RSSPeel is located at the mouth of the River Neb on the western coast of the Island. The ancient Gaelic name for Peel is Purt ny Hinshey which when translated into English means 'Port of the Island'. According to the local traditional beliefs, this town assumes historic significance since it is held that the great Irish Saint Patrick arrived here in the 5th century, bringing Christianity to the Manx.
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The town has narrow streets of sandstone and houses a few speakers of Manx Gaelic, the ancient tongue of the Isle of Man. |
One can also enjoy the traditional music that is usually played during 'sessions' in local pubs. Peel boasts one of the finest sandy beaches on Isle of Man and has several restaurants and cafes. This picturesque town has been famous as a vital fishing port since the 19th century.
Several hundred boats from Peel rake in thousands of tons of herring from the Irish Sea and beyond, with the boats from Scotland and Ireland also dropping anchor at the port. Consequently, fishing became a lucrative industry providing employment to hundreds of people and supplying the area’s best kippers.
The town has also gained popularity as the Sunset City because some of the most spectacular sunsets can be viewed here throughout the year. Etched against the pictorial sunsets is a magnificent ruined castle, located on the tiny St Patrick's Isle, off the west end of the town and at the edge of the bay.
The ruins of an ancient Celtic cathedral dating back to the 13th century can also be seen here. The cathedral is enclosed within the pink sandstone walls of Peel Castle that is some 600-700 years old. This isle is linked to the town by a causeway.
The House of Manannan is a recent multi-million pound heritage centre. The moving images, animatronics, music and speech and multi-media presentations offer an insight into the Manx history.
