MAGUS Chair Launches New Book On Ulster-Scots

The Ulster-Scots Academy Group, part of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, has launched a new book highlighting words and phrases from Ulster-Scots which are in common usage. ‘Thon Ulster Scots Book’ is written by Liam Logan; a contributor and presenter of BBC Radio Ulster’s flagship Ulster-Scots programme ‘A Kist O’ Wurds’. The book has already been distributed to a segment of schools free of charge through a pilot exercise which was a condition of funding from the Ulster-Scots Academy – Ministerial Advisory Group through the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the Ulster-Scots Academy Group Bill Smith said: “What makes this book such an interesting read is that Liam Logan has focused this book on exchanges and words that many of us use on a daily basis, sometimes without even being aware of their Ulster-Scots significance. The Ulster-Scots Academy – Ministerial Advisory Group is delighted to have part-funded this book which provides the reader with a light hearted and enjoyable insight into the everyday terminology that we all share. “The Ulster-Scots Academy Group will be considering how it can be used as part of our Ulster-Scots Education Project in both mainstream education and lifelong learning.” The book’s author Liam Logan said that he hoped the book would be a useful source of reference and learning for students of Ulster Scots. He said: “I am pleased that much of the material for the book began life as a series of columns in the Belfast News Letter’s Ulster-Scots supplement for which I was responsible. While many Ulster Scots words are incorporated into everyday urban speech, there is a rich linguistic tradition associated with rural life that lives on in the minds of so many people.  “Through the funding the Ulster-Scots Academy Group has provided, I have been able to undertake a pilot exercise of free distribution of the book to various schools around the north of Ireland, in the hope that young people will get to experience and learn from their shared linguistic heritage.” DCAL Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said she believed the book would make a useful contribution to Ulster-Scots, through wider understanding and enhanced learning opportunities.