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Links between Scotland and Ulster should be a priority for
the governments in Edinburgh and Belfast, a leading Orange
Order official and community leader has said.
Addressing the Airdrie Ulster Scots Boyne celebrations on
Tuesday evening, he called on resources to be made available
to develop east-west links.
Dr. Hume accused some of having a vested interest in avoiding
the official recognition which such links deserved.
"The Belfast Agreement of 1998 and the subsequent St.
Andrew's Agreement promised east-west links. Yet these have
not been developed. In recent meetings with the Minister of
Culture in Northern Ireland and with the equivalent Minister
in the Republic of Ireland it was clear that there is a willingness
to see such links fostered,"
"The question we as Ulster Scots must ask is why there
has not been the willingness to develop those links in the
years since 1998. Are there civil servants with a vested interest
in not developing these links? Is there lack of vision in
encouraging those willing to develop the links?" he asked.
"The one thing that everyone should be very clear about
is that throughout our history the Ulster Scots people have
had no time for duplicity. If the Belfast Agreement was sold
to us on the basis that there would be east-west links and
these were deliberately never developed then we will rightly
want to know why and who is responsible,"
"It is clear that the body established by the British
and Irish governments to encourage the development of Ulster
Scots feels that it has no remit to develop east-west links,"
"The Ulster Scots Agency may be technically right in
this, and we need to see how the hopes of groups such as my
own community group in Ballycarry, County Antrim, were dashed
over the years when we wanted assistance to develop links
with a community in Scotland,"
"Ironically, we are developing links with Mid Argyll
in Scotland, where funding from the Gaelic language bodies
is easier to obtain for east-west links than funding from
any other organisation,"
"This is not merely academic. The Ulster Scots community
is in my view becoming increasingly alienated from the political
process. It was given promises which have proved empty words
up to now. It is no wonder that so many people from Ulster
Scots heartlands do not vote at elections anymore; almost
50% in the case of East Antrim, 42% in North Antrim and 55%
in North Down, for example. People are disillusioned because
they believe that they were duped over the Belfast Agreement
and the promises they expected to be followed through were
broken. Unless there is some evidence of issues such as east-west
links being addressed, then this sense of dislocation from
political life will continue.
The Orange Order Director of Services also said that the
question of east-west links was one which could bear fruit
from an economic point of view.
"Linking areas in Scotland and Northern Ireland can
have significant effects in terms of cultural tourism to both
regions, as well as social and cultural benefits, business
and economic links and other spin-offs. We should bear in
mind the high percentage of Scottish tourists visiting Northern
Ireland - 284,000 visits in 2009 and around £59 million
spend, although this figure should be higher- and at this
time of year there is a steady flow of visitors to both areas,
courtesy of the Orange Order and its celebrations.
"We are fed up being viewed as a culture which is best
ignored, when our members and supporters, our bands and our
community, boost the economy of Scotland and Northern Ireland
through travel and participation in each other's demonstrations
and parades. Without us the hotel industry, the ferry companies,
gift shops and others would be worse off. Businesses who engage
with us know the potential. It is time everyone saw it, and
appropriate recognition from the tourist boards on board parts
of the island would be welcome,"
The Director of Services said that he believed the Orange
Order was the most significant body in Scotland to be maintaining
links at the present time, and that as an organisation with
tens of thousands of members it had an interest in seeing
official recognition and development of east-west links.
"The news that the British Irish Council is at last
- after 12 years - to have a permanent home is to be welcomed.
This body has not been relevant to the grassroots Ulster Scots
people but it can play a part by acknowledging the importance
of this community and the potential which it presents. I think
many of us as activists in our communities are willing to
be patient on these matters, but the clock is ticking and
has been since 1998," he said.
"There now needs to be a strategic plan to develop links
between Ulster and Scotland. In a recent meeting which our
community group had with the Minister of Culture, Nelson McCausland
MLA, we were greatly encouraged at his approach in terms of
the need for strategic thinking on this important issue. We
would like to see all politicians sign up to this proposition
as evidence of the shared future which we would wish for people
on these islands," he said.
Dr. Hume is, in addition to his role within the Orange Order,
Festival Director of the Broadisland Gathering, Northern Ireland's
longest-established Ulster Scots family festival and chairman
of Ballycarry Community Association in County Antrim. He was
awarded the MBE in 2007 in relation to his community work.
Brethren and Freens,
I am delighted to be with you today and to bring the fraternal
greetings of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, and also the
greetings of my own private lodge, Magheramorne LOL 291 in
Larne District of County Antrim.
As an Ulster Scot I also am delighted to be here. Ulster
and Scotland have a shared heritage which includes the Orange
tradition and the Orange Institution. As an Ulster Scot whose
roots lie in the Borders I always feel at home in Scotland.
Our family has connections in Bellshill and my grandmother
is buried on Scottish soil. So for me this is a homecoming.
I feel a strong regional identity as an Ulster Scot. I was
relatively untouched when England came home from the World
Cup, but I would have been more animated had Scotland or Northern
Ireland been there. My strong sense of identity rests within
the context of being British and being an integral part of
the nation. In the Scottish context it is interesting to note
the findings of the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey which
highlighted that the SNP is losing support, with more than
half of those who vote for independence questioning the competence
of their SNP representation. This is good news for the Union.
It is entirely possible to be patriotically Scottish and also
part of the Union.
We want to see Scotland remain part of the Union, but if
Alex Salmond did manage to win independence, then we are ready
with a campaign to call back the Stone of Destiny. Alex Salmond
will no doubt be aware that it first came from County Antrim
with the earliest of Scots, so it is only really on loan.
It's only in Scotland because we're all part of the Union.
