Queenie Festival 2011 dates for the diary!

We are happy to announce the dates for the 2011 Queenie Festival, following the very successful 2010 event. The three day celebration of the sea will take place on the weekend of the 1st, 2nd & 3rd of July.

The festival will kick off with the Off Sure beach party on Port Erin beach on the Friday evening. Food tents hosted by celebrity chefs, live music, marine activities, beach cricket and the Off Sure dip are some of the attractions.

Day Two commences with a Marine Day in Port St Mary, in and around Alfred Pier & Paddy’s Market. Live chefs, music, Trawler racing, Kayak racing and the Viking Manx Mile are amongst the events on show. In the evening there is the Herring Dance a ticket only event with live music, as well as some of the best cuisine this side of the Atlantic!

Completing the weekend on Sunday afternoon is the second part of the Marine Day. Manx scallop dancing, traditional Manx music, more live chef action & music round off a fine weekend.

More details to follow in the coming months…

Golden Queenie is claimed!

Sarah Brown of Edremony, Port Erin, has claimed the coveted Golden Queenie, pipping fellow explorers at the post on a Port Erin beach.

The organisers of the Isle of Man Queenie Festival buried the treasure in a secret location several weeks ago, encouraging the public to discover its whereabouts with a series of teasing clues contained in the festival programme.

With an estimated value of £4,000, the hiding place of the solid gold queenie shell has been the subject of intense interest – and much digging!

The treasure trail has taken Queenie hunters far and wide over the Island, from St Trinian’s Church to the Round Table.

But yesterday (Sunday 12th July), Port Erin woman Sarah Brown dug up the prize virtually on her own doorstep: the Golden Queenie was buried on ‘Mortuary Beach’, a small, pebbly cove adjoining the main Port Erin shore.

Sarah describes the lead-up to her discovery: ‘I realised weeks ago where it was and I’d been digging, trying to find the exact spot, ever since. Everything fitted, all the clues linked up in my mind. Also, I’m quite obsessive – I’m the sort of person who counts their steps wherever they go – so I knew straightaway, for instance, how many steps there were down to the beach.’

Sarah was not the only person to pinpoint Mortuary Beach as the Queenie hotspot; she estimates that there were around 30 people digging at the site, and 6 at the time of her discovery – leaving few stones unturned!

‘I must have spent about 40 hours digging – I’ve given myself a bad back! I’d dug these huge, deep trenches but the Queenie was buried in quite shallow ground. I just scraped some sand away from one of my trenches and there it was, right next to where I’d already been digging.

‘When I found it, I couldn’t stop screaming and pointing! I was so excited.’

How did the other treasure hunters react? ‘Other people on the beach were telling me to pick it up. Everyone came and huddled round and one woman said I deserved it, because I’d spent so many hours digging’.

On that day, Sarah was digging on her own but on other occasions, her young son was a willing helper. She says ‘He’s really excited too. I’m going to buy him a present for helping me’.

Sarah has yet to claim the actual Golden Queenie: buried in the sand was a tupperware box with a yellow painted Queenie shell and a code number, which Sarah had to quote to the festival organisers to verify her find. She will now receive her prize at a special presentation, to be announced soon.

Apart from winning the prize, Sarah says that one of the best things about the challenge has been the other treasure hunters: ‘I’ve never met so many new people as I have in the last few weeks; it’s been fantastic’.

Festival organiser Tim Croft, of Island Seafare, says, ‘The hunt for the Golden Queenie has captured the public imagination. People have been researching and discovering things they never knew about the Isle of Man. What’s also been great is that it’s got people out and about, seeing new places, meeting people they know and having a yarn!’

The discovery of the Golden Queenie, which was donated by Celtic Gold of Peel, brings the hugely successful Queenie Festival to a close for another year.

Saturday 4th July – Marine Day & Yn Daunse n Skeddan’

Marine Day 2009 builds on the success of last year’s event where thousands came out despite the rain for what was a fantastic Day in Port St Mary. This year’s event starts at 11am and has the extremely popular marine touch tanks, courtesy of Manx Wildlife Trust, for kids and adults to get up close with the fish and plant species that live in the surrounding sea. Around the touch tanks will be a whole host of events, stalls, live music and competitions.

This year also sees the return of the Port St Mary Trawler race! Prizes are on offer for a time trial and also the best dressed boat which I bet will be worth the trip to Port St Mary in themselves.

Again there will be cooking and seafood preparation demonstrations as well as plenty of food available for you to enjoy throughout the day. The Lifeboat, Barrule Fisheries Vessel, Coastguard, 7th Wave and Manx Wildlife Trust will all be there giving you a chance to interact and maybe get involved with.

