The Cultures in Dialogue conference - Denmark event puts the Ulster-Scots case forward in Europe

ANDREW Castles from the Ulster Society, and Gary Shaw, were two young Ulster-Scots representatives nominated to attend the recent 'Cultures in Dialogue' Conference in Denmark.

  They were among 160 other young Europeans representing virtually every European national, cultural and linguistic tradition attending.

  The event was held at three independent schools on both sides of the Danish-German border: Hojskolen Ostersoen (a Danish Folk High School), Jaruplund Hojskole (Folk High School of the Danish minority in Germany) and Deutsche Nachschule Tingleff (free boarding school of the German minority in Denmark).

  The purpose of the conference was to draft a resolution to give recognition to the cultures and languages of national minorities in Europe and to safeguard them.

  The event marked the 50th anniversary of the Bonn-Copenhagen Declaration (1955), whereby the Danish and German governments guaranteed the cultural rights of the Danish and German minorities.

  Andrew Castle confirmed:  "Interacting with fellow conference participants one of the most striking things was how proud other Europeans are of their language, culture and traditions.
 
  "People in Northern Ireland do not exhibit the same level of interest and appreciation in our rich culture and heritage. In failing to do so we are culturally impoverished."

  Andrew was based at Tingleff, 13 miles from the German border.

  There were 53 participants at Tingleff, representing 27 different countries, some as far away as Georgia and Turkey. All participants had an opportunity to present and explain their region's history and culture.

  Andrew added: "I greatly enjoyed talking about our rich Ulster-Scots history and culture to my fellow Europeans. They were greatly surprised to learn that there is much more to Northern Ireland than the Troubles.

  "During the first week we attended an intensive series of lectures, which explained the Danish-German border experience and identified the key elements to a harmonious minority-majority co-existence.

  "Four different workshops were established to enable participants to present the resolution by way of articles, drama and documentary."