Call To Embrace The Ulster-Scots Language...

21 November 2022

Ulster-Scots Language Week / Ulster-Scotch Leid Week starts today, Monday 21 November.

Ulster-Scots Language Week / Ulster-Scotch Leid Week starts today, with a packed programme of events to show people across Ulster that we all have a ‘wheen o wurds’ in the hamely tongue.

Coming hot on the heels of census results that showed the number of people reporting ability in the Ulster-Scots language in Northern Ireland has risen by over 50,000 in the last ten years, Leid Week is intended to keep the momentum going.

Speaking at Parliament Buildings, Stormont to kick off the programme, Ulster-Scots Agency Chief Executive, Ian Crozier said, “Just a few weeks ago we learned that over 190,000 people now recognise that they have some Ulster-Scots, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  Virtually everyone in Northern Ireland has Ulster-Scots and we want people from all communities to recognise that fact and embrace it.”

“We have language workshops, storytelling, walking tours, book launches, exhibitions, arts and crafts to engage people of all ages - frae wee weans tae oul craiturs – and build their confidence and pride in our hamely tongue.  Ulster-Scots has been an integral part of life here for centuries, for people of all classes and creeds and our programme reflects this.  Leid Week will include the unveiling of a blue plaque in Strabane to honour William Starrat, who wrote the earliest known poem in Ulster-Scots, published 300 years ago in 1722; as well as workshops reflecting on the work of Seamus Heaney, who wrote using Ulster-Scots in much more recent times.”

Forbye the programme of events, there will be an extensive campaign of advertising in newspapers, radio and at advertising sites around Northern Ireland encouraging people to go online during Leid Week and complete the Ulster-Scots Agency’s Wheen o Wurds quiz, to see if they recognise and understand some of our best loved Ulster-Scots words.  Ian Crozier added, “For most people here it will be wee buns to get at least 20 out of 30 on the quiz.  If you manage it, you can print out a certificate and claim your free Wheen o Wurds badge.  If you don’t, you can have quare crack lairnin a wheen mair until you do!”

The first ever Ulster-Scots Language Week took place in 2019, with the programme going virtual in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  This year, it has returned to a fully face to face programme.  Events and activities will be taking place across Northern Ireland the the Irish border counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal, in schools, libraries and community venues.

For more information visit on this year’s programme visit here or follow the Ulster-Scots Agency on Facebook and Twitter.

Image: Ulster-Scots Agency Chief Executive, Ian Crozier pictured with Anne Blair, Gillian Pearson and Gary Blair at Parliament Buildings, Stormont for the launch of Ulster-Scotch Leid Week 2022.