THE COMEOVERS Island Life Special

THE COMEOVERS Island Life Special

Author: Manx Radio August 12, 2025 Duration: 29:09

During the 1960s three-quarters of the Island’s economy relied on tourism with over a fifth of the working population employed in the industry. In "The Comeovers", Dave Moore looks back on that time courtesy of the memories of those who came here to holiday, those who came to work and those who came to entertain.


Tucked away in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man holds a unique culture and community spirit that’s both deeply traditional and dynamically modern. Manx Radio's Island Life Series-Specials delves into the stories that define this place, moving beyond the postcard views to explore the real rhythms and conversations of island living. Produced by Manx Radio, each episode in this collection is a standalone deep dive, focusing on a particular person, tradition, or contemporary issue with the care and context it deserves. You might hear from a native Manx speaker reviving the Celtic language, a fisherman discussing changing seas, or an archivist uncovering a forgotten chapter of local history. This podcast serves as an audio documentary series, capturing the nuances of Manx society-from folklore and music to governance and environmental challenges. It’s for anyone curious about how geography shapes identity, offering listeners an intimate, thoughtful portrait of a small nation navigating its path. The conversations are rich, the subjects are varied, and the perspective is authentically local, providing a genuine connection to this distinctive island and its people.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Manx Radio's Island Life Series - Specials
Podcast Episodes
FAMILY TREES AND TIES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:12
A South African man who's been living on the Island for three years has recently discovered his own family's Manx links. It's led Justin Kinley Adkins to find out more about his lineage. He and Wendy Thirkettle, an Archi…
EMERGENCY - WHICH SERVICE? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
Amy Griffiths marks International Control Week, going behind the curtain with the Emergency Services Operators who are first point of contact and co-ordinate emergency response here on the Island.
Martyn's Maritime Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:04
Martyn Perkins celebrates the Island's long Maritime heritage with a programme of themed songs and reflections on our Island and the seas that surround us.
DOES MANX CARE? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:55
In the week Manx Care have announced a raft of cuts to patient-facing services to save money, Siobhán Fletcher speaks with politicians, medical professionals and the chief exec of the organisation itself, to find out the…
DOMESTIC ABUSE AWARENESS: An Island Life Special. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
Amy Griffiths speaks with some of the groups on the Island who work with those affected by domestic abuse. *Due to the nature of this programme, some listeners may find the content distressing.*If you are affected by the…
Our Island at Lorient 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:18
Christy DeHaven takes a look back at the Lorient Interceltique Festival which took place in Brittany a few weeks ago, with upwards of 900,000 festival goers enjoying the sights and sounds - some of which came from our ow…
The Solway Harvester Remembered. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
Just under a quarter of a century ago, a maritime disaster shocked the Manx community. But it also united the Island with a small community across the Irish Sea. Why did the Solway Harvester sink? John Moss returns to th…
Planning: fit for purpose? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
Amy Griffiths takes a look at the Island’s planning laws to find out if they’re currently fit for purpose.After one UK developer told her they’d be reluctant to undertake any more projects here because of the amount of r…
DEATH IN CUSTODY : has the IOM Prison System learned lessons? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:01
Three deaths in three years. Three lives lost, all in similar circumstances, while incarcerated. Have lessons been learned?This special programme, produced by News Editor Tessa Hawley, takes a look at what's being done a…