Scots Language Awards 2023: Jim Mackintosh / Banes o the Turas

Weel duin tae Jim Mackintosh / Banes o the Turas wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Book o the Year in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!

The Scots Language Awards are in the Johstone Toon Ha, Johnstone on 16th September at 7pm. Tickets fir the ceremony are available tae buy here: https://handsup.link/SLA-BuyTickets.

We askit Jim Mackintosh o Jim Mackintosh / Banes o the Turas thae speirins.

Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
Scriever o six poetry collections an editor o fower anthologies yin bein The Darg: poems scrievit in tribute tae Hamish Henderson oan his centenary an maist recent Beyond The Swelkie wi Paul Philippou o Tippermuir Books: poems and essays scrieivit tae mark the centenary o George Mackay Brown.
An maist recent of coorse, scriever o the owersettin gem The Banes o the Turas.
Ah’ve bin the Makar o St Johnstone FC, the Makar o the Federation o Scrievers fer Scotland, the Poetry Editor fer Nutmeg Magazine, the Makar o the Hampden Collection and fer noo ah’m the Makar o the Cateran EcoMuseum in East Perthshire an the Angus Glens.
Ah’ve twa mair buiks in the pipeline ower the next year: We are Migrant an Elements of Isolation.
Ah wis the Programme Manager fer the HamishMatters Festival makin a fuss o Hamish Henderson in his birth toon, Blairgowrie.
Ah’m oan the Committee o the Freends o Hugh Miller an Ah’m the Secretair o the Freends o Willie Soutar. Ivvery Autumn, masel an the Chair gang aroon Perthshire primaries an teach the bairns the Bairnrhymes o Soutar wi the best gaitherin in Soutar House fer a recital.
Ah’m aye aboot Festivals an the like either producin shows, readin ma ain wirds or collaboratin wi musicians. Ah’m aye contentedly ower the heid.

Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
In 1938, a wee lassie o 8 years wis gien the belt bi the heidie fer spikkin Scots in class an no learnin mair the King’s English. Aa thay years efter it wis her mission tae mak sair her bairns wir prood o their leid nae matter whit abdie wid dae tae stymie their birthricht. As her son, Ah’m awfy glad she did.
Seventy years later Ah’d fin masel in the same School wi Soutar’s Bairnrhymes oan the vyces o bairns wi nae fear o the heidie’s wrath.

Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
Fer aa the reasons Ah’ve mentioned afore – it’s oor leid. Ma mother wid teach me the three leid o Scotland wir Scots, Gaelic an Latin.

Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
them aa

Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Ma mither

Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
Aye, it’s there yet Ah’m fearin mair an mair the politic o division wi a nasty edge tae it – aiblins wir gettin unner the skins o the blinkert mair. Yon’s no a bad thing. Love, Peace and the Leid will endure.

Ony particlar career heighlichts
Ower mony but readin ma ain wirds oan the stage o a sold oot Glasgow Royal Concert Hall alang wi Duncan Chisholm an Hamish Napier at this year’s Celtic Connections wisna ower shabby.

Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Mak sair mair and mair fowk ken hoo important Hamish Henderson remains in oor national identity.
Yaise oany opportunity tae champion the Leid.

The Scots Language Awards are in the Johnstone Toon Ha, Johnstone on 16th September at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy here: https://handsup.link/SLA-BuyTickets There wull be some grand entertainmint oan the nicht tae, includin a recital fae Renfrewshire’s poet laureate Shaun Moore,wha wis appointit as the region’s Tannahill Makar last year. talks fae weel regairdit Scots scrievers Cat Cochrane an Shane Strachan, alang wi musical performances fae celebratit multi-instumentalist brithers Euan and Lewis McLaughlin, an sangster Iona Fyfe.

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