Grants Allocated For Language Based Initiatives

For further information on each event simply click on the event name below:

Queens University Belfast, 3rd Symposium of Language and Politics
Mid Antrim Ulster Scots Society, Publishing the works of Bab McKeen
The Ulster-Scots Language Society, Anthology of Ulster Scots Writing

Organisation: Queens University Belfast
Event              3rd Symposium on Language and Politics
Date:               18 – 20 September 2002

The Symposium took place from 18-20 September, 2002.  Its subject was language, policies and current legislation in respect of the Gaeltacht and the Scotstacht (Irish and Scottish Gaelic and all varieties of Scots in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland).  The themes were language planning and education, standardisation of Scots, international comparisons and research needs.  The approach was balanced, even-handed, impartial and critical, and attracted 106 delegates.

Of the thirty-five presentations, politicians, one by a senior Civil Servant and six from governmental agency representatives made three from both the North and South of Ireland. The other speakers had academic – usually university – backgrounds.  Papers on Scots and Ulster Scots were given by academics or academically minded activists: Caroline Macafee, Dauvit Horbroch, Derrick McClure, John Edmund and Ian Parsley.  Papers on Scots language were given by Sheila Douglas, John Corbett and Liz Niven.

Like the previous symposium, this event concentrated on the policies and issues surrounding all the varieties of Gaelic and Scots, their similarities and differences both within themselves and between each, in their respective legislative contexts.  Among the successes was the bringing together of politicians, civil servants, government representatives, academics, activists and the interested public; the good balance of time and treatment given to each of the f=different languages and territories in question and the demonstration of an ethos of respect and tolerance for diversity upon which the Symposium is predicated.

With the support of the Ulster Scots Agency, Foras na Gaeilge and Iomairt Cholm Cille, it was possible to bring together participants who had previously been identified and from whose experience and expertise everyone benefited. 

From feedback sheets, the following responses were made by attendees about the Ulster Scots element of the symposium:

• That Scots Language in Scotland (not Northern Ireland) is very clearly under-funded, under-researched, under-maintained, compared to Gaelic, Irish or Ulster Scots.
• A better understanding of the state of affairs in Scots/Ulster Scots.
• The work of the Ulster Scots agencies and community groups.
• The problems facing Scots activists from both the community itself to the highest levels

There is no doubting the success of this event, and a fourth symposium is already being planned.

Organisation:  Mid Antrim Ulster Scots Society
Event:              Publishing the works of Bab McKeen
Date:               September – October 2002

“Bab McKeen” was the pen name of John Weir, whose short stories and poems were printed regularly in the Ballymena Observer throughout the first fifty years of the twentieth century.  He wrote mostly in broad Ulster Scots and his writings gave great insight into how the language was used in Mid Antrim during that period.

The reprinting of a selection of his works has been endorsed by the Ulster Scots Language Society, who have been asked to write a foreword for the book.

These writings also gave a great insight into the lifestyle of the Ulster Scots people of Mid Antrim during that period in time, and from that aspect, Ballymena Borough Council have also confirmed their support for the project.

The reprinting of Bab McKeen’s stories and poems are undoubtedly a valuable reference resource as well as an affirmation of the rich Ulster Scots cultural and linguistic heritage.  It is also the aim of the Mid Antrim Ulster Scots Society to make this publication the first in a series of similar projects.

The 50-page book containing the reprinted short stories and poems was published in September and launched in October 2002.

Organisation:  The Ulster-Scots Language Society
Event:              Anthology of Ulster Scots Writing
Date:               To be completed March 2003

The Ulster Scots Language Society applied for funding in September 2002, to create an anthology of Ulster Scots writing.

A large body of modern Ulster Scots writing has been published as articles and short stories in newspapers and magazines over the last decade.  Indeed, the Ulster Scots Language Society was responsible for much of this writing being published in their ULLANS magazine.

However, it was recognised that there was little written Ulster Scots available for purchase in bookshops and a lot of the material available was hard to access as it was not available on one volume.

This project was launched to address the lack of available written Ulster Scots’ to make modern Ulster Scots more available to a wider readership and to meet the need of students to whom an anthology would be a practical asset.

The final anthology of new writing will comprise 1/3 in Ulster Scots, 1/3 about the Ulster Scots and 1/3 on culture.  Professor Michael Montgomery will produce this work for the Ulster Scots Language Society, together with a glossary.