Author Archives: Ian Adamson

To summarise: Ulster Gaelic is the variety of the Gaelic Language spoken in the northern part of Ireland and the southern part of Scotland (ancient Dalriada). It occupies a central position in the Gaelic-speaking world made up of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. … Continue reading →

The people of Rathlin or “Ragheries” interestingly referred to Rathlin as “an tir seo” or “this country” while the mainland was called “Eirinn” or “Ireland”.  They were therefore conscious of an older autonomy.  Of their language itself Holmer has written: … Continue reading →

A similar situation existed for Frisian, the sister language of  Ulster-Scots (Ullans).  In the 19th century teaching aids for Frisian as a subject were non-existent.  In 1907, however, the Provincial Council of Friesland granted subsidies thus enabling the first courses … Continue reading →

The history of the English language starts with the settlement in Britain of Jutes, Saxons and Angles in the 5th and 6th centuries and these population groupings came from respectively Jutland, Schleswig and Halstein, although the Belgae before them may … Continue reading →

At the beginning of the 20th century in that area which now constitutes Northern Ireland there were eight districts in which dialects of Ulster Gaelic survived among 5% or more of the total population.  As well as the Red Bay … Continue reading →

Having worked for more than twenty years on a linguistic atlas of Gaelic dialects, Heinrich Wagner found that: “each major dialect and each minor subdialect of Gaelic is dependent on its geographical position, all the dialects forming a chain in which … Continue reading →

Sir Van attended the special gathering of talented luminaries at this year’s IFTA Film and Drama Awards in Dublin. Van was there to support his friend, Roma Downey, who was receiving the Irish Diaspora Award in recognition of her outstanding … Continue reading →

Set as Ulster is at the North Eastern corner of Ireland, facing Britain across a narrow sea and separated from the rest of Ireland by a zone of little hills known as Drumlins, marshland, lakes and mountains, the characteristics of her … Continue reading →

Mike the Headless Chicken (April 1945 – March 1947), also known as Miracle Mike, was a Wyandotte chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off. Although the story was thought by many to be a … Continue reading →

And what of Francis Stuart?. Stuart died on 2nd February 2000, but he still has admirers of his undoubted literary genius among the Irish Academic Establishment. Francis Stuart: face to face , by Anne Mc Cartney was the first complete “critical” … Continue reading →