Language award for Ballymoney school

A highly original "Little Ant and Dec" style interview from the P6 and P7 pupils of Balnamore Primary School, Ballymoney, has scooped the top prize in the Ulster-Scots Language Society's schools' language competition.

   The imaginative youngsters scripted and recorded a humorous interview with 80 - year - old local man John Craig to produce a fun and exciting video presentation with a superb use of Ulster-Scots throughout.

   It's the second time that this school had taken the first prize in the competition "Come Ben An Pit On Ye" sponsored by The Ulster-Scots Agency, with Glynn Primary School, Larne taking second place for their entry with a special prize for the best new entrant going to Portavogie Primary School.  The adjudicators also awarded two new entry commendations to St. Clare's Primary School, Newry and Trentagh National School, Letterkenny.

   The school received their prize at a special assembly last month; a cup donated by the Lord Laird of Artigarvan, a cash prize of £250 donated by local businessman Doug Elliot and a collection of published Ulster-Scots works from the USLS.

   Philip Robinson, chairman of the adjudicating panel, said:  "Throughout the entries, we have been encouraged by the enthusiasm and the talent among pupils and teachers alike for the language.  This augers well for the future of Ulster-Scots in schools."

(Above) Balnamore Primary School principal Jackie Morrison (back) and board of governors' chairperson Kathleen Fulton with P7 pupils Hanna Kane (10), Grace Lee (11), David McDowell (10) and Adam Getty (11) enjoying prizes awarded for the school's winning entry in the Ulster-Scots Language Societys schools' competition "Come Ben An Pit on Ye" sponsored by the Ulster-Scots Agency.

   For school principal Jackie Morrison, the emphasis in taking part was on fun.

   "Taking part in the competition did not seem like hard work to us, it was fun and it came natural to the children to use the language that they hear at home in this highly original video which they chose to do," said Ms Morrison.

   "While we are delighted to win and all credit should go to the children for their enthusiasm in taking part, we really did have the best time producing it."

   Jim Millar, the Ulster-Scots Agency's new director of language and education, said:  "This event clearly encourages young people to use the Ulster-Scots language and is a great way to develop their overall language skills.  We congratulate all the children, teachers and schools who took part and who have contributed to such a successful event."