

Rising water levels cut off the island from the surrounding islands around 8000 BC. Evidence suggests that colonisation of the Isle took place by sea sometime before 6500 BC. The first residents lived in small natural shelters, hunting, fishing and gathering for their food. They used small tools made of flint or bone, which have been found near the coast. Representatives of these artefacts are kept at the Manx Museum.

The Neolithic Period marked the coming of knowledge of farming, better stone tools and pottery. It was during this period that megalithic monuments began to appear around the island. Examples from this period can be found at Cashtal yn Ard near Maughold, King Orry's Grave in Laxey, Meayll Circle near Cregneash, and Ballaharra Stones in St John's. This was not the only Neolithic culture; there were also the local Ronaldsway and Bann cultures.

During the Bronze Age, the large communal tombs of the megalith builders were replaced with smaller burial mounds. Bodies were put in stone-lined graves along with ornamental containers. The Bronze Age burial mounds created long-lasting markers about the countryside. According to John T. Koch and others, the Isle of Man in the Late Bronze Age was part of a maritime trading-networked culture called the Atlantic Bronze Age that also included the other Celtic nations, England, France, Spain and Portugal, and ancient Tartessus, and may have been where Celtic languages developed.

The Iron Age marked the beginning of Celtic cultural influence. Large hill forts appeared on hill summits, and smaller promontory forts along the coastal cliffs, while large timber-framed roundhouses were built. It is likely that the first Celtic tribes to inhabit the island were of the Brythonic variety. Around the 5th century AD, cultural influence from Ireland, probably along with some degree of migration, precipitated a process of Gaelicisation, evidenced by Ogham inscriptions, giving rise to the Manx language, which remains closely related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

Viking settlement of Mann began at the end of the 8th century. The Vikings established Tynwald and introduced many land divisions that still exist. They also left the Manx Runestones. Although the Manx language does contain Norse influences, they are few. The Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles was created by Godred Crovan in 1079 after the Battle of Skyhill. During Viking times, the islands of this kingdom were Mann and the Hebrides or ("southern isles") in contrast to the ("northern isles") of Orkney and Shetland. This later became Anglicised as Sodor. The Church of England diocese is still called the Diocese of Sodor and Man although it only covers Mann. (When the Rev. W.V. Awdry wrote ''The Railway Series'', he invented the island of Sodor as an imaginary island located between Mann and the Cumbrian coast.)

In 1266, as dictated in the Treaty of Perth, Norway's King Magnus VI ceded the isles to Scotland. Mann came under English control in the 14th century. During this period the Isle was dominated by the Stanley family, who also held the title of Earl of Derby, and who had been given possession of Mann by King Henry IV. In 1703, the Act of Settlement secured peasant rights and marked the beginning of a move away from feudal government. In 1765, however, the British Crown secured a greater control over the island, without incorporating it into Great Britain, laying the grounds for the island's status as a Crown dependency.

In 1866, greater autonomy was restored to the island's parliament and a full transition to democracy began. The Isle quickly developed as a finance centre and tourist destination, becoming increasingly prosperous during the 20th century. During both the First and Second World Wars the island was used as a location for internment camps for Central Powers and Axis citizens and suspected sympathisers.

Tynwald

Tynwald, the island's parliament, was nominally founded in AD 979. It is arguably the oldest continuous parliament in the world. The annual ceremonial meeting in July on Tynwald Day, the island's national day, continues to be held at Tynwald Hill, where the titles and a brief description of the new laws enacted by Tynwald during the previous year are announced.

Geography

The Isle of Man is located in the middle of the northern Irish Sea, approximately equidistant from the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The closest land is southern Scotland. It is long and, at its widest point, wide. It has an area of around . Besides the island of Mann itself, the political unit of the Isle of Man includes some nearby small islands: the seasonally inhabited Calf of Man, Chicken Rock on which stands an unmanned lighthouse, St Patrick's Isle and St Michael's Isle. Both of the latter are connected to the mainland by permanent roads/causeways.

Hills in the north and south are separated by a central valley. The extreme north is exceptionally flat, consisting mainly of deposits from glacial advances from western Scotland during colder times. There are more recently deposited shingle beaches at the Point of Ayre. The island has one mountain higher than , Snaefell, with a height of . According to an old saying, from the summit one can see six kingdoms: those of Mann, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, and Heaven. Some versions add a seventh kingdom, that of Northern Ireland, the Sea, or Neptune.

Population

At the 2006 interim census, Mann was home to 80,058 people, of whom 26,218 resided in the island's capital, Douglas. Most of the population was born in the British Isles, with 47.6% born in Mann, 37.2% born in England, 3.4% in Scotland, 2.1% in Northern Ireland, 2.1% in the Republic of Ireland, 1.2% in Wales and 0.3% born in the Channel Islands. The remaining 6.1% were born elsewhere in the world.

Census

The ''Isle of Man Full Census'', most recently held in 2011, has been a ten-yearly occurrence since 1821, with interim censuses being introduced from 1966. It is separate from, but similar to, the Census in the United Kingdom.

The 2001 Census was conducted by the Economic Affairs Division of the Isle of Man Treasury, under the authority of the ''Census Act 1929''.

