WIN...A FAMILY PASS TO W5! Ulster-Scots Agency (Boord o Ulstér-Scotch) official publication SATURDAY JANUARY 20 2018 PAGE 16 Burns Night guaranteed to hit all the right notes xxxxxx Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain will front this year’s Burns Week concert in the Waterfront Hall, with plenty of events set for across the Province. Full coverage on pages 8, 9 and 10 KIRKNARRA SCHOOL OF DANCE STEPHEN CHAPMAN AWARDED BEM FROM RAPHOE TO RED SQUARE IMPRESS ABERDEEN JUDGES PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 7 2 www.ulsterscotsagency.com SATURDAY JANUARY 20 2018 SATURDAY JANUARY 20 2018 Fair faa ye A busy time for Kirknarra Welcome to the January 2018 edition of the Ulster-Scot. School of Dance The New Year has been quick to come round and the Ulster Scots Agency are deep in planning for Belfast Burns Week which will launch on January 22, culminating in the The winter season has been a busy Burns Concert with Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain and the period for the Schomberg’s Ulster Orchestra on January 27. More about this on pages Kirknarra School of Dance. 8, 9 and 10. Kirknarra hosted their annual Highland Dance Competition in The Ulster-Scots Agency would like to congratulate dancer October, which attracted almost James Blackwood on his recent UK Alliance Teachers of ninety dancers from Highland Dancing – Associates Certificate in Highland Dancing. Dance schools all across Northern James is the first male Highland dancer teacher in Ireland. Northern Ireland – well done James! Find out more about The competition proved to be a huge this on page 7. success with top Highland Dance judges flying in from Aberdeen to Schomberg Society had a very productive Christmas with adjudicate. With stiff competition, both their ‘Evening of Ulster-Scots’ celebration and FUSE Kirknarra did not let themselves FM broadcast going down a storm in the local area, read down at their own competition with all about it on page 14. many of their own primary, beginner, novice and senior dancers winning Also in this edition, you can read more about the medals and trophies. important work of the Ulster Scots Community Network One of the highlights on the day and what the network can provide to you and your for Kirknarra was their own dancer community group. You can read more about it on page 4. Kasey Nicholson winning the overall As always we welcome your feedback and hope that trophy for Highland and National everyone finds something of interest in this edition. sections and also bringing home the overall Kirknarra cup for best dancer. Not to be outdone, Kirknarra Dancer Emma Spiers also won the Ian Crozier is Chief Executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency Intermediate category. The Kirknarra Troupe finished off their competitions for the year at the Clan Davidson Christmas com- commented: “We are very proud of petition in Belfast where competing how our dance team have continued The Ulster-Scot for the first time at the age of four, to progress. From competitions to The official newspaper for the Ulster-Scots Agency / Kirknarra dancer Ella Houston came dance displays, the dance troupe Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch home with first places in all of her always keep the flag flying high for dances and not to be outdone, one Ulster-Scots here in the Kingdom of of our senior dancers, Lucy John- Mourne and are a fantastic asset to Main office: ston won both Highland and promote the best of Highland Dance The Ulster-Scots Agency, National Overall trophies in her and Ulster-Scots. The Corn Exchange groups. All of the Kirknarra compet- “Kirknarra hosts tuition classes 31 Gordon Street itors brought home medals, with in Reivers House in Kilkeel every Belfast BT1 2LG some even bringing back cups and Thursday and Friday evening and Telephone: (028) 9023 1113 trophies to add to the collection. new faces are more than welcome Email: [email protected] As well as competitions, Kirknarra to come along. has been in demand over the winter “Kirknarra would also like to record International callers dialling the Ulster-Scots Agency: season performing at many local are excited their thanks to the Ulster-Scots Europe - 00 44 28 9023 1113 events including the Schomberg to be performing at Schomberg’s Agency for their continued support Australia - 00 11 44 28 9023 1113 Society’s Evening of Ulster-Scots annual Burns Night celebrations with our tuition classes.” USA - 011 44 28 9023 1113 Celebration Concert and also at var- in February, as well as other local For more information, please con- ious events during Fusefm Mourne’s Burns celebrations and upcoming tact Reivers House on 07753 222 Regional office in Raphoe: Christmas broadcast. Looking Ulster-Scots events. 