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Millennium of Tynwald
In 1979 the Manx people celebrated 1000 years of unbroken parliament. In ancient times, Norse rulers held open-air meetings of their officers and freemen at which laws were recited, new laws were submitted for approval, and judgement was given on lawbreakers. The meetings were held at a place the Norse called Thing-vollr (Parliament field) from which the word Tynwald is derived. Every year, on 5th July (Old Midsummers Day), the Manx Tynwald is still held on Tynwald Hill, St John's. During the ceremony, Manx laws are read out to the gathering in Manx Gaelic, the Island's own language.

During 1979, many special events were held to commemorate the Millennium of Tynwald, culminating on Tynwald Day itself with a visit by Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann.

The Millennium of Tynwald was also marked by the epic five-week 1500 mile voyage of the Odin's Raven, a two-thirds scale replica of a Viking longboat which had been rowed from Norway to the Isle of Man. The crew of 16 included five Norwegians and eleven Manxmen. The photographs below show the crowds greeting the arrival of Odin's Raven at Peel on 4th July 1979. Peel Castle forms an impressive backdrop to the scene.