Climate

The Isle of Man has a temperate climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Average rainfall is higher than the average for the British Isles, due to its location at a sufficient distance from Ireland for moisture to be accumulated by the prevailing south-westerly winds. Average rainfall is highest at Snaefell, where it is around a year. At lower levels it can be around a year. Temperatures remain fairly cool, with the recorded maximum being at Ronaldsway.

Government

The United Kingdom is responsible for the island's defence and ultimately for good governance, and for representing the island in international forums, while the island's own parliament and government have competence over all domestic matters.

Structure

The island's parliament, Tynwald, dates from AD 979 or earlier, and claims to be the oldest continuously existing ruling body in the world. Tynwald is a bicameral or tricameral legislature, comprising the House of Keys (directly elected by universal suffrage) and the Legislative Council (consisting of indirectly elected and ex-officio members). These two bodies meet together in joint session as Tynwald.

The executive branch of government is the Council of Ministers, which is composed of members of Tynwald. It is headed by the Chief Minister, currently Tony Brown MHK. The Council of Ministers comprises the greater part of the House of Keys.

Vice-regal functions of the Head of State are performed by a Lieutenant Governor.

External relations and security

Under British law, Mann is not part of the United Kingdom. However, the UK takes care of its external and defence affairs, and retains paramount power to legislate for the island. There are no independent military forces on Mann; from 1938 there was a (now disbanded) Manx Regiment of the British Territorial Army, which saw extensive action during the Second World War. There is an independent Isle of Man police force, which is controlled directly by the Isle of Man Government, but which nonetheless voluntarily submits to inspection by the UK inspectorate of police.

Citizenship

Citizenship in Mann is governed by UK law. Passports issued by the Isle of Man Passport Office say ''"British Islands - Isle of Man"'' on the cover but the nationality status stated on the passport is simply ''"British Citizen"''. Although Manx passport holders are British citizens, because Mann is not part of the European Union, those without a parent or grandparent either born or resident for more than five consecutive years in the UK do not have the same rights as other British citizens with regard to employment and establishment in the EU. Isle of Man passports can be issued to any British citizen in Mann (whether or not that person has "Manx status" as an Isle of Man worker under the local Isle of Man employment laws). They can also be issued to Manx-connected British citizens residing in the UK or any of the other Crown Dependencies.

European Union

Mann holds neither membership nor associate membership of the European Union. Protocol 3 of the UK's Act of Accession to the Treaty of Rome permits trade for Manx goods without tariffs. In conjunction with the Customs and Excise agreement with the UK, this facilitates free trade with the UK. While Manx goods can be freely moved within the EU, capital and services cannot be. EU citizens are entitled to travel and reside, but not work, in the island without restriction.

Commonwealth of Nations

Mann is not itself a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. By virtue of its relationship with the United Kingdom, it takes part in several Commonwealth institutions, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Games.

Politics

Most Manx politicians stand for election as independents rather than as representatives of political parties. Though political parties do exist, their influence is not nearly as strong as in the United Kingdom.

The largest political party is the recently established Liberal Vannin Party, which promotes greater Manx independence and more accountability in Government. A nationalist pressure group Mec Vannin advocates the establishment of a sovereign republic.

Local government

Local government on the Isle of Man is based on the concept of ancient parishes. There are two types of local authorities: a corporation for the Borough of Douglas, and bodies of commissioners for the town districts of Castletown, Peel and Ramsey, the village districts of Kirk Michael, Laxey, Onchan, Port Erin and Port St Mary, and the 15 'parish districts' (those parishes or parts of parishes which do not fall within the districts previously mentioned). Local authorities are under the supervision of the Isle of Man Government's Department of Local Government and the Environment (DOLGE).

Economy

The Isle of Man is a low-tax economy with no capital gains tax, wealth tax, stamp duty, or inheritance tax and a top rate of income tax of 20%. A tax cap is in force; the maximum amount of tax payable by an individual is £115,000 or £230,000 for couples if they choose to have their incomes jointly assessed. The £115,000 tax cap equates to an assessable income of £589,550. Personal income is assessed and taxed on a total worldwide income basis rather than a remittance basis. This means that all income earned throughout the world is assessable for Manx tax rather than only income earned in or brought into the Island.

The rate of corporation tax is 0% for almost all types of income, the only exceptions are that the profits of banks are taxed at 10%, as is rental (or other) income from land and buildings situated on Mann.

Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism form key sectors of the economy. Agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, now make declining contributions to the Island's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Trade takes place mostly with the United Kingdom. The island is in customs union with the UK, and related revenues are pooled and shared under the Common Purse Agreement.

The Manx government promotes island locations for making films by contributing to the production costs. Since 1995, over eighty films have been made on the island.

Property

Property on the Isle of Man is expensive, the average price being over £270,000, almost double the North West England average. The island is only 221 square miles, which means a limited supply of building land; population has increased 12% in the last ten years, compared with the UK average of 5%. Income has also risen at more than twice the UK rate.

For first-time buyers this is a real problem. Many young people are opting to move to the UK because otherwise they cannot afford to move out of their parents' houses. Tynwald has recently approved an extra £2.8 million to fund the house-purchase assistance scheme which will help build affordable housing and offer grants to first time buyers.

