Ellan Vannin (poem) Ellan Vannin (poem) Ellan Vannin (the Manx-language name of the Isle of Man) is a poem and song, often referred to as "the alternative Manx national anthem", the words of which were written by Eliza Craven Green in 1854 and later set to music by someone called either J. Townsend or F. H. Townend (sources vary). The Manx-language name Ellan Vannin is commonly mispronounced in renditions of the song, including in the Bee Gees version, since written Manx uses an orthography based on Welsh rather than Irish/Scots gaelic, which does not accurately transcribe the "ʲə" sound found in the word
SS Ellan Vannin (1883) During the summer of 1909 Teare was in command of the "King Orry" and had only joined the "Ellan Vannin" the day before her ill-fated voyage. Captain Teare was married with four children. "Ellan Vannin" was carrying 15 passengers and 21 crew as well as mail and 60 tonnes of cargo which included approximately 60 sheep. The weather on departure was moderate and although the barometric pressure was falling the captain did not expect a significant deterioration in the weather. The wind direction on departure was from the northwest meaning the "Ellan Vannin" would have a following sea during her