Everything about The Ulster-scots Agency totally explained
The
Ulster-Scots Agency (in its own
Ulster Scots,
Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch) is a cross-border body set up in
Ireland to promote the
Ulster dialect of
Scots and its attendant culture.
Overview
Along with
Foras na Gaeilge, the agency set up to promote the
Irish language, it's part of
The North/South Language Body established as a result of the
Belfast Agreement of 1998.
Its remit is "the promotion of greater awareness and the use of Ullans and of
Ulster-Scots cultural issues, both within
Northern Ireland and throughout the island". "Ullans" and "Ulster-Scots cultural issues" are defined in inter-governmental agreement and enshrined in legislation as follows: ""Ullans" is to be understood as the variety of the Scots language traditionally found in parts of Northern Ireland and Donegal. "Ulster-Scots cultural issues" relate to the cultural traditions of the part of the population of Northern Ireland and the border counties which is of Scottish ancestry and the influence of their cultural traditions on others, both within the island of Ireland and in the rest of the world."
The
mission statement that it has adopted is as follows:
» "The aim of the Ulster-Scots Agency is to promote the study, conservation, development and use of Ulster-Scots as a living language; to encourage and develop the full range of its attendant culture; and to promote a wider awareness and understanding of the history of the Ulster-Scots."
It is jointly funded by the
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland and the
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the
Republic of Ireland.
The Agency's head office is in
Belfast, but a second office in
Raphoe in east
County Donegal is planned.
As of 2005, projects being undertaken or planned include: a tape-recorded survey of native speakers, the compilation of a two-way Ulster Scots/English dictionary, a text base of written Ulster Scots, an expert translation service.
Newspaper
The agency publishes an English language newsletter, albeit with some token Scots, several times a year entitled "
The Ulster-Scot" as a supplement to the
Belfast News Letter, and also available on request free of charge anywhere in the world. "The Ulster-Scot" has occasioned some controversy. The writer and broadcaster
Malachi O'Doherty reported in the
Belfast Telegraph on 2 December 2002:
"I have just received a copy of their paper, The Ulster Scot. I showed it to a republican minded friend and was intrigued by his reaction. "Isn't it great," he said.
What he liked about it's that it makes Ulster Protestants look stupid. It depicts them as chauvinistic and naive."
However, it's also true that the newspaper is enjoyed by many people.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ulster-scots Agency'.
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