Weel duin tae Stronsay Heritage Society & Young Islanders Network wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Community Project o the Year in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!
The 2026 Scots Language Awards tak place on Saturday 19th September at the iconic Discovery Centre, home of the RRS Discovery Ship (1pm). Reserve yer ticket here.
The awards will be a daytime event this year, making them as inclusive and accessible to as many award nominees from across Scotland as possible.
We askit Louise McQuaid o Stronsay Heritage Society & Young Islanders Network thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
Stronsay heritage Society is a volunteer subgroup of the Stronsay Development Trust tasked with the celebration and preservation of our island’s history. Based on the small island of Stronsay in Orkney, we have developed restoration projects and have an extensive archive in our pop up Heritage Centre museum. We’ve restored the Boatie Hoose, tidal toilets and created a Heritage Trail about the Herring trade here. The Development Trust has just purchased the Meikle Mill, the last working mill in Orkney to add to the asset heritage portfolio.
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Liz the Rep for Language, Heritage and Culture with the Young Islanders Network reached out to us to support saving Orcadian language in our project. She’s from the island, and was about young people having a voice in how we celebrate and preserve this. She’s not originally from Orkney but saw that it’s the stories behind the artefacts that mean so much more, and that means preserving Orcadian.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
We feel it’s important tae keep Scots and wir Orcadian way o speakin alive, because it’s part o wha we are and the history o wir islands.
Like many island communities, Stronsay has changed ower the years, wi new folk movin tae the island and bringin new experiences and ideas wi them. That’s an important part o keepin the island community goin, but at the same time, we dinna want tae lose the words, stories and voices that belong tae Stronsay.
Folk dinna speak the way they used tae, and some o the old Orcadian words and phrases are heard less and less. When we preserve wir stories and history, it’s important that we preserve the language they were told in too. Using Orcadian in everyday life helps keep that connection between generations and means the way folk spoke, worked and lived here isna lost.
Ony particlar career heighlichts
Linking with Young Islanders Network at Youth Scotland! And working closely with North Isles Landscape Partnership
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
We’re planning a permanent museum to house our work. It’s been a long process with lots of setbacks but hopeful for the future developments to extend.
Read more about Stronsay Heritage Society & Young Islanders Network
http://yin.scot
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/https://www.facebook.com/groups/360918173546885/?locale=en_GB
The Scots Language Awards are in Dundee on the 19th September at 1pm. There wull be some grand entertainmint includin a recitals fae Yvonne Tait an Hugh Macmillan alang wi musical performances fae Iona Fyfe and Scott Gardiner.
To attend the Scots Language Awards there are a few tickets remaining. Click here to reserve your tickets.
Join Elfie Picket Theatre for the Scots language nicht BLETHER, fur a nicht o music, poetry and stories aa celebratin Scots Leid & culture. We hae twa special guests jynin us and a wee open mic. Leadin us intae a big Dundee Fringe Ceilidh! Startin at 6pm, tickets £10.
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish language please consider donating here.