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‘Burns Week’ plans announced by Ulster-Scots...

14 January 2010

While people all over the world love the work and life of Robert Burns, he holds a special place in the hearts of the Ulster-Scots. Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish and Ulster-Scots culture for over 200 years as a means of commemorating the much-loved bard.

The Ulster-Scots Agency has announced its plans for this year’s Robert Burns commemorations - ‘Burns Week’ a week long programme of events running from Monday 25th to Friday 29th January, 2010 will take place in venues in Belfast and Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

 

The event will be official launched in Belfast on Monday 25th January; this date marks the 251st anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns (25th January 1759).

 

Members of the public are invited to join the Agency in celebrating the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet in Belfast from noon to 1.00pm on Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th or Friday 29th January or in Letterkenny from 1.00 – 2.00pm on Thursday 28th January.

 

A variety of Ulster-Scots entertainment has been planned each day including:

 

·          Burns poetry recitals

·          Highland dance displays

·          Piping

·          Ulster-Scots music

·          Haggis tasting

 

In Belfast the Ulster-Scots Agency will open the doors of its Visitor and Information Centre, located on the ground floor at 68 – 72 Great Victoria Street to members of the general public from noon to 1.00pm each day.

 

In Letterkenny the event will be held in Donegal County Museum, High Road between 1.00pm and 2.00pm giving those based in the north west of Ulster an opportunity to also join in on the Agency’s Burns celebrations. 

 

It is hoped that ‘Burns Week’ will give members of the public, especially those who have not had an opportunity to attend an Ulster-Scots event in the past to come along and find out more about Burns, enjoy some Ulster-Scots music and dance performances and sample our unique and delicious “Haggis pies”. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.

 

 

 

The Agency’s ‘Burns Week’ will mark the first of many celebratory tributes to Robert Burns taking place over the coming weeks, a ritual that was started by close friends of the poet a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory. 

 

For full details of the many Burns Night Suppers and events taking place in Ulster and further a field, visit http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/events.