The Isle of Man is a small island in the Irish Sea, with a rich history dating back to the 8th millennium BC. It has its own parliament and administers its own laws as a self-governing kingdom under the protection of Great Britain. The island is a popular holiday destination with a relaxed pace of life and historic sites to visit.
The Isle of Man is a small dependency in the Irish Sea. The island covers 220 square miles (570 square km), making it about three times the size of Washington, DC. The Isle of Man sits right between Ireland, Scotland and England. In addition to the present Isle of Man, the island also contains three smaller islands, Chicken Rock, St. Patrick’s Isle and Calf of Man.
People first settled on the Isle of Man in about the 8th millennium BC The early history of the Isle of Man is uncertain and much of it is shrouded in myth concerning the settlement of the island by the Brython in the first half of the 1st millennium. In the 7th century the Irish invaded the islands and settled permanently, introducing the Celtic Manx language.
The Vikings first invaded the island in the late 8th century, but left the culture much the same as before their invasion. In the 11th century the island was made into a kingdom under the Norse, where it remained until it was ceded to the Scots by Norway in the 13th century.
In the 14th century the English took control of the Isle of Man and the government passed between the Scots and the English in the following century. Eventually the island would fall under the control of Great Britain, despite a series of rebellions and hardships with British rule.
In the mid-19th century the Isle of Man gained a fair degree of self-government, which increased over the next century and a half. Politically, the Isle of Man is somewhat unique. It is a self-governing kingdom, under the protection of Great Britain as a Crown dependency. It has its own parliament, the Tynwald, and administers its own laws. It’s not fully part of the UK and it’s not even part of the European Union.
Manx culture experienced a resurgence in the 20th century, with traditional crafts, cultural festivals and the Manx language finding a new place among the inhabitants. Manx continues to be taught and spoken, and although all native speakers disappeared by the 1970s, recent efforts have resulted in a new generation of native speakers.
The Isle of Man is a popular holiday destination for residents of both Britain and Ireland, although with the advent of cheap flights to mainland Europe its popularity has declined somewhat. However, it does offer a glamorous getaway in the middle of the British Isles.
The pace of life on the Isle of Man is quite relaxed and many people like to visit as a break from traveling around Ireland, Scotland and England. The main island is small enough that driving is easy, and both a steam and electric train connect major points of interest. Historic sites such as Rushen Castle, Peel Castle, Rushen Abbey and the many stone crosses dating back to the Celtic era make for wonderful daytrips and lush gardens dot the island.
Flights arrive daily from the British Isles. Ferries also regularly connect Douglas with Scotland, England and Ireland.
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