This included building a replica Viking longship called Odin's Raven which recreated the early Norse voyages from Norway to the Isle of Man; the ship landed at Peel Beach on Tynwald Day 1979.

After the Duke of Atholl presided in 1736, over two centuries passed before a Lord of Mann participated in Tynwald Day ceremonies.

The Isle of Man's highest judicial officers, the Deemsters, participate in the ceremony, wearing scarlet robes and long wigs.

In recent years, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have sent separate representatives, in addition to those for the United Kingdom.

Notable guests in recent years have included: David Waddington, Baron Waddington (1998), Gareth Wyn Williams (1999), Rory O'Hanlon (1999/2005), Liam T. Cosgrave (2002), Harald V of Norway (2002), David Steel (2002), Jack McConnell and the British Lord Chancellor Charles Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton (2003).

Detachments and bands from the Constabulary and the military also take part in the ceremony, which is also attended by members of the general public.

The President of Tynwald is the ex officio chairman; the Committee's other members include the Speaker of the House of Keys and the Chief Minister.

Before Tynwald sits, the individual presiding inspects the Guard of honour and lays a wreath at the National War Memorial, which was inaugurated in 1923.

At eleven o'clock, Tynwald convenes in the Chapel of St John the Baptist for a religious service.

Dr John Clague described the procession as such in his 1911 book Cooinaghtyn Manninagh (Manx Reminiscences) Er Laa Tin Vaal ta sleih cheet voish dy chooilley ard jeh Mannin dy chlashtyn ny slattyssyn focklit magh.

On Tynwald Day people come from every part of the Isle of Man to hear the laws pronounced.

The mound, approximately 12 feet (3.7 metres) in height, includes four circular platforms, which are of successively decreasing size, thereby giving Tynwald Hill a somewhat conical shape.

The ceremony of proclaiming laws on Tynwald Hill is traceable to the Norse practice of making public proclamations from mounds: Iceland, for example, once used the Lögberg (Law-Rock or Law-Hill) for the same purpose.

After the royal anthem is sung, the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls, upon the instruction of the Lieutenant Governor, directs the Coroner of Glenfaba to "fence the Court".

The coroner accomplishes the task by declaring, "I fence this Court of Tynwald in the name of our most gracious Sovereign Lord The King.

The First Deemster administers the oath to the kneeling coroners: "By that book and by the holy contents thereof and by the wonderful works that God hath miraculously wrought in heaven above and in the earth beneath in six days and seven nights, you shall, without respect of favour or friendship, love or gain, consanguinity or affinity, envy or malice, well and truly execute the office of coroner for each sheading to which you have been appointed for the ensuing year.

The phrase "wonderful works that God hath miraculously wrought ... in six days and seven nights" alludes to the Book of Genesis.

After the Coroners take the oath, the Lieutenant Governor states, "Learned deemsters, I exhort you to proclaim to the people in ancient form such laws as have been enacted during the past year and which have received the Royal Assent."

Thereafter, after the singing of the first verse of the National Anthem, the Deputy Chief Constable of the Isle of Man Constabulary calls the participants individually off the Hill and they proceed to the Chapel.

During the ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor, the President of Tynwald and the Speaker of the House of Keys use quills1 to sign certificates documenting the promulgation of the laws.

Concerts are held in the evening; at the conclusion, the Manx national anthem is played, and a fireworks display is staged.