Communications

The main telephone provider on the Isle of Man is Manx Telecom. At present, the island has two mobile operators: Manx Telecom, previously known as Manx Pronto, and Sure. For a short time, Cloud9 operated as a third mobile operator on the island, but has since withdrawn. Broadband internet services are available through four local providers which are Wi-Manx, Domicilium, Manx Computer Bureau and Manx Telecom. The island does not have its own ITU country code, but is accessed via the UK's country code (+44) and the island's telephone numbers are part of the UK telephone numbering plan with local dialling codes 01624 for landlines and 07524, 07624 and 07924 for mobiles.

In 1996, the Isle of Man Government obtained permission to use the .im national top-level domain (TLD) and has ultimate responsibility for its use. The domain is managed on a daily basis by Domicilium, an island-based internet service provider.

In December 2007, the Manx Electricity Authority and its telecommunications subsidiary, e-llan Communications commissioned the laying of a new fibre-optic link that connects the island to a worldwide fibre-optic network.

Mann has three radio stations: Manx Radio, Energy FM and 3 FM.

There is no insular television service and local transmitters retransmit analogue broadcasts of BBC One and BBC Two (with BBC North West regional programmes), ITV1 (with ITV Granada regional programming) and Channel 4. Freeview is available through the local transmitters with a limited local service of digital terrestrial television being shown. In areas where local geography is favourable, terrestrial television (including digital terrestrial) can be received direct from transmitters located in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, with all freeviews services being available in these areas.

Many TV services are available by satellite, such as Sky, and Freesat from the group of satellites at 28.2° east, as well as services from a range of other satellites around Europe such as the Astra satellites at 19.2° east and Hotbird.

Mann has three newspapers, all weeklies, and all owned by Isle of Man Newspapers. The Isle of Man Courier (distribution 36,318) is free and distributed to homes on the island. The other two newspapers are Isle of Man Examiner (circulation 13,276) and the Manx Independent (circulation 12,255).

Postal services are the responsibility of Isle of Man Post, which took over from the UK General Post Office in 1973.

Transport

The island has a total of of public roads, all of which are paved. In areas denoted by derestricted signs in the Isle of Man, there is no overriding national speed restriction; only local speed limits are set. Rules for ''reckless driving'' and most other driving regulations are enforced in a manner similar to the UK. There is a comprehensive bus network, operated by the government owned bus operator, Bus Vannin.

The Isle of Man Sea Terminal in Douglas is served by frequent ferries to and from Liverpool and Heysham and more limited summer-only services to and from Belfast and Dublin. All ferries are operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

The only commercial airport on the island is the Isle of Man Airport at Ronaldsway. There are scheduled and chartered flights to numerous airports in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as charter and occasional scheduled services to airports in France, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.

The island used to have an extensive narrow-gauge railway system, both steam-operated and electric, but the majority of the steam railway tracks have been taken out of service and the track removed. Currently there is a steam railway which runs between Douglas and Port Erin, an electric railway which runs between Douglas and Ramsey and an electric mountain railway which climbs Snaefell. The lines are mostly operated for the benefit of tourists, though some people use them for commuting.

Space Commerce

The Isle of Man has become an enclave for emerging space travel companies, employing fifteen people. A number of the competitors in the Google Lunar X Prize, a $30 million competition for the first privately funded team to send a robot to the moon, are based on the island. The team summit for the X Prize was held on the Isle in October 2010. In 2010, the Isle was named the fifth most likely nation to reach the moon next.

Culture

The culture of the Isle of Man is influenced by its Celtic, and to a lesser extent its Norse, origins. However, its close proximity to the UK, popularity as a UK tourist destination, and recent mass immigration by British migrant workers has meant that British influence has been dominant since the Revestment period. Recent revival campaigns have attempted to preserve the surviving vestiges of Manx culture after a long period of Anglicisation, and significant interest in the Manx language, history and musical tradition has been the result.

Language

The official language of the Isle of Man is English. Manx Gaelic has traditionally been spoken but is now considered "critically endangered".

The Manx Gaelic language is a Goidelic Celtic language and is one of a number of insular Celtic languages spoken in the British Isles. Manx Gaelic has been officially recognised as a legitimate autochthonous regional language under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, ratified by the United Kingdom on 27 March 2001 on behalf of the Isle of Man government.

The Manx language is closely related to the Irish language and Scottish Gaelic. By the middle of the 20th century only a few elderly native speakers remained: the last of them, Ned Maddrell, died on 27 December 1974. By then a scholarly revival had begun to spread to the populace and many had learned Manx as a second language. The first native speakers of Manx (bilingual with English) in many years have now appeared: children brought up by Manx-speaking parents. Primary immersion education in Manx is provided by the Manx government: since 2003, the former St John's School building has been used by the ''Bunscoill Ghaelgagh'' (Manx language-medium school). Degrees in Manx are available from the Isle of Man College and the Centre for Manx Studies. Manx-language playgroups also exist and Manx language classes are available in island schools. In the 2001 census, 1,689 out of 76,315, or 2.2% of the population, claimed to have knowledge of Manx, although the degree of knowledge in these cases was presumably varied.

