Submission to the Ulster-Scots Advisory Panel Consultation part 2: forum for people from the different areas of Ulster-Scots to meet and understand each other better

2. Mature discussion among the different areas of Ulster-Scots.

Page 20: Vision Statement child of 2022, adult of 2042. 

For better or for worse this Ulster-Scots child will most likely be living in a united Ireland. 

‘Ulster-Scots’ is a catch all collective term, for a clutch of areas, summed up in the report as ‘Language, culture and heritage’ involving an ill-defined and diverse group of people, whose interests, subject area and needs vary greatly. 

Language/leid speakers are drawn from across the entire community and sectarian divide, both in terms of so-called native speakers; people who pursue a literary interest and the new social media fraternities. 

People with a subject area interest are the same, with a whole tapestry of historical narrative slants in the mix – diaspora, ancient history, academic research and much more, drawn from quite a diverse spectrum of interested individuals.  

The (de-facto) Loyal Orders area of Ulster-Scots are covered from P34 ‘Community and Cultural Life’. 

A pie chart reveals: Covid funds: Bands 42%, Orange Halls 28%, Community Groups 28%.

Undoubtedly an FOI request would confirm that ‘Band sector’ could accurately read ‘Loyalist band sector,’ though I fully accept that pipe bands are not quite the same.  

Orange Halls speaks for itself with community groups likely from the PUL community too.

In  ‘Potential for Further Growth’ on page 36. Presbyterianism is rightly cited as ‘a key element’ of Ulster-Scots, though the development of new denominations is also noted.

The word ‘Protestant’ isn’t mentioned. 

The ‘bogeyman’ as one prominent Ulster-Scot told me recently.  

It shouldn’t be. 

To say that that the Protestant religious and political collective footprint in Ulster these past 400 years has nothing to do with Ulster-Scots is nonsense.  

It is far more than the Loyal Orders.

Much historical work by the Ulster-Scots Agency is predicated on this, yet it can’t be stated?  

There is an unquestioned link between Ulster Protestant and certain areas of Ulster-Scots, not all, but certain.  

Yet the idea is not well understood and is commonly trashed. 

The delegitimising of one legitimate form of Ulster-Scots by those of another is obviously counterproductive.

The report has just touched upon, and in some ways brushed over this potentially highly contentious subject.  

People from the different areas of ‘Ulster-Scots’ need to have a mature conversation with each other to resolve and tease out these tensions.   

To come to an improved understanding with each other; not to create or impose a false sense of oneness, but to improve understanding and respect of variety.  

Without this discussion Ulster-Scots runs the risk of never developing philosophically.

To that end I would like to see a recommendation added, that the Ulster-Scots Agency and/or Ulster-Scots Community Network and other relevant bodies organise discussions, events, to facilitate and encourage improved dialogue and better understanding. 

This should include a reform of the Ulster-Scots Agency to better reflect diversity.