The Stone of Destiny alludes to the great history which exists
between our two areas. King Fergus of Dalriada crossed from
Dunseverick in the 6th century to be crowned ruler of a joint
kingdom which straddled the North Channel. It eventually became
separated, but the kinship has never ended. In medieval times
the MacDonnells of the Isles brought a new dimension to the
Glens of Antrim. In the early 17th century new settlers from
Scotland arrived on the coasts of Antrim and Down, and they
gave birth to communities such as my own in Ballycarry, which
recently celebrated its 400th anniversary. In the 17th and
18th century many young men travelled from Ulster to Glasgow
to be educated. In the 1630s the Presbyterians of Killinchy
sailed across to Portpatrick to have their children baptized
by Rev. John Livingstone.
Recently I was given documentation relating to Bro. Samuel
Milligan, a Larne Orangeman who was working in the Dumbarton
shipyards in 1874 and until 1920 worked in Scotland. Even
when he came back to Larne to live and work, family connections
remained in Glasgow. The story of Samuel Milligan is not unique.
In 2008 when I had the privilege of addressing the County
of the East demonstration, I learned that shale miners from
around Ballymena had moved to Broxburn in search of work,
bringing with them their Orange identity. In my own parish
records for 1838, I find four labourers who emigrated to Glasgow
and six men who migrated annually from Templecorran to Glasgow
in search of work.
This is not to even consider the more extensive links which
exist and which we have as a legacy today. In the 18th century
our community was very aware of the great bard Robert Burns.
We produced our own School of Weaver Poets, of which James
Orr of Ballycarry was the best. Several of the Weaver Poets
made the journey to Alloway to meet Burns. Orr never did,
but he wrote an elegy on his death;
Sad news! He's gane, wha baith amus'd
The man o' taste, an' taught the rude;
Whase warks hae been mair read an' roos'd
Than onie, save the word o' Gude
Him genus fostered on her lap
An' for his fa' fand fancy mourns:
Dumfries might weel steek ev'ry shap,
An' sen' her tribes to bury Burns
The links that exist between our two areas are really too
many to mention. They deserve our recognition. They are a
wonderful legacy handed down as a heritage for us all. We
must ensure that this legacy is also handed down to new generations.
It is worthy not only of handing down but also of adding to.
Links between Scotland and Ulster should be a priority for
the governments in Edinburgh and Belfast. Resources should
be made available to develop east-west links.
The Belfast Agreement of 1998 and the subsequent St. Andrew's
Agreement promised east-west links. Yet these have not been
developed. In recent meetings with the Minister of Culture
in Northern Ireland and with the equivalent Minister in the
Republic of Ireland it was clear that there is a willingness
to see such links fostered
The question we as Ulster Scots must ask is why there has
not been the willingness to develop those links in the years
since 1998. Are there civil servants with a vested interest
in not developing these links? Is there lack of vision in
encouraging those willing to develop the links?
The one thing that everyone should be very clear about is
that throughout our history the Ulster Scots people have had
no time for duplicity. If the Belfast Agreement was sold to
us on the basis that there would be east-west links and these
were deliberately never developed then we will rightly want
to know why and who is responsible
It is clear that the body established by the British and
Irish governments to encourage the development of Ulster Scots
feels that it has no remit to develop east-west links
The Ulster Scots Agency may be technically right in this,
and we need to see how the hopes of groups such as my own
community group in Ballycarry, County Antrim, were dashed
over the years when we wanted assistance to develop links
with a community in Scotland
Ironically, we are developing links with Mid Argyll in Scotland,
where funding from the Gaelic language bodies is easier to
obtain for east-west links than funding from any other organisation
This is not merely academic. The Ulster Scots community is
in my view becoming increasingly alienated from the political
process. It was given promises which have proved empty words
up to now. It is no wonder that so many people from Ulster
Scots heartlands do not vote at elections anymore; almost
50% in the case of East Antrim, 42% in North Antrim and 55%
in North Down, for example. People are disillusioned because
they believe that they were duped over the Belfast Agreement
and the promises they expected to be followed through were
broken. Unless there is some evidence of issues such as east-west
links being addressed, then this sense of dislocation from
political life will continue.
Linking areas in Scotland and Northern Ireland can have
significant effects in terms of cultural tourism to both regions,
as well as social and cultural benefits, business and economic
links and other spin-offs. We should bear in mind the high
percentage of Scottish tourists visiting Northern Ireland
and at this time of year there is a steady flow of visitors
to both areas, courtesy of the Orange Order and its celebrations.
We are fed up being viewed as a culture which is best ignored,
when our members and supporters, our bands and our community,
boost the economy of Scotland and Northern Ireland through
travel and participation in each other's demonstrations and
parades. Without us the hotel industry, the ferry companies,
gift shops and others would be worse off. Businesses who engage
with us know the potential. It is time everyone saw it, and
appropriate recognition from the tourist boards on board parts
of the island would be welcome
I believe the Orange Order was the most significant body
in Scotland to be maintaining links at the present time, and
that as an organisation with tens of thousands of members
it has an interest in seeing official recognition and development
of east-west links.
The news that the British Irish Council is at last - after
12 years - to have a permanent home is to be welcomed. This
body has not been relevant to the grassroots Ulster Scots
people but it can play a part by acknowledging the importance
of this community and the potential which it presents. I think
many of us as activists in our communities are willing to
be patient on these matters, but the clock is ticking and
has been since 1998
There now needs to be a strategic plan to develop links between
Ulster and Scotland. In a recent meeting which our community
group had with the Minister of Culture, Nelson McCausland
MLA, we were greatly encouraged at his approach in terms of
the need for strategic thinking on this important issue. We
would like to see all politicians sign up to this proposition
as evidence of the shared future which we would wish for people
on these islands
We should remember the words of Robert Burns, and ensure
that auld acquaintance is not forgotten, but ever brought
to mind.
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