A Tribute tae Will McAvoy o Greba

Tha Twa Chairlies

Among the members of the Ulster-Scots Language Society right from the start have been two very special twosomes. These are the ‘Twa Chairlies’ (Charlie Reynolds and Charlie Gillen from North Antrim) and the ‘Twa Wills’ (Will McAvoy and Willie Cromie from County Down). All four are native speakers willing not only to write in Ulster-Scots, but also to be recorded speaking in their ain tongue. They all have even been known to appear on stage at some of our ‘Scotch Nichts’. Without their work, the Ulster-Scots Language Society would not be where it is today.

Will McAvoy (or Wull Muckleboy) was one of the founding committee members of the Ulster-Scots Language Society, and has published several features in Ullans. However, he is best known for his tapes: ‘Hairts o Greba’, ‘Ye cannae tak Greba oot o the man’, and ‘Mair memories o Strangford Lough’. These were the first official sound tapes produced by the Language Society, and each tape has had to be re-printed at least once. Will’s tapes are widely acclaimed because of their humour, their insight into a bygone way of life in an Ulster-Scots community, and, of course, the natural punch of Will’s own Ulster-Scots tongue. The first tape, ‘Hairts o Greba’, caused a minor local sensation when it came out in Greyabbey — before many people had ever heard of Ulster-Scots.

Will McAvoy celebrated his 80th birthday on 30 May 2003, and with his permission we are delighted to publish here two poetic epistles that he received on that occasion from Charlie Reynolds and Charlie Gillen.