553 or find them on Facebook at The Ulster-Scots Agency ahead to 2018, the Dance Team A spokesperson from Kirknarra Kirknarra School of Dance. William Street, Raphoe Co Donegal Telephone: +353 7 4917 3876 Email: [email protected] CLICK ON THIS... Editor: Gary McDonald WORD Associate Editor: Catriona Holmes For details of what’s on check out our events calendar - Production: The Irish News www.ulsterscotsagency.com/events OF THE ISSUE Printing: Interpress NI Limited For Ulster-Scots news - The Ulster-Scot next edition: Saturday, March 24, 2018 www.ulsterscotsagency.com/news deedle Deadline for copy: Monday, March 5, 2018 To sign up for the Ulster-Scots E-Newsletter - Contributors should note that publication of any visit www.ulsterscotsagency.com/newsletter/ submitted article is at the Editor’s discretion subscribe/register your details and receive updates on the areas that you are most interested. Meaning: Join us on Facebook - visit www.facebook.com/ To proceed slowly UlsterScotsAgency now and like our page to keep up to date on what’s happening, upload your photos from on a bicycle or car Ulster-Scots events and share your comments. www.ulsterscotsagency.com www.ulsterscotsagency.com 3 SATURDAY JANUARY 20 2018 Senior drum major among those honoured Burns weekend at Harvey’s Point he Mayor of Lisburn es to young people through the A taste of Scotland will be reeling its way Dunmurry Girls’ Brigade and to to Lough Eske on Saturday January 27 and Castlereagh, coun- when Burns Night is celebrated at Har- Tcillor Tim Morrow, has the community in Lisburn. Meanwhile, Margaret Ann Shields vey’s Point, when patrons can enjoy two congratulated all the local from Dromore, an Administrative nights’ bed & breakfast which included a people named in the 2018 Assistant, Ministry of Defence, Burns supper gala dinner and workshops. New Year Honours List. has been awarded the MBE for And the word on the street is: “If you hav- Five people from the area were services to defence. en’t made a reservation already, make one awarded the British Empire Congratulating all the recipients, now because it’s going to be a weekend Medal (BEM) for services to their Councillor Morrow said: “I was hooley to remember!” community in a variety of fields, delighted to learn that a number On Friday, you can join in the fun at a night including sport, music and youth of locals have been named in of ceilidh dancing and a little sing-along. work. the New Year Honours List. “With After a hearty breakfast enjoy a lovely They were Jack Beattie, Honorary over 100 people from Northern Saturday afternoon at dance and poetry President of Lisburn City Swim- Ireland being honoured, we are workshops. That evening Richard Hurst ming Club for services to the fortunate to have so many great will welcome guests at the Burn’s Night development of sport in Lisburn; people in our community getting Banquet. After feasting on the traditional Stephen Chapman (pictured), a the recognition they deserve. It is Scottish meal of haggis, potatoes and senior drum major from Hills- encouraging to see their achieve- turnips, among other tasty tipples (includ- borough for services to music in ments being rewarded with such a ing whisky), guests will have a chance to Northern Ireland; Robert Fisher prestigious accolade and what a take part in some Scottish ceilidh dancing from Hillsborough, for services wonderful start to a new year.” which is always great craic. to the Northern Ireland Prison He added: “To each of the recipi- This special Burns weekend at Harvey’s Service Pipes and Drums Band; ents I would like to say a personal Point (rates start from €249 per person William James Keith Fleming from thank you for everything you do sharing in an executive suite) includes Lisburn, for services to young peo- for your local community. two nights in a palatial suite, fabulous ple through the Church Lads’ “Whether it is for sport, music, breakfast by the lakeside each morning, and Church Girls’ Brigades and the voluntary sector or community Ceilidh dancing and a Burns Supper gala The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award groups, your commitment and dinner on Saturday evening. Scheme and Margaret McDonald, significant contribution is to be To book contact Harvey’s Point, Lough president and former captain of admired and I hope that you take Eske, Donegal (phone +353-74-9722208 40th Dunmurry GB (Dunmurry great joy and pride in making the or email: [email protected]) Presbyterian Church), for servic- New Year Honours List.” For more on events celebrating Robert Burns, turn to pages 8-9. Irish Genealogy Popular book Tracing your Scots-Irish back in stock and Irish Ancestors Essentials: A Family Celebrate 300 years and 19th centuries; as well as more of migration, and mark delving deeper into the past History Course First published the tercentenary of the 1718 with visits to the Hill of the in 1966, R.