Michael, Isle of Man explained

Crown Dependency:Isle of Man
Official Name:Michael
Manx Name:Maayl
Coordinates:54.2747°N -4.5503°W
Population:1,591
Population Ref:[1]
Manx Sheading:Michael
Constituency Manx Parliament:Ayre & Michael
Post Town:ISLE OF MAN
Postcode District:IM6
Postcode Area:IM
Map Type:nomap
Os Grid Reference:SC3396689582
Static Image Name:Parish-Michael.svg
Static Image Width:175
Static Image Caption:Parish of Michael, Isle of Man
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Michael (Manx: Maayl) is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man. It is located on the west of the island (part of the traditional North Side division) and consists of the three historic parishes of Ballaugh, Jurby and Michael.

Historic parish

Michael (Manx: Maayl) is one of the seventeen historic parishes of the Isle of Man.

It is located on the west of the island (part of the traditional North Side division) in the sheading of Michael.

Other settlements in the parish include Barregarrow.

Local government

For the purposes of local government, the whole of the historic parish forms a single district with Commissioners.[2]

The district of Michael was formed in 1989 by the re-amalgamation of two local authority areas, Michael village and the larger rural area of Michael parish.[3] These two local authority areas had been separated from one another in 1905.[4]

The Captain of the Parish (since 1970) is John James Martin Cannell.[5]

Politics

Michael parish is part of the Ayre & Michael constituency, which elects two Members to the House of Keys. Before 2016 it was in the Michael constituency.

Geography

Michael Parish has, according to the 2016 census, 1,591 residents,[1] down from 1,729 in 2011.[6] It is a mainly agricultural area on the west coast of the island. It was until 2016 a House of Keys constituency. The only significant settlement in the parish or district is the village of Kirk Michael.

The TT motorcycle race course known as the Snaefell Mountain Course runs through Kirk Michael village.

Michael District stretches from the Irish Sea in the west, inland to Druidale in the east and from Orrisdale in the north to Glen Cam in the south. The district contains few settlements; the main village is Kirk Michael. There is a coastal strip, about 3 km wide, of agricultural land, and the remainder of the parish consists of moorland, of which the highest points are Slieau Freoaghane (488m (1,601feet)), Sartfell (454m (1,490feet)), Slieau Curn (351m (1,152feet)) and Slieau Dhoo (432m (1,417feet)) (together known as the Michael Hills).

The main road running through Kirk Michael village forms part of the Isle of Man TT road race course, on the A3 leading towards Ballaugh Bridge.

Kirk Michael is served by buses between Peel and Ramsey (and also between Douglas and Ramsey via Ballacraine). It is on the course of the former Manx Northern Railway.

The village

The name of the village is derived from "Kirk" ("Church") of Michael. The parish church of St Michael in the village contains a large collection of Manx Norse crosses. The village is served by several small local shops, a primary school and a public house. The Mitre Hotel, the local public house is named in connection with Bishop's Court and was once patronised by Fletcher Christian (Mutiny on the Bounty). "Christian" is a popular Manx surname. On the same plot of land as the Mitre Hotel stands the Ecclesiastical Courthouse. First built in 1766, at the request of Bishop Wilson, and then later rebuilt in 1835, it was the last working rural courthouse in the Isle of Man. Frequent bus services run to the towns of Ramsey, Peel and the city of Douglas.

Twin towns

Ghamrang, Nepal[7]

Other places of interest

Local areas of interest include:

MHKs & Elections

The following information is incomplete.

Year Election Turnout Candidates
1903General ElectionUnopposed
  • John Christian Crellin (elected)
  • William Crennell (elected)
1907By Election
  • Edward Curphey
1908General Election
  • Edward Curphey, 266 votes, elected
  • John Cannan, 218 votes, elected
1913General Election
  • Edward Curphey, elected
  • ?
1919General Election
1924General Election
1929General Election
1934General Election
  • John Crellin, elected
  • Thomas Henry Kneen, elected
1982By-Election

(in full, John David Qualtrough Cannan)

1986General Election
  • David Cannan (946 votes, elected)
  • MH James (156 votes)
  • DF Ellison (149 votes)
1991General Election75.3%
  • David Cannan (1068 votes, elected)
  • TJ Murphy (243 votes)
  • SL Morrey (188 votes)
1996General Election72.3%
  • David Cannan (973 votes, elected)
  • Margaret Kewley-Draskau (495 votes)
2001General Election68.3%
  • David Cannan, 898 votes, elected
  • Roy Kennaugh, 630 votes
2006General Election64.3%
  • David Cannan, 1062 votes, elected
  • Ron Berry, 329 votes
2011General Election62.6%
  • Alfred Cannan, 1014 votes, elected
  • David Talbot, 325 votes
  • Paul Heavey, 244 votes

The constituency was abolished in 2016.

In literature

Most of the action of The Deemster takes place in Michael Sheading.

In film

Glen Wyllin (Glen Mooar) beach was used as a location in the 2004 film Five Children and It.[8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 Isle of Man Census Report. PDF. Gov.im. 19 July 2019.
  2. Web site: Michael Commissioners . . 10 April 2019.
  3. John Grimson "A Guide to Village and Parish" published by Michael Commissioners, 1986, revised 1991, page 39
  4. Tynwald Hansard for 25 October 1983
  5. Web site: Captains of the Parishes . . Culture Vannin . 10 April 2019.
  6. Web site: Isle of Man Census Report 2011. PDF. Gov.im. 19 July 2019.
  7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pahartrust/537400910
  8. Web site: Isle of Man Guide - ECONOMY, Manx Films, Five Children and It. www.iomguide.com. 2020-04-29.