In common use are the greetings '''' and '''' which mean ''good morning'' and ''good afternoon'' respectively. The Manx language knows no ''evening'' as it is ''afternoon''. Another frequently heard Manx expression is '''' meaning ''time enough'', and represents a stereotypical view of the Manx attitude to life.

Symbols

For centuries, the island's symbol has been its ancient triskelion, a device similar to Sicily's Trinacria: three bent legs, each with a spur, joined at the thigh. The Manx triskelion does not appear to have an official design; government publications, currency, flags, the tourist authority and others all use different variants. Most, but not all, preserve rotational symmetry, some running clockwise, others anti-clockwise. Some have the uppermost thigh at 1200 on the clock face, others at 1130 or 1000, etc. Some have the knee bent at 90°, some at 60°, some at closer to 120°. Also, the degree of ornamentation of the leg wear and spur varies considerably.

The three legs are reflected in the island's motto (adopted late in the symbol's history): '''', traditionally translated from Latin as ''Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand'', or ''Whichever way you throw it, it will stand''.

The origin of the ''Three Legs of Man'' (as they are usually called) is explained in the Manx legend that Manannan repelled an invasion by transforming into the three legs and rolling down the hill and defeating the invaders.

Variations on the Manx triskelion are still in use on the coats of arms belonging to the different branches of the ancient Norwegian noble family that ruled Mann until the 13th century. This particular version belongs to the Skancke branch of the Skanke family. The name stems from ''skank'', the Norwegian version of the word ''shank'', or ''leg''. The Norse royal family of Mann stayed on the island for some years after the death of Magnus III and the beginning of Scottish rule. The family only emigrated after the final attempt by the Manx to restore the old Sudreyar dynasty in the 1275 uprising against the Scots. This revolt failed disastrously, ending in the deaths of hundreds of rebels, including the last Norse King of Mann, Godred VI Magnuson when the Manx suffered defeat in the decisive Battle of Ronaldsway, near Castletown. When the Norse-Manx royals arrived in Norway they took service as nobles of the Norwegian king, quickly becoming knights, landlords, and clergy under the Norwegian Crown.

Religion

The predominant religious tradition of the island is Christianity, and the ancient Christian Church of the island is today part of the Church of England. The diocese has an unbroken history from 1154 to the present day, during which there have been many changes in tradition and detail. As with all ancient Anglican churches, the diocese was once (and until the Reformation) part of the then mainstream of western Christian tradition, the Roman Catholic Church. The diocese has been part of the national churches of Norway, Scotland, and England. It has also come under the influence of Irish religious tradition. Since 1541 its bishop and parishes (currently 28) have been part of the Province of York.

Other Christian churches also operate on Mann. The second largest denomination is the Methodist Church, which is close in size to the Anglican diocese. There are eight Roman Catholic parish churches, under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool. Additionally there are five Baptist churches, four Pentecostal churches, the Salvation Army, a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, two United Reformed churches, as well as other Christian churches. There are also many other faith organisations on the island. There are small Muslim and Jewish communities on the island, each of which possesses a single house of worship, in Douglas.

Myth, legend and folklore

In Manx mythology, the island was ruled by Manannán mac Lir, a Celtic sea god, who would draw his misty cloak around the island to protect it from invaders. One of the principal theories about the origin of the name ''Mann'' is that it is named after Manannan.

In the Manx tradition of folklore, there are many stories of mythical creatures and characters. These include the , a malevolent spirit who according to legend blew the roof off St Trinian's Church in a fit of rage; the ; the ; and the , a ghostly black dog who wandered the walls and corridors of Peel Castle.

Mann is also said to be home to fairies, known locally as ''the little folk'' or ''themselves''. There is a famous Fairy Bridge and it is said to be bad luck if one fails to wish the fairies good morning or afternoon when passing over it. It used to be a tradition to leave a coin on the bridge to ensure good luck. Other types of fairies are the and the .

An old Irish story tells how Lough Neagh was formed when Ireland's legendary giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (commonly anglicised to Finn McCool) ripped up a portion of the land and tossed it at a Scottish rival. He missed, and the chunk of earth landed in the Irish Sea, thus creating the island.

Peel Castle has been proposed as a possible location of the Arthurian Avalon or as the location of the Grail Castle, site of Lancelot's encounter with the sword bridge of King Melegaunt.

Cuisine

Traditionally the national dish of the island is ''Spuds and Herrin'', boiled potatoes and herring. This plain dish is chosen because of its role supporting the subsistence farmers of the island, who crofted the land and fished the sea for centuries.

A more recent claim for the title of national dish would be the ubiquitous chips, cheese and gravy. This dish, which is similar to poutine, is found in most of the island's fast-food outlets, and consists of thick cut chips, covered in shredded Manx Cheddar cheese and topped with a thick gravy.

Seafood has traditionally accounted for a large proportion of the local diet. Although commercial fishing has declined in recent years, local delicacies include Manx kippers (smoked herring) which are produced by the smokeries in Peel on the west coast of the island, albeit mainly from North Sea herring these days. The smokeries also produce other specialities including smoked salmon and bacon.

