Michael (Manx: Maayl) is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man. It is located on the west of the island (part of the traditional North Side division) and consists of the three historic parishes of Ballaugh, Jurby and Michael.
The district of Michael was formed in 1989 by the re-amalgamation of two local authority areas, Michael village and the larger rural area of Michael parish.[3] These two local authority areas had been separated from one another in 1905.[4]
Michael Parish has, according to the 2016 census, 1,591 residents,[1] down from 1,729 in 2011.[6] It is a mainly agricultural area on the west coast of the island. It was until 2016 a House of Keys constituency. The only significant settlement in the parish or district is the village of Kirk Michael.
The TT motorcycle race course known as the Snaefell Mountain Course runs through Kirk Michael village.
Michael District stretches from the Irish Sea in the west, inland to Druidale in the east and from Orrisdale in the north to Glen Cam in the south.
The district contains few settlements; the main village is Kirk Michael. There is a coastal strip, about 3 km wide, of agricultural land, and the remainder of the parish consists of moorland, of which the highest points are Slieau Freoaghane (488 metres (1,601 ft)), Sartfell (454 metres (1,490 ft)), Slieau Curn (351 metres (1,152 ft)) and Slieau Dhoo (432 metres (1,417 ft)) (together known as the Michael Hills).
The main road running through Kirk Michael village forms part of the Isle of Man TT road race course, on the A3 leading towards Ballaugh Bridge.
Kirk Michael is served by buses between Peel and Ramsey (and also between Douglas and Ramsey via Ballacraine). It is on the course of the former Manx Northern Railway.
The village
The name of the village is derived from "Kirk" ("Church") of Michael. The parish church of St Michael in the village contains a large collection of Manx Norse crosses.
The village is served by several small local shops, a primary school and a public house.
The Mitre Hotel, the local public house is named in connection with Bishop's Court and was once patronised by Fletcher Christian (Mutiny on the Bounty). "Christian" is a popular Manx surname. On the same plot of land as the Mitre Hotel stands the Ecclesiastical Courthouse. First built in 1766, at the request of Bishop Wilson, and then later rebuilt in 1835, it was the last working rural courthouse in the Isle of Man.
Frequent bus services run to the towns of Ramsey, Peel and the city of Douglas.
Glen Wyllin village and Glen Wyllin itself (the Glen was once the site of a trout farm but the farm was lost due to coastal erosion). Glen Wyllin now has a seasonal camp site.
Cooildarry Nature Reserve (in the upper part of Glen Wyllin).
Bishop's Court, the former residence of the Bishop of Sodor and Man but now a private residence, is located about 2 km north of Kirk Michael village, on the boundary with Ballaugh. The grounds and chapel of Bishop's Court are opened to the public occasionally. Bishop's Court Glen, on the other side of the TT course, and shared with Ballaugh, was once the private garden of the Bishop. The glen includes an artificial mound called Mount Aeolus, which resembles Tynwald Hill, and The Cave of the Winds. Until 1987 the mound had two cannon on top. The mound was built under Bishop Mark Hildesley to commemorate the victory of Captain Elliot over the French privateerFrançois Thurot off the coast near Ramsey in 1760.
Cronk Urleigh is a small hillock near Kirk Michael which until 1428 was the site of the Tynwald Courts.
TT course safety devices at Douglas Road Corner, the right-hander entering Kirk Michael village
The main A3 road leading through Kirk Michael village after Douglas Road Corner
