Editorial

Each year brings momentous advances for the Ulster-Scots Language movement, and the past year was no exception. On Good Friday 1998, the “Agreement” provided official recognition by both governments and all parties of the Ulster-Scots and the Irish Languages. All participants recognised formally “the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity” with the Irish Language and Ulster-Scots being the only languages specifically identified. The equality and cultural rights agenda which also forms part of the Agreement should ensure that Ulster-Scots and Irish Gaelic are both treated equally in the context of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This follows on the recognition previously given by the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages to both Irish Gaelic and Ulster-Scots. We can look forward to significant advances in the status, promotion and funding of Ulster-Scots (particularly in education) in the immediate future.

With education in mind, a meeting was held between representatives of the Ulster-Scots Language Society and the Minister for Education, Mr Tony Worthington, attended by senior civil servants during the actual final days of the Stormont talks. This meeting was abandoned, to be re-convened at a future date, when it became apparent that the Minister had not received background papers from the society, which had been delivered to civil servants beforehand. This may prove fortuitous, as we were then unaware that the Ulster-Scots issue was being simultaneously negotiated by politicians and the two governments in the Stormont talks themselves. It should be acknowledged that the recognition of Ulster-Scots as “part of the cultural wealth of the island of Ireland” should also provide a boost for the Ulster-Scots speaking community in East Donegal, in the Republic.

Another significant event during the year was the launch of Dr Philip Robinson’s Ulster-Scots: A Grammar of the Traditional Written and Spoken Language on 2 December 1997. Philip’s publication has been hailed as a “scholarly triumph”, not just at home but also in Scotland. The international significance of the publication of the first Ulster-Scots grammar book was signalled by the participation at the book launch of the late Professor A J Aitken (see Obituary) and Professor Michael Montgomery, South Carolina. The Chairman of our society, Dr Ian Adamson, was the third speaker at the launch. Our best wishes also go to our Chairman Ian and his new wife Kerry following their wedding on 15 April. A momentous year indeed!