A Very Brief History of the Manx Language
From monks to Vikings to tourists, the Manx language has (almost) survived against the odds.
The native language of the Isle of Man has undergone a rapid decline and inspiring revival. Since the death of its last native speaker in 1974 it has been brought back from the dead and is now part of a vibrant language community.
Manx is a Gaelic language closely related to both Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It was first brought to the shores of the island by Irish monks and merchants in the fourth and fifth centuries AD, as Christianity spread northwards. The monks founded ecclesiastical settlements and carved ogham stones and, in so doing, established Gaelic as the language of the island, replacing the pre-existing Brythonic language.
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