WIN...A FAMILY PASS TO Ulster-Scots Agency (Boord o Ulstér-Scotch) official publication SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18 2017 TITANIC BELFAST Stone Mountain Highland Games provide tourism boost ULSTER-SCOTS AGENCY TRAVEL TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA IN JOINT VENTURE TO HIGHLIGHT NORTHERN IRISH TOURISM POTENTIAL SEE PAGE 3 MORE ALL-IRELAND GLORY FOR FIELD SCHOMBERG SOCIETY IN MAIDEN ULSTER-SCOTS IN TUNE DURING MARSHAL MONTGOMERY BOOK LAUNCH CULTURE NIGHT PAGE 4 PAGE 7 PAGE 11 2 www.ulsterscotsagency.com SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18 2017 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18 2017 Fair faa ye Belfast’s Lord Mayor visits the Welcome to the November Discover Ulster-Scots Centre 2017 edition of the Ulster-Scot. he Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Nuala McAllister Winter is now well and T visited the Discover truly upon us and thoughts Ulster-Scots Centre recently. are beginning to turn to St The visit featured a tour of the Andrew’s Day and further current exhibition which includes on to Burns Night for 2018. panels covering ten major The annual St Andrew’s Day Ulster-Scots stories, starting Festival will be taking place with the arrival of Edward Bruce at Carrickfergus Castle on in 1315, a timeline showing how Saturday December 2 from 11am – 3pm. More about this on events in Ulster link with Scot- land and the rest of the world, a Page 9. language and free literature area, The Ulster-Scots Agency would like to congratulation Interactive Touchscreens, display Schomberg Society on the publication of their first publication cases featuring rare artefacts and Tha Kingdom O’ Mourne, An Ulster-Scots Hairtland which was publications and a gift shop launched by Arlene Foster earlier this month. Find out more offering books, CDs and tartan about this on Page 7. wares. are just 13 miles apart, the story In 1859 the Corn Exchange hosted The Ulster Scots Agency Juvenile Pipe Band have had a very The Mayor was visiting a number of the close connections can be a major Robert Burns centenary successful year during 2017, read our latest spotlight profile on of cultural and tourist locations in hard to find in most museums. event which was attended by Page 13. the city throughout the day and a Here at the Discover Ulster-Scots Burns’ descendants who lived in Also in this edition, you can read more about the recent video was being recorded in light Centre you can discover thou- the city. Why not drop in next time of the bid submission for European unveiling of a blue plaque for VC recipient Robert Hill Hanna sands of years of history, from the you’re in Cathedral Quarter? Our Capital of Culture 2023. formation of the Giant’s Causeway friendly and expert staff will answer in Kilkeel. You can read more about the launch on Page 12. Discover Ulster-Scots cente (which links County Antrim with the any questions you have and will operations manager David Gilliland Western Isles of Scotland) right up give you advice on other places As always we welcome your feedback and hope that everyone said: “We were delighted to wel- to the present day.” to visit. The Centre also hosts a finds something of interest in this edition. come the Mayor to the Centre and The Centre is located within the range of events during the year, to support the filming for the Bid. historic Belfast Corn Exchange so keep an eye on our events pro- Ian Crozier is Chief Executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency Even though Ulster and Scotland building which dates from 1852. gramme to see what’s on next. Extra funding secured for border counties’ groups The Ulster-Scot Additional funding secured by musical items such as drum pads, The official newspaper for the Ulster-Scots Agency / the Ulster-Scots Agency from sticks and practice chanters, but Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch the Department of Arts, Heritage this financial support can make and the Gaeltacht in Dublin has such a difference to a small local been awarded to 19 community school, and offer them the ability Main office: and voluntary groups and schools to promote Ulster-Scots musical The Ulster-Scots Agency, in counties Donegal, Cavan and traditions within their school. The Corn Exchange Monaghan. The Ulster-Scots Agency are 31 Gordon Street The Ulster-Scots Agency delivered delighted to assist these groups to Belfast BT1 2LG the funding under a non-capital develop their Ulster-Scots outreach Telephone: (028) 9023 1113 small grant which was awarded to ham. The equipment grants were throughout the border counties. Fax: (028) 9023 1898 six groups and a musical equipment awarded to five National Schools The small grant programme is a new Email: [email protected] grant in which 13 groups were and to eight bands and a cultural venture for the Agency and it allows successful. group for