Ulster-Scots Community Network

Do you want to come work for us? We're recruiting for a new Director and full details of the role are available now using the link below. It's a great place to work with a brave guid wheen o fowk. Closing date is 30th August.

https://ow.ly/SK8F50SQeGR

Gordon Chesney Wilson, the Ulster-Scots British Army Officer who once saved Queen Victoria from assassination and would become Winston Churchill's uncle by marriage, was born on August 3rd 1865.

Wilson was the son of Sir Samuel Wilson of Ballycloughan, County Antrim, who despite not coming from wealth (as he was a miner), would go on to become a pastoralist and one of the largest landowners in Australia.

On 2 March 1882, Gordon Wilson was present with another schoolboy at Windsor railway station when Roderick Maclean attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria; the two boys attacked Maclean with their umbrellas and assisted in detaining him.

Wilson joined the military after school, being promoted to lieutenant in 1888. Soon after, he met Lady Sarah Spencer-Churchill, daughter of the 7th Duke of Marlborough. Despite their different stations in life, they quickly got married.

Wilson continued in the army after his marriage, and saw action in the Boer War, where he was appointed aide-de-camp to then-colonel Robert Baden-Powell.

On 28 May 1901 he was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Fourth Class by Queen Victoria, whose life he had saved earlier. During the war he was twice mentioned in dispatches, and received the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps.

Wilson was promoted several times during the interwar period, ending up as lieutenant-colonel. He befriended his nephew-by-marriage Winston Churchill, and undertook a trip across Africa with him in 1907/8. They stayed with the Bantu King in Uganda and regularly hunted together.

At the beginning of the Great War, Wilson and the Royal Horse Guards were sent to the Western Front. On 6 November the Prussian Guards broke through the line in front of the brigade at Kleine Zillebeke, and Wilson's brigade was sent forward to stem the attack.

Despite pushing back the Prussians successfully, Wilson was killed during the endeavour. Wilson was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal, having also been created a member of the French Legion of Honour.

Introduction to Ulster-Scots Level 1 OCN NI Multi-purpose facility catering for a range of arts, drama, music events and activities. Details of upcoming shows, booking information and galleries of previous events.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Rensh
▪ Rinse

"Those cleas need tae be renshed oot."

Herman Melville, the celebrated author who wrote Moby Dick, was born on this day in 1819 in New York City. Did you know that he has a very interesting Ulster-Scots ancestor?

Herman Melville is the direct descendent of Sir John Melville from Fife, Scotland, where the family had lived since at least the 13th Century. A man of means, Sir John was knighted by James VI of Scotland before he also became James I of England.

Interestingly, however, Sir John would be forced to leave Scotland as a rebel when he begun building a mill on land owned by the King without his permission. He fled to Ulster in the early 1600s and had a gravestone at Inch Abbey, County Down.

Herman Melville is not the only interesting descendent of Sir John! Herman's paternal grandfather Thomas Melville was an American Patriot who took part in the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolutionary War.

The remaining Melville family members in Scotland were eventually given an earldom, created for George Melville in 1690 by King William III of Orange who was one of the future King's chief Scots supporters.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Gutties
▪ Plimsoles

"Tha wean needs gutties fer PE."

We were delighted to be able to take part in a celebration event for those who had recently completed USCN's OCN endorsed Level 1 and Level 2 Ulster-Scots courses last week in Parliament Buildings in Belfast. It's important to celebrate successes and the group enjoyed the opportunity to get up to see Stormont, take part in the tour and hear about how the Northern Ireland Assembly works as part of the evening. Well done to all who received their certificates and thanks to Councillor Callum Bowsie for arranging the presentation and to Michelle McIlveen MLA -Strangford Constituency Office for hosting it. Thanks too, to Derryboy Primary School for hosting the Level 2 course earlier this year.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Coalie
▪ Collie

"Thon Coalie doag would nip ye!"

Ulster-Scots Course Certificates

It was great to bring all participants of the recent Ulster-Scots Courses up to Stormont this evening to receive their certificates from the Ulster-Scots Community Network.

Thank you to USCN for delivering the level 2 course and their kind gift to me this evening as course organiser.