Crab, lobster and scallops are commercially fished, and the Queen Scallop (''Queenies'') is regarded as a particular delicacy, with a light, sweet flavour. Cod, ling and mackerel are often angled for the table, and freshwater trout and salmon can be taken from the local rivers and lakes, supported by the Government fish hatchery at Cornaa.

Cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry are all commercially farmed, Manx lamb from the hill-farms being a popular dish. The Loaghtan, the indigenous breed of Manx sheep, has a rich, dark meat that has found favour with chefs, featuring in dishes on the BBC's ''MasterChef'' series.

Manx cheese has been a particular success, featuring smoked and herb-flavoured varieties and is stocked by many of the UK's supermarket chains. Manx cheese took bronze medals in the 2005 British Cheese Awards, and sold 578 tonnes over the year.

Beer is brewed on a commercial scale by Okells Brewery (established in 1850) and Bushy's Brewery. The island has a beer purity law, resembling the German ''Reinheitsgebot'', dating to 1874.

Sports

The Isle of Man is represented as a nation in the Commonwealth Games and the Island Games and will be hosting the IV Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011. Manx athletes have won three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, the most recent being in 2006 by cyclist Mark Cavendish in the Scratch race. The Island Games were first held on the island in 1985, and again in 2001.

Isle of Man teams and individuals participate in many sports both on and off the island including rugby union, football, gymnastics, hockey, netball, bowling and cricket. It being an island, many types of watersports are also popular with residents.

Motorcycle racing

The main international event associated with the island is the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race, colloquially known as "The TT", which began in 1907. It takes place in late May and early June. The TT is now an international road racing event for motorcycles, which used to be part of the World Championship, and is long considered to be one of the "greatest motorcycle sporting events of the world". Taking place over a two week period, it has become a festival for motorcycling culture, makes a huge contribution to the island’s economy and has become part of Manx identity. For many, the Isle carries the title "road racing capital of the world".

The Manx Grand Prix is a separate motorcycle event for amateurs and private entrants that uses the same Snaefell Mountain Course in late August and early September.

Cammag

Cammag is the national sport of Mann. It is similar to the Irish hurling, and the Scottish game of shinty. Once the most popular sport on the island, it ceased to be played by the start of the 20th century, but has recently been revived, with an annual match at St John's.

Manx animals

thumb|250px|right|[[Manx Loaghtan|Manx Loaghtan Sheep are bred for their meat on the island and have an important place in Manx cuisine.]]There are two domestic animals specifically connected to the Isle of Man, though they are also found elsewhere. The Manx cat is a breed of cat noted for having a genetic mutation that causes it to have a shortened tail. The length of this tail can range from a few inches, known as a "stumpy", to being completely nonexistent, or "rumpy". Manx cats display a range of colours and usually have somewhat longer hind legs compared to most cats. The cats have been used as a symbol of the Isle of Man on coins and stamps and at one time the Manx government operated a breeding centre to ensure the continuation of the breed.

The Manx Loaghtan sheep is a breed native to the island. It has dark brown wool and four or sometimes six horns. The meat is considered to be a delicacy. There are several flocks on the island and others have been started in England and Jersey.

Famous residents

See also

Anglo-Manx

Biota of the Isle of Man

Coins of the Manx pound

Isle of Man Incinerator

List of not fully sovereign nations

Manx cat

Peel Engineering Company

Towns in the Isle of Man

Windmills in the Isle of Man

Raad ny Foillan, long distance footpath

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

CIA World Factbook - Listing for the Isle of Man

Isle of Man Weather

Isle of Man News

Isle of Man News

isleofman.com The Isle of Man online.

Isle of Man Guide

Isle of Man (European Union) passport description in PRADO

Manx Government A comprehensive site covering many aspects of Manx life from fishing to financial regulation

Manx Wiki

All about life on the Isle of Man

Isle of Man Airport

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Coordinates	37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N
name	Guy Martin
birth date
birth place	Kirmington, North Lincolnshire, England
nicknames	Guyz
nationality	English
tt contested	8 (2004–present)
tt wins	0
tt first win	–
tt last win	–
tt podiums	13 }}

Guy Martin (born 4 November 1981 in Kirmington, North Lincolnshire, England) is a British motorcycle racer and mechanic. He has primarily competed in road racing events.

Early career

Martin decided to follow his father Ian's footsteps by racing motorcycles and moved to Ireland to join Team Racing.

After a highly successful debut year on the roads, that saw him win the Cock o' the North and International Gold Cup races at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough as well as the Irish 750cc Support Championship, he moved to the Uel Duncan Racing team for 2004. It was another successful year as he retained the Gold Cup whilst he also made his debut at the International road races with the highlight being 7th in the Senior TT. His best lap was 122.10 mph which, at the time, was the fastest ever lap set by a newcomer and almost 6 mph quicker than the previous best.

Staying with the team for 2005, Martin made further strides forward and at the TT he was the only rider to finish all five of his races inside the top six. A debut podium in the Senior was backed up with a fourth, two fifths and a sixth whilst he improved his lap speeds to in excess of 126 mph. He also took the Scarborough Gold Cup for the third successive year.