a wide range of the community to come to us with International callers dialling the Ulster-Scots Agency: The non-capital small grant will instruments. innovative projects which can have Europe - 00 44 28 9023 1113 fund a range of projects including a These include Manorcunningham a very positive impact in their local Australia - 00 11 44 28 9023 1113 brochure on the history of Raphoe Pipe Band, The Thiepval Memorial community. USA - 011 44 28 9023 1113 Cathedral and town, a Thanksgiving Pipe Band, and Doohat Accordion The musical equipment grants will event at the Monreagh Ulster-Scots Band. make a massive impact to those Regional office in Raphoe: Heritage Centre and a drama on the Some of the items funded to the groups and schools who have been The Ulster-Scots Agency 1st World War in Newtowncunning National Schools include basic successful in receiving this funding. William Street, Raphoe Co Donegal Telephone: +353 7 4917 3876 CLICK ON THIS... Fax: +353 7 4917 3985 Email: [email protected] WORD For details of what’s on check out our events calendar - Editor: Gary McDonald www.ulsterscotsagency.com/events OF THE ISSUE Associate Editor: Catriona Holmes Production: The Irish News For Ulster-Scots news - Printing: Interpress NI Limited www.ulsterscotsagency.com/news Unther To sign up for the Ulster-Scots E-Newsletter - The Ulster-Scot next edition: Saturday January 20, 2018 visit www.ulsterscotsagency.com/newsletter/ Deadline for copy: Wednesday January 3, 2018 subscribe/register your details and receive updates Contributors should note that publication of any on the areas that you are most interested. Meaning: submitted article is at the Editor’s discretion Join us on Facebook - visit www.facebook.com/ Under UlsterScotsAgency now and like our page to keep up to date on what’s happening, upload your photos from Ulster-Scots events and share your comments. www.ulsterscotsagency.com www.ulsterscotsagency.com 3 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18 2017 Spotlight on Northern Ireland in Atlanta, Georgia Tourism Ireland promotes Northern Ireland at 2017 Stone Mountain Highland Games epresentatives of the of North America, said: “Tourism Ireland Ulster-Scots Agency, was delighted to participate in the Stone Mountain Highland Games once again RDalriada Kingdom Tours, this year. Our presence at the Games is Visit Armagh, Mid and East Antrim a key element of our ongoing activity to Council and Brack Tours travelled showcase Northern Ireland as a to Georgia in the United States, to compelling holiday destination in the join Tourism Ireland for this year’s United States, helping us to keep North- Stone Mountain Highland Games. ern Ireland high on the vacation ‘wish-list’ of Americans for 2018. Tourism Ireland Tourism Ireland also invited Stone- recognises the potential of the Ulster wall Folk Group, from Co Armagh, Scots segment for tourism to Northern to entertain visitors to the Games. Ireland and specifically promotes to this Now in its 45th year, the Stone Mountain audience, focusing on the strong Highland Games is an annual event which ancestral links between this part of the takes place in Stone Mountain Park, US and Northern Ireland.” north-east of Atlanta in Georgia. Attracting Tourism Ireland has been targeting almost 30,000 visitors of Scots-Irish and people of Ulster-Scots descent in Scots descent during the two-day festival, the US for a number of years the games are an ideal opportunity for now. Promotions have Tourism Ireland to highlight Northern included extensive Ireland as a wonderful holiday destination. publicity campaigns, In advance of this year’s Games, advertising in influential journalists, travel trade and newspapers in the airline contacts from Atlanta were invited southern states of the to a lunch event by Tourism Ireland - where US, communications they met with the various companies with “best prospects” from Northern Ireland to hear about what who have Northern Ireland Northern Ireland has to offer American surnames, as well as holidaymakers. participation in promotions like Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head the Stone Mountain Highland Games. Ballywalter plays host to concert n Ulster-Scots concert was held in Festival 2017, was compered by Willie Cromie Ballywalter Presbyterian Church Hall and featured Kirkistown Pipe Band, Arecently. Ballywalter Flute Band, Donaghadee Fyfe & The evening of great entertainment, one of Drum, Thompson Brothers and the Michelle several events in the Ballywalter Ulster-Scots Johnston Highland Dancers. VISIT THE DISCOVER ULSTER-SCOTS CENTRE VICTORIA STREET, CATHEDRAL QUARTER, BELFAST MONDAY– FRIDAY, 10AM–4PM www.DiscoverUlsterScots.com Tel: 028 9043 6710 FREE ADMISSION TOP: Acting pipe major Richard McKee (left) and Kirkistown Pipe Band during their performance at an Ulster-Scots Concert in Ballywalter LEFT: Rebekah Keery of Moneyreagh (Michelle