Belfast City Hall Celebrates Ulster-Scots Culture with Local Primary Schools

Belfast City Hall was alive with the sound of drumming, dancing, and poetry recently as primary school children gathered to celebrate Ulster-Scots Leid Week 2025. This special event offered a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore and understand the vibrant heritage and culture of the Ulster-Scots tradition.

Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly joined the excited pupils as they took part in a series of engaging workshops. Children learned 'a wheen o wurds' during poetry sessions led by William Olphert, Director of Education and Language at the Ulster-Scots Agency. The drumming workshops were a huge hit, delivered by music teacher Brendan Megoran, who brings over 40 years of band experience, and Drum Major Charlotte Ruddick, a World Champion from 2024 at just 20 years old! Pupils also got to try their hand at 'how tae highland dance' with teacher Demi Walker, mastering some toe and heel steps.

Lord Mayor Kelly expressed her delight, stating, "It was wonderful to join local schools in City Hall to celebrate Ulster-Scotch Leid Week. This week brings a packed programme across Northern Ireland, shining a spotlight on the Ulster-Scots language and culture. Events like this give schoolchildren a brilliant chance to learn Ulster-Scotts poetry, dancing, and drumming." She added that Belfast has a strong connection to Scots' heritage, and the council is dedicated to fostering linguistic diversity and supporting this unique language within communities.

Ian Crozier, CEO of the Ulster-Scots Agency, highlighted the widespread activities across Ulster for Leid Week 2025. "We're particularly pleased to host an event within Belfast's City Hall, given the significant role Ulster-Scots played in the development of our city," he remarked. Mr. Crozier also noted that Ulster-Scots Language Week, held in the last week of November each year, is the perfect time to discover how much the language shapes our everyday speech.

For those interested in learning more about Ulster-Scotch Leid Week and the Ulster-Scots tradition, you can visit the Ulster Scots Agency website.