AIM Yamaha

In 2006 Martin raced for Alistair Flanagan's AIM Yamaha race team. His first race for the team was the 2005 Macau GP. During the 2006 season Martin was allowed to race on the English circuits again, taking part in some British Supersport championship races. He also participated in the 3 Scarborough racing events at Oliver's Mount - the Ian Watson Spring National, the Cock o' the North and the Gold Cup meeting in which he won the prestigious Gold Cup equaling Geoff Dukes record of 4 in a row. The International road race meetings had mixed results the North West 200 never went particularly well, The Isle of Man TT looked promising but problems soon led to it being another disappointment though at the final international of the year, the Ulster Grand Prix, Martin took 4 race wins and a 2nd making him the man of the meeting.

Hydrex Honda

Hydrex Honda were the team that secured Martin's signature for the 2007 season. Shaun Muir team owner said he was ''delighted to have such a great prospect and a true character on board and had high hopes for the coming season''. In the early season he took part in British Superbike and Supersport rounds to prepare for the road racing season. The first major international of the year was the North West 200 in which Martin finished with an 8th, a 4th, two 3rds and a 2nd. In the CP Hire Superstock race after a bad start Martin finished 3rd. The Isle of Man TT was the next major race on the calendar and Martin got a 3rd, two 2nds and a DNF after running out of fuel with less than 3 miles to go until his first pit stop. In the Senior race he just missed out on becoming only the second rider, at the time, to have lapped at more than 130 mph, his best lap falling short at 129.816 mph. Later video footage showed him run wide on the entry to Windy Corner and it was this mistake that led him to miss out on the magical 130 mph lap.

Martin continued to race on the English scene and then he regained his Cock o' the North title at the Scarborough circuit before going to Ireland for the Kells Road Races in which he took one race win. This was preparation for the Ulster Grand Prix which was delayed for two hours due to bad weather and in the first race Martin brought home a 5th position, in race 2 a win, and in the superbike race, which was shortened due to weather, a 2nd. After this red flag the days racing was cancelled due to bad weather and that meant for the 2nd year in a row Martin was the man of the meeting. The Scarborough Gold Cup meeting ended with him winning all the races on the final day including the Gold Cup.

2008

On Tuesday 4 December Martin announced that he would be continuing with Hydrex Honda for the 2008 season. The team introduced a new sponsor, Bike Animal, a motorcycle news website. As well as contesting a full season in the British Superbike Championship, Guy again competed in the three International road races but he was denied his first TT win when he broke down whilst comfortably leading the opening Superbike race. He was eleven seconds in the lead when an electrical problem forced him out on the fourth lap. He did claim a podium, third, in the Superstock race but suffered further retirements in the Senior and second Supersport races. In September 2008 it was back to Olivers Mount for the International Gold Cup. Guy won the feature event and now has won 6 Gold Cups in a row, a new record, and he also has the lap record for the 1000cc bikes at Scarborough with a time of 1:45.3.

2009

For 2009 Guy continued with the Hydrex Honda team for a third successive year contesting all three Internationals as well as contesting selected British Championship and Irish National races. In a move from previous seasons, Guy moved away from the main Hydrex team, preferring instead to run a smaller, close knit team and after a steady North West 200 meeting, confidence was high going into the TT, his number one event of the year, as he sought to win a race at the 37.73 mile circuit on the Isle of Man.

2009 was expected to be the year he broke the seal, but after claiming two 2nds and a 3rd on the Superstock, Superbike and Supersport bikes early in the week Martin's engine gave up after coming onto the pit lane in the 2nd 600 race leaving him with his first DNF of the week and after a radio TT commentator approached he was left with an apology to make to TT fans for saying "If I get my hands on the fucker who built that engine he will feel the back of my hand!". More grief was still to come when putting the bike into gear at the end of his 2nd pit stop during the Senior race his chain snapped meaning he ended up with another DNF.

He regrouped to claim the Southern 100 Championship on the Billown road course in July, after finishing second on no less than three occasions - 2005, 2006 and 2007 - before heading to the third International race of the season, the Ulster Grand Prix.

After taking third in Thursday's Dundrod 150 Superbike race, Guy repeated the result in the feature UGP Superbike race, held over 8 laps, but he ensured he would not be without an International win in 2009 when he won a thrilling second Superbike race, just over a tenth of a second in front of fellow Lincolnshire rider Gary Johnson. He also placed 4th and 5th in the equally close Superstock and Supersport races.

At the 2009 Gold Cup at Oliver's Mount, Guy won the prestigious Steve Henshaw Gold Cup feature race, becoming the first rider to win 7 consecutive meetings.