Thank you to Derryboy Primary School for hosting this year's course and to Michelle McIlveen MLA for hosting the tour and presentation this evening.

More photos to follow in the next few days.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Dotter
▪ Stagger

"He's taen eneuch drink - he's stairtin tae dotter."

Just a wee reminder tae aa tha scrievers oot there.

✍️ 𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝟰: 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 ✍️

Over the last few years, the Ulster-Scots Community Network has been keen to promote new writing in Ulster-Scots and Scots. They have since published three editions of their journal Yarns and are aiming to produce Nummer 4 this year to have it ready for publication and launch as part of Ulster-Scots Leid Week in November.

So if you're a writer, writing either poetry or prose in Ulster-Scots or Scots, then this might be just what you're looking for.

The journal is open to receiving submissions from writers new and old, previously published or first-time writers, to encourage a broader engagement with Ulster-Scots writing and themes. Submissions should be in Ulster-Scots or Scots.

The closing date for submissions is 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.
Submissions can be emailed to 𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀@𝘂𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺.

All entrants will receive a complimentary copy of the printed journal.

For further details, including submission guidelines, please follow the Ulster-Scots Community Network on Facebook.

Henry Knox, the American politician for whom Fort Knox was named, was born on this day in 1750 to William and Mary Knox, Ulster-Scots immigrants who emigrated from Londonderry in 1729.

Knox became a Founding Father of the United States, distinguishing himself as a senior General of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and being appointed as the nation's first Secretary of War in George Washington's government.

Towns, cities and counties in at least 10 states across the United States are named after him in honour of his achievements, as is Fort Knox in Kentucky where a large portion of US gold reserves are held.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Cleg
▪ Horsefly

"Thon cleg bit me an left a quare welt on my airm."

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Whin
▪ Gorse

Ulysses Grant, the United States President who had strong links to Ulster, passed away on this day in 1885.

Grant's great-grandfather, John Simpson, hailed from Dergenagh, near Ballgawley in County Tyrone, where the family had farmed for generations, and left for Pennsylvania around 1760. This ancestral farm has been preserved to the present day and is a popular tourist attraction.

In January 1879, former US President Ulysses S Grant visited Ulster, which he described to his wife as "coming home" at the end of a long European tour.

After leaving Dublin on January 6th, Grant had brief stops in Strabane and Omagh before visiting Londonderry, a city "whose history is so well-known throughout America" as he told the Belfast Newsletter at the time. While there, Grant attended a conference on the Ulster-American connection, and participated in a tour of the city's famous Walls.

The following day, on January 7th, Grant left for Belfast, stopping first in Coleraine where he was met by some men who had served under him during the American Civil War.

Arriving in Belfast that afternoon, Grant saw that the linen mills near the train depot had paused to allow their workers to see the former President, and they had turned out in their thousands in the rain awaiting his train.

In Belfast, Grant went on a tour of the famous White Star shipyards, met more of his former soldiers (and one of his former rebel prisoners) and gave another speech on the Ulster-American connection, speaking fondly of those from Belfast who had helped build America.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ A’
▪ All

"A' done an dusted."

On 21st July 1796, the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns died in Dumfries. Did you know that the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre, where our offices are, hosted a huge Burns event in 1859?

1859 was the centenary of the birth of Robert Burns, and many celebrations were held across Scotland and Ireland. In Belfast, there was a large event held at the Music Hall with around 350 people taking part in the commemoration. Guest of honour at this event was Robert Burns's granddaughter Mrs Elizabeth Everett, who had settled in Belfast.

The event at the Corn Exchange, where the Ulster-Scots Centre is now, was larger, with around 400 people in attendance, and catered more for the working classes. Many speakers were present, largely composed of prominent clergymen, and the Oldpark Band played a selection of Burns airs throughout the evening.

Burns was very impactful on Ulster, and his poetry was widely celebrated here. When the first edition of Burns poems, known as the Kilmarnock edition, was published in July 1786, extracts were printed in the Belfast News Letter. It was the first paper in Ireland and probably the first in the British Isles to do so.

If you're around Belfast, why not call into our historic building and take a look at our Burns exhibition, along with the wider Ulster-Scots visitor experience! The Discover Ulster-Scots Centre is located in the Corn Exchange Building, 1-9 Victoria Street Belfast, and is open weekdays between 10-4.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Kist
▪ Chest

"I hae a wile sairness in my kist."

