Tynwald Day 2023
12/06/2023
On Wednesday 5th July the Isle of Man will celebrate its National Day. At its core is the Tynwald Day Ceremony held at St John’s.
Welcome, welcome to this hill,
welcome, welcome all that will,
eat and drink and have your fill.
Tynwald Hill takes the spotlight for the day, from the start of formal proceedings in the morning with the Schools Parade through the village to the bottom of Tynwald Hill, up until the Manx Anthem is played atop the Hill at 10pm. The formal Ceremony also revolves around the Hill with the procession from the Royal Chapel to Tynwald Hill following hundreds of years of tradition to hear each Act of Tynwald being read out in Manx and English by the Deemsters, in the presence of all Tynwald Members, officials, guests, and the King’s representative His Excellency Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE, Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man.
As a Crown Dependency the British Armed Forces are represented each year with a Guard of Honour and a Military Band. This year The King’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and the British Army Band Catterick will lead the Standard Bearers representing local organisations to line the processional way from the Royal Chapel to Tynwald Hill.
The law first written down in 1417, and described even then as ‘The Constitution of Old Time’, describes the practice originally established by the Vikings in the 10th century AD of gathering together to uphold the law, settle disputes, and make decisions affecting the community. Indeed, the name of Tynwald comes from the Old Norse Thingvöllr, meaning meeting place or assembly field. While the function of Tynwald Day has evolved over the centuries, Tynwald continues to this day to meet in the open air once a year, on old midsummer’s day, to hear the promulgation of Acts on Tynwald Hill and giving the opportunity for members of the public to present a Petition for Redress as part of the Ceremony on the Hill.
Running alongside the formal proceedings on the Hill there will be the traditional fair on the Back Fairfield with a variety of stalls from local charities, traders and food vendors. After the Ceremony, family friendly events continue to be the focus for the rest of the day with a wide range of attractions and entertainment across St John’s including the Viking encampment in Cooil-y-Ree, the Grand Manx Dance on the Front Green, local choirs in the Chapel and evening dancing and music at the TynwaldFest Marquee.
Our National Day culminates at 10 pm with the focus once again on Tynwald Hill where Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums will play the Manx National Anthem on the Hill supported by fire spinners, Spinnin’ Vannin.
A list of all activities with the planned timetable are available here or in print on the day from the Tynwald Day Information Hut.
Petitions
Petitions should be in accordance with the Standing Orders of Tynwald and Guidance for potential petitioners is available at https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/petitions.
Please note that the Standing Orders were amended during the May 2023 Sitting of Tynwald.
Grandstand Tickets
Grandstand tickets will be on sale from Monday 12th June and can be collected from reception at the Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas. If you are unable to collect, please reserve and pay for Grandstand tickets by telephoning 685500 and collect your tickets on Tynwald Day (please collect before 10.15). Tickets can also be bought from the Information Hut on Tynwald Day morning before the Ceremony starts.
Family tickets can be purchased for £15 or individual tickets are £5 each. All tickets include a Tynwald Day programme.
Parking
Free parking is available at St John’s. Please obey all traffic restrictions and follow all directions given by the Scouts who assist with traffic management on the day.
Blue Badge holders wishing to attend Tynwald Day may reserve a parking pass entitling them to a reserved space at the Old Farmers Arms car park (also known as the Old Railway Line car park). For enquiries, telephone 685500. Please be advised that both the Blue Badge and the orange reserved parking passes should be displayed in car windows to assist those directing traffic.
For any enquiries, please email enquiries@tynwald.org.im or call us on 685500.
Manx Bard 'Tynwald Day' Poem
Thank you to Michael Manning, the Manx Bard, for writing the poem entitled ‘Tynwald Day’ for Tynwald Day 2023.
The poem can be read in full on the Tynwald Day website - https://www.tynwald.org.im/tynwald-day
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For more information contact:
https://www.tynwald.org.im/tynwald-day/TD2023
Tynwald Enquiries - Tel 685500
enquiries@tynwald.org.im