Development and use of Ulster-Scots

Developing Ulster-Scots

In conjunction with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department funds the Ulster-Scots Agency (tha Boord o Ulstér-Scotch). The Ulster-Scots Agency (tha Boord o Ulstér-Scotch) is responsible for promotion of greater awareness and use of Ullans and Ulster-Scots cultural issues, both within Northern Ireland and throughout the island.

• Ulster-Scots Agency

The Department has also taken a lead role in producing guidance for public servants to help them meet their obligations under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in relation to the Ulster-Scots language.

Ulster-Scots in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (1999) found that 2% of the population spoke Ulster-Scots: this would be around 35,000 people. The Ulster-Scots language society estimates that there are 100,000 speakers. In addition there are Ulster-Scots speakers in east Donegal. Of course there are also up to two million Scots speakers in Scotland.

The Northern Ireland Life and Times survey (based on a small number of Ulster-Scots speakers) found that speakers of Ulster-Scots are more likely to be older and slightly more likely to be Protestant or male. It also found that slightly less than half of Ulster-Scots speakers considered themselves 'unionist', the remainder were fairly evenly split between 'nationalist' and 'neither'. There are no significant differentials in relation to gender, marital status or dependents, and we have no data in relation to sexual orientation.

For more statistical information about language use, visit the following page:

• Language statistics