Ulster-Scots Agency facts for kids
The Ulster-Scots Agency (also known as Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch) is a special group that works across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Its main goal is to help people learn about and use Ulster-Scots, which is a type of Scots language spoken in parts of Ireland. The agency also wants to share the rich culture and history of the Ulster-Scots people.
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What the Agency Aims To Do
The agency's main job is to make more people aware of and use "Ullans" and Ulster-Scots culture. "Ullans" is another name for the Ulster-Scots language. This work happens in both Northern Ireland and all over the island of Ireland.
The term "Ullans" means the way the Scots language is spoken in parts of Northern Ireland and County Donegal. "Ulster-Scots cultural issues" are about the traditions of people in Northern Ireland and border areas who have Scottish family roots. It also looks at how their traditions have influenced others in Ireland and around the world.
How the Agency is Set Up
The Ulster-Scots Agency is part of a bigger group called The North/South Language Body. This body was created after the Belfast Agreement in 1998. The agency works alongside Foras na Gaeilge, which promotes the Irish language. Sometimes, these two groups even work together on events, like farming shows.
The agency's main office is in Belfast, in a building called the Corn Exchange. They also have another office in Raphoe, which is in County Donegal. Donegal is one of the three counties of the historical province of Ulster that are in the Republic of Ireland.
Who Runs the Agency
An eight-person board manages the agency. These people are chosen by the North/South Ministerial Council.
The People Who Work There
The agency has a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) who leads the team and handles daily tasks. Under the CEO, there are directors for different areas like education, language, community work, and business services. The agency has a small team, with about 16 staff members reported in 2015.
Where the Money Comes From
The agency gets its money from two governments. One part comes from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. The other part comes from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in the Republic of Ireland.
What Projects the Agency Does
The agency runs some projects itself, but it also gives money to other groups. These groups are often charities or community organizations. They use the money for language events, music, and dance. The agency supports both large events like festivals and summer schools, and smaller local projects.
Visiting schools and attending fairs are also big parts of their work.
Some projects they have done include:
- Recording native Ulster-Scots speakers.
- Creating a dictionary that translates between Ulster-Scots and English.
- Building a collection of written Ulster-Scots texts.
- Offering a service to translate documents into Ulster-Scots.
Visit the Discovery Centre
The agency has a special place called the Ulster-Scots Discovery Centre. It's in the same building as their main office in Belfast but has its own entrance. The centre has exhibits about the Ulster-Scots language and its history. It also has space for groups to come and learn more.
Groups the Agency Helps
The agency provides funding to several important groups. These include the Ulster-Scots Language Society, the Ullans Speakers Association, and the Ulster-Scots Community Network. These groups all work to promote Ulster-Scots language and culture.
Books and Websites
The agency publishes a newsletter called The Ulster-Scot several times a year. It's mostly in English but includes some Ulster-Scots words. This newsletter is given out as a part of the Belfast News Letter newspaper, and you can also get it for free if you ask. They also send out an e-bulletin online. The agency plans to create more publications in the future.
Online Resources
Besides its main website, the agency runs other websites. These sites cover topics like the Plantation of Ulster, Ulster-Scots settlements in the United States, and Rathlin Island.
See also
- Ulster Scots
- Languages in the United Kingdom
- List of language regulators
