Guernsey Language Commission

WARRO! The Priaulx Library will be open to visitors and researchers tomorrow, Saturday 6 June. In addition to our facilities for researching family history and local Guernsey culture and heritage, we have a special display about local Guernésiais poet, Denys Corbet, who was born 200 years ago. We've focused on a poem about the Déhus dolmen, near to where he was born in the Vale, and the legendary 'Mermaids of Petit Bot', a story told to Denys by local man Matthew Tostevin in the 1860s. We've created a new Word Search for children all about the Mermaids - it's in Guernsey French, lots of fun and comes with a sticker when you have completed it! There is free parking on site for visitors

OY-OUS! I sra bétaôt l'temps pour La Fête Normande (acc. La Fête ès Rouaisaons). A s'adaonra en Jerri chutte feis, pens-ous y allaï?

ATTENTION! It'll soon be La Fête Normande (aka Rogation Celebration). It is taking place in Jersey, are you going?

La Fête Nouormande returns to Jersey: stories, poetry, music and dance

For the first time since 2017, the annual celebration of Norman language returns to Jersey on the weekend of 13th-14th June 2026.

La Fête Nouormande, also known as La Fête des Rouaisouns, brings together speakers and enthusiasts of Jèrriais, Guernésiais and mainland varieties of Norman language in a programme of performances, exchanges and activities. The public are invited to attend many of the free events during the weekend, and even try out some traditional dancing.

The festival is an opportunity for speakers of many varieties of Norman with their particular local accents and vocabulary to share the wealth of literature in Norman across the centuries, from the Middle Ages to modernity, as well as to enjoy song from traditional to more contemporary.

A booklet containing texts of stories, poems and songs is provided to help those unfamiliar with the range of accents to follow along with the performances (and perhaps even join in with some of the songs).

Saturday 13th June

9.30-11.30am
A programme of dance, music, and texts in the Assembly Room at Saint Helier Town Hall (free entry)

From 11.30am
A procession of performers and participants across the Town centre, starting from the Town Hall, with dancing al fresco along the way.

7.30pm
An evening of performances, including a musical set from Jèrriais band Mêli-Mêlo. In the Assembly Room at Saint Helier Town Hall (free entry)

Sunday 14th June

9.30am

A guided historical and literary tour in Jèrriais of central Saint Helier with performances, led by Geraint Jennings

11.15am

A religious service in Jèrriais. St Paul's Centre. Led by Brian Vibert.

(Organised by Le Congrès des Parlers Normands et Jèrriais)

Denys Corbet - Le Draïn Rimeux - Le Touar de Guernesy

Treisième Chànt - Third Canto

To mark the Bicentenary of Denys' Birthday, today we walked some of his TOUAR D’LA FOUARÊT . We took up the TOUAR from Le Chêne (Le Quêne) ...

Continuon ... Ha! nou v’là dans l’Bourg,
Qu’est des vrais bourdons la contrâïe.
Ichìn, jadis, d’nos pions la j’nâïe
Trigalait, un caoup en treis àns,
Et v’nait y jouaïr ses biaux dindàns;

Let’s continue ... Ha! there we are in Le Bourg,
Which is true bumblebees' (Forest folk) territory.
Cavorting, once every three years,
Here, in the past, our footmen kin
Came here to play (strut) about;

MEN NIC - MY NEST

J’ai d’vànt ma f’nêtre, et dret en d’sous,
L’Bigard, les cànprots, l’Fond-du-Va’.
De niet ll’a des Roc-Dôvres l’faeu,
Qui saute, à moments, hors des iaux;

I've before my window, & right below,
Le Bigard, les Camprots, le Fond-du-Val.
At night there's the Roches Douvres light,
That leapts, at times, out of the waters;

Treis houras pour Guernesy! Three cheers for Guernsey!

Merci bian Linda O'Leary pour les pictures 🙏

This Friday evening at Guernsey Museum. The Museum & café will be open for everyone to enjoy, with extra Corbet things happening too 🎨 Free entry.

My Goodness, it's that time again!

Articles in both Guernesiais & Jèrriais are once again published in the latest edition of the Channel Islands' French language newspaper, 'Le Rocher' - out now!

And as we are celebrating the bicentenary of Denys Corbet's Birthday, there is an article all about this illustrious Guernesiais Poet and Painter.

Maon Dou Daon, ch'est acouore aen caoup chu temps!

D's articlles en Guernesiais et Jèrriais saont acouore aen caoup publliaïs dans la droïne éditiaon du papier d'nouvelles Frànçais ès Îles d'la Mànche, 'Le Rocher' - par les càmps achtaeure!

Et étànt qu'nou est à célébraï lé jour d'naissànce dé daeux chents àns à Denys Corbet, i'y a énn articlle autouor chu poäete, artiste Guernesiais distindgi.

Le Rocher est à aver ichin, bouanne lliérie - Le Rocher is available here, happy reading:https://www.maisondenormandie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/35-compresse.pdf

Announcement: there are two special walks coming up to mark the Bicentenary of Guernesiais writer (& artist) Denys Corbet. Please spread the word. It's free of charge and supported by Guernsey Museums.