Ulster-Scots Agency

The Ulster-Scots Agency (Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch)[1] is a cross-border body in Ireland which seeks to "promote the study, conservation and development of Ulster-Scots as a living language; to encourage and develop the full range of its attendant culture; and to promote an understanding of the history of the Ulster-Scots [people]."[2]

Overview

The agency is part of The North/South Language Body, established as a result of the Belfast Agreement of 1998. Its counterpart is Foras na Gaeilge, which was set up to promote the Irish language.

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[3] 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."

It is jointly funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (tha Männystrie o Fowkgates, Airts an Aisedom in Ulster-Scots)[4] in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the Republic of Ireland.

The Agency's has a head office in Belfast, and a regional office in Raphoe in east County Donegal, one of the three counties of the historical province of Ulster in the Republic of Ireland.[5]

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 and an expert translation service.

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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.

The publication was also made available free of charge upon request.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tha Boord of Ulstèr-Scotch is the name used by the Agency, although other variants – such as tha Ulstèr-Scotch Agentrie and the Ulster-Scots Agentrie – are also in use.
  2. ↑ Ulster-Scots Language Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/99085903.htm The North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (Schedule 1)
  4. ↑ Home | DCAL Internet Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
  5. ↑ Contact Us, Ulster-Scots Agency, retrieved 6 May 2010

External links

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