Celebrating my roots

On this St Andrew's day, it's good to reflect on some memorable moments during this year's Leid week that's just taken place. It was good to see an increase in the number of events - the downside was that I couldn't get to all events due to diary clashes. Still, some were accessible online, with recordings - in particular I enjoyed listening to Anne McMaster's beautiful poem remembering her old primary school.

On Tuesday evening I took part in the launch of the Ulster Scots anthology Yarns5 in Ballyclare town hall.

I'm honoured to have had two poems and a short story selected for this lovely anthology. At the event I read my poem 'Nestin Blakburds'. It was a lovely evening celebrating Ulster Scots culture with highland dancers and a piper (I felt very at home with the tartan stair carpet!)

Highlights from the launch were on BBC Radio Ulster's Kintra programme this evening, along with an interview with the current makar, recorded at the Fragments of Scotch poetry jukebox launch in Belfast last month.

You can hear me reading my poem 'Grannie's Wundaes' on BBC Sounds for the next few weeks. And here's a view I will never tire of, from Grannie's Wundaes. There couldn't have been a lovelier way to celebrate my roots on St Andrew's day.