Brian Stowell

Who is Brian Stowell?

Thomas Brian Stowell is a Manx radio personality, linguist, physicist and author. He is also Yn Lhaihder to the Parliament of the Isle of Man, Tynwald. He is considered one of the primary people behind the revival of the Manx language. While a student he became fluent in the language, and made tape recordings of its elderly speakers. He became fluent in Irish and used his fluency to translate Irish language courses into Manx use. He has become involved with radio broadcasts for Manx Radio.

In 2008 Stowell was awarded the Manx Heritage Foundation’s Reih Bleeaney Vanannan award for outstanding contributions to Manx culture. On Tynwald Day 2010, he was awarded the Tynwald Honour, the highest honour that Tynwald can award a citizen.

Stowell published Contoyryssyn Ealish ayns Cheer ny Yindyssyn, a Manx translation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, in 1990. In March 2006 Stowell's Dunveryssyn yn Tooder-Folley, the first full-length novel in Manx, was published.