2009 TT Results

{| !Race !Position !Time !Speed !Replica |- |Superbike |3 |01:46:59.69 |126.948 |Silver |- |Supersport Race 1 |2 |01:13:03.39 |123.948 |Silver |- |Superstock |2 |01:11:06.31 |127.349 |Silver |- |Supersport Race 2 |DNF | | | |- |Senior |DNF | | | |- |colspan=5| ''Source:'' |}

2010 Wilson Craig Honda

The end of 2009 saw Martin leave Hydrex for Wilson Craig Honda a team which hailed from Northern Ireland. Martin failed to take a podium at the North West 200, with his best result being fourth in the second Superbike race. He went to the Isle of Man TT, looking to achieve his first TT victory. However, the meeting was dominated by Ian Hutchinson, who took a record-breaking five victories in all the solo races. In the final race, the Senior TT, Martin was a challenger to stop Hutchinson achieving the clean sweep, but was involved in an incident on the third lap of the race at Ballagarey, having led the race just before the first pit stop. Martin was airlifted to Noble's Hospital in Douglas with chest injuries. He was later diagnosed as suffering bruising to both lungs and minor fractures to his upper spine. His performance at the meeting was criticised by Simon Buckmaster, whose Performance Technical Racing company built the bikes that Martin was running. Martin received considerable public support over Buckmaster's comments, leading Buckmaster to reiterate them later.

2010 TT Results

{| !Race !Position !Time !Speed !Replica |- |Superbike |4 |1:47:18.05 |126.586 |Silver |- |Supersport Race 1 |2 |1:12:40.78 |124.591 |Silver |- |Superstock |5 |1:11:50.06 |126.057 |Silver |- |Supersport Race 2 |4 |1:13:00.31 |124.035 |Silver |- |Senior |DNF | | | |- |colspan=5| ''Source:'' |}

Relentless by TAS Suzuki

November 2010 brought news Guy Martin had been signed by Relentless Suzuki the team run by the Neill family based in Northern Ireland. Previously the team has had over 18 TT wins with riders including... Cameron Donald, David Jefferies, Bruce Anstey, Adrian Archibald and Jim Moodie and are looking to get the fastest man to never win a TT on to the top of the podium in 2011.

Philip Neill had this to say about his new signing “It’s been a difficult decision changing our line-up as we pride ourselves on loyalty. In saying that, Guy is a rider I’ve wanted to work with for a couple of seasons now, and my loyalty to other riders probably held that decision back a little. He came to us full of enthusiasm and wants to do things our way, which was a good starting point. And on top of that, I’m a sucker for a challenge and I like Guy’s free spirit attitude. He’s created a Guy Martin brand without even trying and that’s also pretty special.

“Obviously we know he’s a very talented rider and has been extremely unlucky not to have won races at both the North West 200 and the TT. So our motivation is to complete that task, while making sure Guy also fulfils his commercial responsibility representing a manufacturer backed team. Having spoken to him at length before we agreed a deal, I know he won't let Suzuki or our sponsors down.”'''

Guy is said to have found a good direction after joining his team-mates during testing at Cartagena.

The popular road racer will pilot the team's Suzuki GSX-R1000 in selected events this season, most notably the Isle of Man TT where he will be striving for a first win.

Travelling to Spain with Josh Brookes and Alastair Seeley – who will compete in the British Superbike and British Supersport Championships respectively -, Martin focused on sorting a good set up on the Superstock and Superbike machines.

“It's been steady away boy… steady away,” he said. “We are making good headway and are not bothered with the stopwatch. We've had three days working very hard on the Superbike and we gave the 'stock bike a run out. I've found some good direction. It's all looking grand.”

Guy had a relatively successful TT but still the all important top step was out of reach again. The closest he got was on Fridays senior race where he battled with the John McGuinness until the bitter end for the lead. Eventually taken second place Guy commented he did all he could and he was beated by the better man.

2011 Ulster Gp

Superbike Race 2 Win

2011 TT Results

{| !Race !Position !Time !Speed !Replica |- |Superbike |DNF | | | |- |Supersport Race 1 |3rd |0:54:56:06 |123.628 |Silver |- |Superstock |3rd |1:11:36.59 |126.452 |Silver |- |Supersport Race 2 |3rd |1:13:29.28 |123.220 |Silver |- |Senior |2nd |1:45:53:00 |128.281 |Silver |- |colspan=5| ''Source:'' |}

''The Boat that Guy Built'' (BBC TV)

In March 2011 BBC One broadcasted the educational documentary series "The Boat that Guy Built." In the show Martin along with his childhood pal "Mavis" (Mark Davis) renovate a narrow boat, ''Reckless'', travelling on the canal network using the inventions of the Industrial Revolution. The programme involves reconstructions of early industrial processes such as smelting iron. The programme is narrated by Liza Tarbuck.

''TT3D Closer to the Edge'' (Four Limited)

TT3D: Closer to the Edge is a documentary film about the Isle of Man TT races. The film examines what motivates the riders who race the TT and risk everything to become "King of the Mountain". Filmed in 3D, the film is a story about freedom of choice and the strength of human spirit. The film follows the leading riders in the 2010 race meeting, in particular Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson. Release Date: Friday 22 April 2011 Directed by: Richard De Aragues Produced by: Steve Christian, Marc Samuelson Starring: Guy Martin, Ian Hutchinson, John McGuinness., Michael Dunlop and more Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes (approx.)

