The Ullans Academy – Common identity
As for the original Ulster-Scots (Ullans) Academy which we had established in 1992, it has continued to promote aspects of shared heritage and community relations between the nationalist and unionist sections of our community in Northern Ireland, particularly in Belfast. The group was established with the idea that bringing people together through their shared cultural heritage would raise awareness of those things that bind us together rather than divide us and thus foster a sense of mutual tolerance and respect, and this it has achieved. Its members believe that this will lead to the development of stronger inter-community relationships in future years.
Thus, the key objectives of the group are:
To encourage and promote the shared Ulster-Scots, Ulster Gaelic and Ulster English heritage and to raise awareness throughout Northern Ireland of this shared cultural heritage through delivery of high quality and engaging events and activities, particularly our Saint Patrick’s Breakfast and the Feast of Columbanus [1];
To go into the community and encourage inter-community activity and exploration of the diversity of community learning as an extension of education.
As Northern Ireland moves further into the post-conflict period there are still many people who are struggling to develop their potential and who experience minimal inter-community contact in their everyday lives. These “hard to reach” areas, both unionist and nationalist, Protestant and Roman Catholic, are some of the key areas that the Ullans Academy has sought to engage and will continue to target over the coming years to facilitate the ongoing development of a more prosperous and peaceful society in the local community across Northern Ireland.
We support the promotion of our shared culture, heritage, history, literature, language and music through a community-based approach which identifies three strands for development as modelled on the Frisian Academy:
– Culture and History;
– Research in Language and Literature;
– Social Science and Community Development.
In 2010 our current Management Committee reaffirmed the principles and philosophy of the Ullans Academy and its commitment to cross-cultural and inter-community work in their widest possible context – preserving and developing interest in and understanding of Ulster-Scots, Ulster Gaelic and Ulster English culture and heritage right across the community [2], especially at grass-roots level in a manner which encourages contact, dialogue, respect, mutual understanding and parity of esteem with a view to reconciliation. The people we were trying to reach were primarily people from working-class, urban areas, those most directly affected by the violence of the Troubles and those who had the fewest opportunities for access to “Culture”, especially when that was in any way remotely associated with a political agenda of a different colour.
It was with this particular aim in mind that in 2012 we started a series of lectures in the community [3] supported by funding from Belfast City Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin. To ensure the highest level of openness to potential audiences, lectures were given in each of two prominent sites: Belmont Tower in (the predominantly Protestant) East Belfast [4] closely associated with C.S. Lewis [5], and An Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, at the heart of the (predominantly Roman Catholic) Gaeltacht area of West Belfast[6]. As a fulfilment of our original Memorandum of Association (2003), we are preparing The Bible in Plain Scots for publication translated by Gavin Falconer and Ross G Arthur [7].
[1] These events were first organised in March 2005 with the first St Patrick’s Breakfast, followed by a Feast of Columbanus in November, based on the Farset “Steps of Columbanus” project of the mid-eighties. Farset was led by Jackie Hewitt, formerly of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, who was responsible for the later development of Farset International Hostel on the Springfield Road, Belfast, interface. These events have been addressed by prominent speakers from across the whole community, for example, Rev Dr Ian R.K. Paisley, the Lord Bannside, and President Mary McAleese, who spoke together in the Park Avenue Hotel, East Belfast on Tuesday, 23rd November 2010. The 2013 event was addressed by Rev Dr Ian R.K. Paisley, the Lord Bannside and President Michael D. Higgins.
[2] In my introduction to Ian James Parsley’s superlative Ulster Scots: A Short Reference Grammar, Belfast, Ulster-Scots Academic Press, 2012, p. , I wrote: “At the Ullans Academy, although Ulster Scots has been our focus, we have always wanted to emphasise the interrelationships between English, Scots and Gaelic as they are spoken in Ulster. What is exciting about this book is that it provides an exhibition of Ulster-Scots grammar, but also how it relates to other languages spoken in Ulster and Scotland”.
[3] To date, the lectures have been as follows: Dr Ian Adamson OBE (Somme Association), “Breaking Stereotypes of the First World War at the Somme”, 1st & 5th November 2012; Liam Logan (Ulster-Scots Academy), “Ulster-Scots Language”, 3rd & 6th December 2012; Dr Ruairí Ó Bléine (Ultach Trust), “Presbyterians and Irish”, 7th & 9th January 2013; Nicky Gilmore (Dal Fiatach), “King William”, 4th & 7th February 2013; Brian Ervine (Former Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party), “St Patrick”, 4th & 7th March 2013. All lecturers are Board members of the Ullans Academy. On the first date given, the lecture was held at Belmont Tower (East Belfast); on the second date at An Cultúrlann McAdam/ÓFiaich (West Belfast). All lectures are available on Youtube.
[4] On 29th November 1999 the Old Belmont School Preservation Trust (OBSPT) was established as a company limited by guarantee. The Trust, chaired by Helen Brooker, was established in November 1999 as a result of a community driven campaign, the main aims of which were to secure and restore the former Belmont Primary School – a Grade B1 listed building for the benefit of the local community and future generations. As such, OBSPT was one of the first single building preservation trusts to be established in Northern Ireland. The Patron of the Trust was Lady Carswell OBE.
The Trust acquired the building in April 2001 and the building was restored with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the DOE Environment and Heritage Service. It was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles on 1st September 2004 and was named Belmont Tower. The building has won a number of prestigious awards, including that from the Royal Society of Chartered Surveyors for “Excellence in the Built Environment”. The building also featured in the BBC’s second Restoration series in 2004, as being a first-class example of a community-led regeneration project.
Since then, Belmont Tower has become a multi-use facility offering classes, conference facilities, a coffee shop and a CS Lewis exhibition. On the 31st August 2013 the trustees of the Old Belmont School Preservation Trust passed ownership of the building to the National Trust. The future of the building and its use within the community has been secured and it is very much business as usual for this landmark building in east Belfast.
[5] Lewis’s magisterial work, Poetry and Prose in the Sixteenth Century, Volume IV in the Oxford History of English Literature (1954), was particularly important, dealing as it does with language and literature at the close of the Middle Ages in Scotland. Characteristically, Lewis writes “Scotch” not “Scottish”, claiming the freedom of “my ain vulgaire”, which has historical precedence.
[6] An Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich is an arts and cultural centre with a strong focus on Irish language and culture. It is named after the Presbyterian Gaelic scholar, Robert Shipboy Mc Adam, and my old friend Cardinal Tomas Ó Fiaich. The centre offers a vital arts programme, including theatre, music, visual arts, poetry, literary events, workshops and classes catering for all ages. Located in a former Presbyterian church on the Falls Road, Belfast, the building has had a number of incarnations during its often troubled history. As an arts centre it is at the heart of a vibrant cultural community. An Cultúrlann also houses a café / restaurant, book and gift shop and a tourist information point.
[7] Publication pending by the Ullans Academy with a grant from MAGUS.