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From the lighting of the bonfire on Ramsey's south shore last Wednesday night to the sell-out concert by Scottish folk legends Deaf Shepherd and the Celtic Fiddlers from Newfoundland in the Centenary Centre, Peel, on Sunday night.

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John Kaneen, in the role of the sea god Manannan, lit the bonfire which cheered an otherwise damp evening. The arrival on the shore of a traditional Norwegian boat bearing Yn Chruinnaght president Fenella Bazin added to the atmosphere.

Dr Bazin said the lighting of the fire symbolised the enduring Celtic flame – and that the festival's founder, the late Mona Douglas, would have been amazed and delighted the flame was so strong 30 years on.

The festival brought together performers from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and Newfoundland. His Excellency, David Cooney, the Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain, his wife Geraldine and daughter Aideen with Amanda Bane, Irish community officer, Embassy of Ireland, London, were among the audience for the Niamh Ni Charra and Mike Galvin concert in Peel on Friday night.

The concert featured a night of wonderful music, started in fine style by brilliant young Manx band The Reeling Stones.

The five-piece band features teenagers from 15 to 18 years of age, drawn together by their love of music.

They are all still at high school studying for GCSEs or A Levels and first got together as a trio but developed into the present five piece band by the end of 2006.

They put on a hugely impressive performance that more than warmed the crowd up.

Niamh Ni Charra is an outstanding fiddle and concertina player from Killarney and she was accompanied by the equally talented Mike Galvin on acoustic guitar.

Sadly his guitar had to be patched up as it didn't quite make the journey to the Island in tip-top shape!

Niamh often told the stories behind the music and impressed the audience with her virtuoso playing.

It was the first of three major concerts at the Centenary Centre – the following evening was a P-Celt Ceili night featuring twmpath from Never Mind the Bocs, fest-nos/z from KaouaD and dance display from Hevva while on Sunday the Deaf Shepherd and Celtic Fiddlers concert took place.

There were plenty of other events too during the festival including workshops on the Manx language, concertina and Irish music, Cornish and Breton dance, a fiddle exchange workshop as well as a Bree Youth Music session and much more.

With highly talented visiting and Manx performers in action in Ramsey and Peel during the festival everyone who enjoyed the festivities will already be looking forward to the next 30 years!