Council to review approach to Ulster-Scots

Council to review approach to Ulster-Scots

24 April 2024

ULSTER-Scots could join the Irish language across all Newry, Mourne and Down Council corporate branding.

The news comes after the local authority agreed to review its approach to Ulster-Scots after an official approach from Northern Ireland’s Ulster-Scots Community Network (USCN).

The independent umbrella organisation contacted the local authority’s chief executive at the start of the year outlining a range of internationally recognised rights which were currently not being upheld by the council in relation to Ulster-Scots.

The issue was subsequently discussed by the local authority’s Equality and Good Relations Reference Group and the requested review was approved at the influential Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee.

Three weeks ago, the need for an all-embracing review was approved by the full council at its monthly meeting.

The USCN – formed in 1995 – wrote to the council’s chief executive, Mrs Marie Ward, pointing out there is currently no council policy or strategy for Ulster-Scots or dedicated resources.

In addition, the letter urged the local authority to review its approach to Ulster-Scots, the people, the culture, and the language, in the context of international law.

Welcoming the review, Rowallane councillor Callum Bowsie, said the local authority had acknowledged the need to examine how its policy and strategy accommodates the Ulster-Scots tradition. 

He said the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, among other domestic legalisation, clearly stated the responsibilities statutory bodies have in promoting and protecting minorities.

Cllr Bowsie has been in dialogue with council officers on relevant policy for almost a year and while he welcomed the review, he said it should not take external bodies to remind the organisation of its legal obligations “which means they aren’t optional”.

But he said a formal review was better late than never.

“No one expects the council to fulfil these obligations overnight,” he continued.

“The council’s already adopted principle of ‘progressive realisation’ on rights-based policy is a reasonable one.

“But, when two minority identities have equal status in law, and one sees rapid progress while the other sees no progress, then this is clearly unfair and needs to be redressed,” he argued.

Cllr Bowsie said such progress should never be at the expense of other traditions.

“We simply ask for equality when it comes to the cultural and linguistic rights of all indigenous minorities,” he said.

He continued: “We don’t make these requests because Ulster-Scots is the DUP’s identity but, rather, because it is the identity of Newry, Mourne and Down and has been for hundreds of years.

“We want our district to be one that is proud of its rich and diverse cultural heritage and this emphatically includes Ulster-Scots. We want to see its inclusion reflected fairly in the council’s grants programme, events calendar, tourism strategy, and corporate branding.”

Cllr Bowsie the local authority’s name leads with Newry, a city he explained that is the product of Ulster-Scots settlers. 

“But where is this major historical reality found in any council branding or tourism?” he asked.

“Likewise, the historic cultural and linguistic diversity of the district is reflected in Downpatrick with English Street, Irish Street and Scotch Street.”

He added: “Regardless of our politics, there is no escaping the profound impact Ulster-Scots has had on all of us in this district, our villages, our markets, our institutions, our language, and even our character traits and humour.”