An exploration of the folk tale traditions of the Isle of Man: re-imagining Sophia Morrison's Manx fairy tales

The rich history and folklore of the Isle of Man, comprising Celtic, Scandinavian and English cultural influences infused with both pagan and Christian religious beliefs, cannot but inspire creative responses. Until very recent times, the rural populace of the Island, isolated as they were by geography, language and culture, held a predominant and persistent belief in the existence of fairies and other supernatural beings. This work places these folk beliefs in their historical context and creates three new ‘fairy’ stories inspired and informed by Manx folk tradition – particularly as it was collected and preserved by Sophia Morrison in her 1911 collection of Manx Fairy Tales.