Leid Week

This last week has been Leid Week - Ulster Scots language Week. This year there have been a variety of events on offer both in person across the province and online. In fact there were so many events happening that sometimes I had to make a difficult decision as to which one to attend. This year I had planned to take part in a couple of events. The first, organised by Alan Millar, took place in Belfast's Linenhall library.

'Ayont the Hamely Tongue' brought together a group of Ulster Scots writers sharing their work. The rest of the group had taken part in a reading in Belfast during the summer. I hadn't been able to join them as it coincided with my writing group's writing retreat, so it was lovely to be invited to take part in this event.

Angeline King, Robert Campbell, Anne McMaster, Alan Millar and I each shared some of our work with a welcoming, supportive audience. Unfortunately, one of the group Ronnie McIhatton wasn't able to join us. Thanks to Patsy Horton and her team for making us all feel so welcome. You can watch the event here:  https://youtu.be/33S6rbIXFPw?si

The following evening I attended the launch of 'Yarns' in Ballymena. This third anthology produced by the Ulster Scots Community Network includes work from a range of writers.  It was lovely to meet some of them at the Mayor's parlour as we chatted over tea and traybakes.  It was also lovely to reconnect with some people I hadn't seen for a very long time, including one of my university lecturers.

I was delighted to have a poem 'Bak Then' included in the anthology and enjoyed hearing some of the writers sharing their work. I'm looking forward to reading the anthology. 

The next day I was back at the Linenhall for the Ulster Scots writing competition Awards ceremony. It was great to hear that this year even more entries had been received, leading to the judges highly commending a number of entries. Congratulations to Jen Herron runner up in the poetry category and William Dickey runner up in the prose category. When Alan Millar and I had taken part in readings on the Linenhall stage a couple of days previously we didn't know we'd both be back on the same stage so soon reading from our work. Congratulations to Alan who won the poetry category with 'Rabin'. I was delighted to hear I'd won the prose category with my story 'Sweet Eneuch Wioot Shuggar'.

I wrote this story during my writing group's writing retreat (when some of my fellow Ulster Scots writers were taking part in a poetry reading). This success certainly confirms for me the importance of having space and time to write. You can watch the awards event here: https://youtu.be/66vPJXpWVsE?si=dm_tml3CLSx77Ddb

From the number of events that took place during Leid Week and the interest they generated it is evident that Ulster Scots writing is experiencing a new golden age. It is very exciting to be part of this Ulster Scots writing renaissance.

Recharging at Coney

Our writing group were back down at Coney Island yesterday. It seems like ages since we've been there and a long time since we've had a good catch up. Despite all the heavy rainfall there's been in the area in the last few weeks, our journey there was very pleasant and it almost felt like a summer's day when we arrived to the sound of the tide lapping, the sun shining and brave souls taking a dip. By the time we were leaving the tide had gone out.

We spent a very pleasant morning catching up on news, drinking coffee and eating home made shortbread and apple and cinnamon muffins. Sitting on comfortable sofas in the morning sunshine with stunning sea views, we made some forward plans.

We did do some writing exercises, really stretching the grey matter. But yesterday it seemed more important to listen to what everyone else has been doing, the challenges we face and how we might manage them. Sometimes it's good to have time to talk and recharge our batteries. We're very lucky in our writing group to have people who are there to listen to us.