It really will be a great family day out and if last year’s is anything to go by it doesn’t matter what the weather is doing.

Yn Daunse n Skeddan’ or The Herring Dance starts at 8pm in the Stone Field in Port St Mary and goes on till late. For those of you that don’t know the Stone Field, it is at the cross roads by Port St Mary School. This is just a good old fashioned knees up; licensed bar, live music and a great laugh. Those of you that remember the Stone Field doos from the past will be able to vouch for how good these nights are and I’m sure there’ll be many Stone Field veterans there on the night. Bunch of Skankas & The Tholtan Builders are providing the entertainment so not one to be missed!

Fun on the Water goes Swimmingly!

The weather was in our favour again tonight and ‘Fun on the Water’ at the The Shore Hotel and Gansey went swimmingly.

Actually, quite literally as the first legs of the Scallop Shell Swims got under way. With contestants travelling from across to take part this was a really great event to watch. Have to say I chickened out this year!! The main swim was 1mile long and was won in a time well under 30 minutes which is pretty impressive.

The Kayaking sessions provided by Adventurous Experiences went down extremely well too and I believe a couple of the groups heading out had a couple of playful Seals swimming along with them! There was also a kayak race and Dinghy sailing to entertain the crowds gathered along the seafront to watch and cheer on the competitors. It was fantastic to see Gansey so busy especially on such a good night.

Manx Queenies were back on the menu with barbeque and of course the special Queenie Festival beer brewed especially to compliment the sweet taste of the Manx Queenie by Okell’s.

To round the night off nicely Truman Falls set up outside the Shore for an evening of live music. Queenie Beer was flowing pretty nicely when we left so I’m sure there’s still many hardy souls making the most of the weather and the festival.

‘Fishing into the Past’ a great success.

Tonight’s opening event, Fishing into the Past, was a great success and proved a fantastic way to get the Festival underway. The weather remained good to us and the green outside Mount Tabor was packed with people enjoying the sunshine and the activities. I’ve added a whole load of photos to the Queenie Festival Flickr page if you’d like to see more.

The re-enactment was really well put together and told the story of the fishing industry to the Isle of Man, and Port st Mary in particular, over the years. Manx Queenie Paella was served with traditional Spuds ‘n’ Herrin’ whilst live music and the Fairly Famous family entertained everyone.

It was also great to see the photographic display in Mount Tabor capturing ‘A day in the Life of Port St Mary’ from 1979. I could recognise a few faces and it was great to see some of the hairstyles and fashions from back in the day. The display will remain in Mount Tabor for the next couple of days for anyone that didn’t get down to see it tonight.

Cornaa Fish Hatchery Open Day – All Welcome

To coincide with the Isle of Man Queenie Festival the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry will be opening the Fish Hatchery at Cornaa on Wednesday 1st July from 10.00 – 16.00.

Come and see the fish and learn how the hatchery produces up to 25,000 rainbow trout every year for stocking out to the Island’s reservoirs. Follow the life cycle of the trout and even feed the fish on a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting day out for all the family.

For further details or directions please phone 812224 or 685857

Queenie Festival Programmes now on sale!

Official programmes are now on sale at retailers and newsagents around the Island. The programme not only has everything you need to know about the activities and events but also includes exclusive discounts with a number of local businesses, a chance to win Kaiser Chiefs’ tickets and of course the all important Queenie Conundrum.

Manx Queenie Spring Rolls Isle of Man TT 2009 appearance

Blink and you’ve missed them!

For those of you who are keen TT fans you will have seen our very own Manx Queenie Spring Rolls make an appearance last week on the ITV4 coverage of the Isle of Man TT 2009. Craig Doyle of ITV4 was seen interviewing riders Keith Amor and Connor Cummings as they both tucked into a couple of Manx Queenie Spring Rolls after the second Supersport race with both commenting on what a great snack and how fresh tasting they were.

The Manx Queenies made an appearance at the TT grandstand on Wednesday the 10th of June as part of the launch of the Isle of Man Queenie Festival. Kath Sentance of Relish took the Queenie Roadshow out and about around the island for locals and TT fans to sample the Queenie delights and there was also a chance for any visitors to win a weekend break to the festival that begins on the 29th June this year.

The Queenie Roadshow visited the Peel Honda Day, Ramsey Sprint as well as the TT grandstand as people competed to be the fastest Queenie Spring Roll Roller on the Island (Thanks to Dave Myers and Si King for the recipe last year!)

All in all it was a great success and we even got a spot on ITV4 beamed out around the world! Fantastic!

You will be able to sample lots of Queenie delights including the Manx Queenie Spring Rolls at many of the events being held for this year festival. Pick up a programme from participating newsagents to get the full lowdown!

