A Bearna fae the Leid: Bridging the Linguistic Gap

In Irish, Barnish means a gap—a place you can travel along. When a local family collated their unique vocabulary into a small book thirty years ago, they unknowingly created a bearna for the Ulster Scots Leid. Exploring the link between land, language, and the "seismic" impact of seeing one's mother tongue in print, this article reflects on how a niche publication became a vital act of cultural preservation.

Owning the Words We Speak: Language as a Bridge, Not a Barrier

So what does a win look like?  I don’t mean a fantasy win — six numbers on the lottery or a huge inheritance from an unknown relation.  So again — what does a win look like in the context of language?  A win is an improved understanding and acceptance of language, accompanied by a sympathetic … Continue reading Owning the Words We Speak: Language as a Bridge, Not a Barrier

A Shared Urgency: What Manchán Magan Taught Me About Preserving Ulster Scots

A while back I came across Manchán Magan — but I’d no idea who he was.   I’d no notion about his books, RTÉ documentaries, lectures, environmentalism or public speaking — it was just the odd short video clip here and there on social media — but he seemed like a pretty nice fella. But … Continue reading A Shared Urgency: What Manchán Magan Taught Me About Preserving Ulster Scots