55 years ago, on 20th July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. But did you know that his ancestors were Ulster-Scots?

Armstrong is a Border Reiver name which comes from the west side of the land mostly between Carlisle and Dumfries. The reivers were raiders who targeted farms along the entire border country, regardless of their victims' nationality.

The Armstrongs came to Fermanagh in the early 17th century during the Plantation of Ulster. Many of that surname still live there today.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Rodden
▪ An unsurfaced lane

"A'm gan doon the rodden a danner."

We delivered a talk on Ulster-Scots and the American connection for a group of people from the United States & Canada who are on a Belfast tour with Rick Steves' Europe, including a musical demonstration!

These talks run for these tour groups twice a week until October!

If you are part of a group and would like a free talk about what Ulster-Scots is, we offer these by appointment in our Discover Ulster-Scots Centre in Belfast. If you’re interested, just get in touch with us! And of course, the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre is open for walk-in visits every weekday from 10-4.

We can't wait to see you!

📢 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗢𝗢𝗡: 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 & 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧 📢

A reminder that the Ulster-Scots Agency’s Music & Dance Tuition Grant will close to applications on 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟮 𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻.

The programme for voluntary and community organisations supports music and dance tuition from 1 September 2024 to 31 May 2025. Please note: There are 𝗧𝗪𝗢 separate applications for funding this year – one for Dance Tuition and one for Music Tuition.

For further details or to apply: https://ow.ly/pUWs50SsBYW

Thinking about doing your OCN-accredited Introduction to Ulster-Scots? Now you can!

Find out more here:

Introduction to Ulster-Scots Level 1 OCN NI Multi-purpose facility catering for a range of arts, drama, music events and activities. Details of upcoming shows, booking information and galleries of previous events.

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Drib
▪ A small amount (e.g. liquid)

"There's onlie a wee drib left ower."

The The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch are pleased to announce the launch of the 71st Ulster Pipe Band & Drum Major Championships.

This event will be held in the fantastic grounds of Cookstown High School, a few minutes from the town centre and will take place on Saturday 03 August from 10am.

More information can be found here: https://rspbani.org/event/ulster-championships-2024/

EPISODE 5 is out today on FUSE FM Ballymoney at noon and Spotify later this evening. In this Episode Alvin Nicholl chats about his time playing with Eden Accordion Band and Craiganee Accordion band, as well as his work at Agivey Bacon Factory.

You can listen on fUSe FM in the Ballymoney area on FM 107.5, online and via the TuneIn app, or subscribe on Spotify. Just search for Thran or click the link below.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3Y3QJ0O2nNUy0rtWfuymG2?si=b5f60662d9974422

Northern Ireland Screen
Ulster-Scots Community Network
Ulster-Scots Agency
Ulster Scots of Colorado
Discover Ulster-Scots

✨ ULSTER-SCOTS WORD OF THE DAY ✨

▪️ Fuffle
▪ Dishevel / Ruffle

"Gie them pillows a wee fuffle tae soart them."

Samuel McBride, the Ulster-Scots two-time Mayor of Toronto, was born on July 13th, 1866.

McBride grew up in Toronto, his grandfather emigrating from County Antrim, and was schooled only until the age of eleven. He began delivering the Leader newspaper, and then tried his hand at carriage painting. This was followed by a short stint in the composing room of The Morning World newspaper.

McBride got a job after this delivering lumber by horse and wagon; the awful road conditions which he had to journey every day convinced him to run for elected office in an attempt to fix them. He became a ward alderman from 1905-1916 (aside from 1909), and was a city controller for several years.

His lifelong relationship with horse and carriage led him to cultivate a deep interest in harness racing, and was a founding member of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society. He even raced on numerous occasions, setting a world record for the time at a track on ice at Plattsburgh, New York.

Between 1928-29, and again in 1936, McBride was Mayor of the city of Toronto; he passed away while in office, the first mayor of the city to do so. Throughout his life he was a passionate Orangeman. He is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.

McBride is not the only Ulster-Scots Mayor of Toronto! Warring Kennedy, born in County Down, became Mayor in the 1890s!