Celebrity Chefs to attend Isle of Man Queenie Food Festival

Celebrity chefs Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix will be cooking up a storm at this year’s Isle of Man Queenie Festival. The TV personalities will be entertaining the crowds, providing demonstrations and cooking barbeques throughout the week-long festival of events.

Between writing books and appearing in his latest TV show, ‘Mitch and Matt’s Big Fish’, Mitch Tonks is an award winning restaurateur and fishmonger. His knowledge and expertise of seafood is second to non and his attendance at the second annual Queenie Festival will be a real treat for festival-goers.

As well as cooking barbeques and entertaining crowds, leading chef, author and TV personality Mark Hix, will use his experience as a finalist of the BBC’s Great British Menu to judge this year’s Manx Queenie recipe competition alongside Mitch. It will certainly take something special to amaze Mark, who has worked as Head Chef and Executive Head Chef for a number of Michelin graded restaurants including Le Caprice and The Ivy in London.

Mitch and Mark will be making up part of the judging panel for the public and hospitality Queenie recipe competitions that are currently open for everyone to try their hand at becoming an award-winning Chef. They will be entertaining the crowds at Marine Day and cooking up a treat on the barbeque at the ‘Love your beach’ day on Friday 3rd July at Port Erin Beach. Tickets will be available from Paddy’s Market in Port St Mary and at The Bay in Port Erin.

Isle of Man Queenie Festival organiser Tim Croft commented, “We are absolutely delighted to have two guests as well renowned as Mitch and Mark attend this year’s festival. Aside from their celebrity TV statuses, both have earned tremendous accolades for their contributions to the British Food world. It really is a fantastic opportunity for the Manx public to see and taste what Britain’s finest have to offer.”

The Isle of Man Queenie Festival, held from the 29th June to 5th July 2009, has daily events throughout the festival to appeal to adults and children. With competitions, big prizes, barbecues, bay swims and the chance to see and taste fantastic creations from two of the Britain’s top chefs, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Fishy fun with The Fairly Famous Family

The Fairly Famous Family is set to return to the Isle of Man to entertain, inspire and surprise with its unique brand of high quality, original street theatre.

The company, led by the inimitable Jem Hulbert, a professional comedy juggler and psychology graduate, performed to great acclaim for schools and the public on the Island in the summer of 2007.

Jem’s website describes how juggling routines are seamlessly linked with comedy patter, live music, magic and daring feats. A quote on the website from Max Davidson in the Daily Telegraph sums up the spirit: ‘As Jem milks the crowd, I recall a line of classroom Shakespeare: “This fellow’s wise enough to play the fool”. Exactly.’

Based in Cumbria, The Fairly Famous Family has been performing throughout Britain and Europe for nearly 20 years, travelling in its distinctive yellow van to venues as diverse as streets, schools, hospitals, prisons, football stadiums, trains and castles.

This latest visit to the Isle of Man will see the company perform at primary and secondary schools and appear at a number of public events.

From 30 June to 3 July the Family will take maritime and Victorian-themed shows and workshops from its extensive repertoire into Anagh Coar, Willaston, Murray’s Road, Ballaugh, Scoill Phurt le Moirrey and St Thomas’ primary schools.

There will be special teatime workshops at which pupils at Jurby School and Bunscoill Ghaelgagh will be invited to learn street theatre skills.

At Ballakermeen High School, Year 7 pupils and students in the school’s Comedy Club will be able to enjoy a show especially for an older age range.

Later in the week the Family will appear at the Isle of Man Queenie Festival, popping up at the Love Your Beach event at Port Erin on Friday 3 July and Marine Day at Port St Mary on Saturday 4 July.
Further details of the Family’s involvement in the week-long festival, which reaches its conclusion on Sunday 5 July, will be announced as they are confirmed.

Performances at Tynwald Fair on Monday 6 July will be the culmination of the Family’s week on the Island.

The visit has been organised by Murray’s Road School, with the school’s Rainbow Fish Room nurture group playing a key part in all the necessary arrangements. Teacher Jill Dunlop said: ‘The Fairly Famous Family provides a unique form of entertainment that is great fun and appeals to all ages.’

Jem is looking forward to his return to the Isle of Man and said: ‘Manx audiences are fantastic. The performance at the Villa Marina Gardens last time was a really memorable evening. It will be extra special this year to be over for Tynwald Day and the Queenie Festival. We can’t wait!’
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A warm welcome is extended to all to come along and join in the fun at any of the public events.

The visit is supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council.

Contacts for further information:

The Fairly Famous Family – 01539 433 268

Jill Dunlop, Murray’s Road School – 01624 621681

Links:

www.fairlyfamousfamily.com

www.queeniefestival.com

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