References

External links

Guy Martin - Official Site

Guy Martin at www.iomtt.com

Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:English motorcycle racers Category:British Supersport Championship riders Category:Isle of Man TT Riders Category:British Superbike Championship riders Category:People from Lincolnshire

Coordinates	37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N
name	Cameron Donald
vaption	Donald leading Ian Lougher during the first Supersport race at the 2010 Isle of Man TT.
birth date
birth place	Melbourne, Australia
nicknames	The Wizard of Oz
nationality	Australian
tt contested	5 (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010–)
tt wins	2
tt first win	2008 Superbike TT
tt last win	2008 Superstock TT
tt podiums	6 }}

Cameron Donald (born 28 September 1977 in Melbourne, Australia) is a motorcycle road racer who has raced at the Macau Grand Prix, the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT Races. He lives in Warrandyte, Victoria in Australia, and works as a plumber during the off-season. During the racing season Cameron lives in Northern Ireland.

Donald has had many racing achievements, including

1st Victorian Dirt Track Champion (1996, 1997, 1998)

1st Macau Grand Prix - 600cc (2001)

1st (race 1 & 2) National Supersport support race Moto GP Phillip Island (2001)

1st Australian Formula Xtreme Privateer Cup - 600cc (2002)

1st Victorian Supersport Championship (2002)

2nd Oceanic Challenge Series NZ - 600cc (2002)

2nd Macau Grand Prix - 600CC (2002 and 2004)

1st Privateer in the Australian Formula Xtreme Championship (2003)

1st (Round 4) Australian Formula Xtreme Championship (2003)

1st Victorian Superbike Championship (2003)

1st Macau Grand Prix - 600cc (2003)

2nd FIM Asian Road Racing Championship (2003 and 2004)

1st Singapore Enduro Race (November 2003)

1st Newcomer Isle of Man TT (2005) - Race #1 - 16th position / Race #2 - 11th position

1st Newcomer North West 200 (2005) - Race #1 - 13th position / Race #2 - 12th position

1st Isle of Man TT Superbike Race (2008)

1st Isle of Man TT Superstock Race (2008)

Uel Duncan Racing

Cameron rode for Uel Duncan in 2007, after a highly successful 2006 season with them. His dreams of a TT win in 2007 were shattered at the North West 200, where he broke a collarbone in an incident at the Juniper Chicane. Cameron was back on board the Honda at the Skerries races and left with two wins. Despite many promising performances, Cameron has yet to win an International road race.

Relentless Suzuki

On 4 September 2007, Cameron and Relentless Suzuki signed a deal for Cameron to ride with them in 2008. He will ride for them at the North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix and one of the British Championship classes. This move will make it more likely for Cameron to break his International victory duck. After his first test session with the Relentless bike he seemed very happy with the move. "It just doesn't get any better than this – I'm rapt! I feel privileged to ride for Relentless Suzuki and it's a great opportunity for me. Once we'd sorted out the deal I was anxious to get out on track and try the bikes. We all know how good the supersport and superstock Suzukis are, but when I came in after riding the superbike I couldn't stop smiling. I just thought, I can definitely win on this bike. I haven't stopped smiling to be honest. It's a new challenge for me and I'm also really looking forward to riding at the British circuits in 2008."

2008 season

The season has been Cameron's most successful to date. He achieved his first podiums at the North West 200, finishing in 3rd place in the Superstock race, and a close 2nd in the main Superbike race, being passed by Steve Plater at the Juniper Chicane on the last lap.

Despite missing the 2007 TT through injury, Donald returned to the island and won his first ever TT races. He won the opening Superbike race and also the Superstock race. He was in contention for the blue riband event as well, the Senior TT, but his bike suffered an oil leak while he was leading, forcing him to surrender the lead to John McGuinness. He managed to hold on to 2nd place to cap a great week for himself and the Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing Team.

External links

Official website

Cameron Donald at Isle of Man Guide

Category:Living people Category:1977 births Category:Sportspeople from Melbourne Category:Australian motorcycle racers Category:Isle of Man TT Riders

it:Cameron Donald

Coordinates	37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N
name	Mark Higgins
birth date	May 21, 1971
nationality	British
years	1990 – present
teams	Nissan, Volkswagen, Vauxhall, Ford, M-Sport, Stobart Motorsport
races	43
championships	0
wins	0
podiums	0
stagewins	0
points	2
first race	1990 RAC Rally }}

Mark Higgins (born 21 May 1971) is British rally driver competing in the British Rally Championship. His current co-driver is Rory Kennedy.

Career

Higgins was born on the Isle of Man. He began his career in motorsport at the age of nine when he took up karting helped by his mother and father.

By the age of 17, Higgins had successfully competed in a range of motor sport activities such as trial bikes and karts. He impressed many people as a young man and soon attracted the attention of Manx business man Roy Dixon who took the young Higgins under his wings, and at just 17 Higgins began his professional motorsport career with a trip to Sweden to learn from the legendary Finn Timo Mäkinen and Anders Kulläng.

Higgins was a stunt driver for ''Quantum of Solace''.

References

External links

www.markhiggins.co.uk

www.storbartmotorsport.com

Category:1971 births Category:British rally drivers Category:World Rally Championship drivers Category:Living people

hu:Mark Higgins nl:Mark Higgins pl:Mark Higgins (kierowca rajdowy)