A land of myth and legend in the Irish Sea

It’s a place where myths, history and culture blend seamlessly with a modern economy built around tourism, financial services and aeronautics. It’s the Isle of Man, created when, according to legend, Fionn Mac Cumhaill threw a fistful of earth at a Scottish enemy and it fell short into the Irish Sea.
With an archaeological and historical heritage stretching back 10,000 years, there’s no shortage of castles or landmark buildings to explore on the island, which is around 35 miles long, north to south, and 16 miles wide. It has a population of around 80,000 people, 30,000 of whom live in the capital, Douglas.
Irish people of an older generation are likely to associate the Isle of Man with short trips or honeymoons from Dublin. It’s intrinsically linked with the annual TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle races and, of course, we’ve all heard about the tailless Manx cat.
The Isle of Man is quite an affluent society with many wealthy business people, celebrities and showbiz stars among its residents.
With a top individual tax rate of 20%, income earners certainly fare well but this is balanced against high living costs.  Corporation income tax is 0%, which has, of course, been a significant factor in attracting overseas investment.
The island boasts a good education system, with special supports for students going on to third-level colleges in Britain.
There are good public health and social welfare systems in place in addition to a local authority housing system that levies reasonable rents. However, for those who might be thinking of emigrating right away, be advised that you have to be a full-time resident of the island for 10 years before you qualify for any of these benefits.
Now, the island has been opened up to a new generation of visitors from the West of Ireland thanks to a recently launched air service from Galway Airport via Belfast International Airport to Ronaldsway Airport. Using 19-seat turboprops, Manx2.com operates four return flights per week on the route and both the airline’s chairman, Noel Hayes and Galway Airport’s marketing director, Michael Moloney are happy with the take-up to-date. The service is getting a good mix of tourist and business passengers originating from either end and they see the potential for growth on the routes.
Manx2 and the Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure recently hosted a promotional visit to the island to showcase what it has to offer. One is immediately struck by the fact that the Isle of Man has a much in common with Ireland and even with County Clare itself. The coastline, with cliffs and sandy beaches, against a backdrop of hills bears striking similarities to our own Atlantic shore. The Celts and Vikings have left their mark and church ruins hark back to the great influence of early Christianity.
The island is making strong efforts to retain its traditions and language and there is a strong Manx Gaelic revival movement. Notices in public buildings are bilingual as are many town and road signs.
The Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom, but a Crown Dependency, Tourism Minister Geoff Corkish explained on a visit to the Tynwald, the world’s oldest continuous parliament, which dates back over 1,000 years. Established in Castletown but now based in Douglas, it is also unique in that it is the only parliament in the world that has three active chambers.
The House of Keys has 24 directly elected members and, in what must surely rate as the ultimate democracy, all bar one member are independents. The Council of Chambers has eight members elected by the House of Keys in addition to three ex officio members. The houses join once a month to sit at the Tynwald to decide matters of policy and finance.
Further evidence as to how the Isle of Man embraced democracy can be gleaned from the fact that in 1881, it became the first country in the world to give women the vote in national elections. More recently, the Tynwald led the way in electronic voting.
Douglas, the passenger ferry terminal port, is always a lively place and visitors are drawn by its two-mile promenade overlooked by hotels and guesthouse, many of which have retained their Victorian features. The horse-drawn trams are very popular.
The town also has a financial district in close proximity to the main shopping streets where there are many familiar high-street fashion names.
The railway network, electric in the north and steam in the south – both starting from Douglas – provide a novelty means of transport to view the open countryside and quaint towns and villages along the way. There is also a very reliable bus service and plenty of car hire operators. A word of caution; there is no speed limit on the open roads but driving in accordance with the rules that apply here in Ireland should keep you safe.
A must see is the Great Laxey Wheel (Lady Isabella), the world’s largest water wheel, built in 1845 to pump water from the local mines. It is from this location you can catch the Snaefell Mountain Railway, which winds it way up to 2,000 feet to the summit of the island’s only officially classified mountain. There is a halfway point where the fit and hardy can get out to trek to the top.
Snaefell summit gives you a spectacular view in all directions. In fact, from this vantage point, on a clear day, you can see the seven kingdoms of Man – Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Man itself as well as the Kingdom or Heaven and the Kingdom of the Sea.  For good measure, you can see much of the TT racecourse.
In Ramsey, at the northern end of the island, one of the Grove Museum of Victorian Life, where the house and gardens provide a wonderful glimpse back to another era.
Peel, in the west, is noteworthy for its narrow streets leading down to the beach and harbour. However, the most powerful image is the 11th century fortress of Peel Castle on St Patrick’s Isle. On a visit to the local award-winning museum, you will be able to view a full size Viking longboat and a Celtic roundhouse.
At Castletown, the ancient capital in the south, you will find Castle Rusheen, one of Europe’s best preserved and most complete medieval castles, dating back to the 12th century. You can also get a flavour of island politics with a visit to the Old House of Keys.
The ruins of a Cistercian abbey at Ballasalla and the Cregneash Folk Village near Port St Mary are also worth stopping off to see.
There is one final must see on a visit to the Isle of Man and that’s a Manx cat. Our hostess, Ann Hartley arranged for a friend to bring her tailless feline pet to the airport to bid us adieu.