Winners of Scots Language Awards 2024 crowned at ceremony in Ayrshire

First hosted in 2019, the Scots Language Awards showcase the Scots leid – one of the country’s indigenous languages – and celebrate the people who champion its use in daily life, education, business, arts and culture.

This year, for the first time, the event was held in Ayrshire – a region steeped in Scots language, culture and tradition and home to celebrated poet Robert Burns.

Jim Mackintosh from Perth took home the Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by National Library of Scotland. A celebrated poet, Mackintosh regularly features on stage at literary festivals and has published six collections, edited four anthologies and translated a collection from Italian into Scots.

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This year’s Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust is Poyums by Len Pennie. Poyums is Pennie’s debut - a collection of sixty four powerful poems, many written in the Scots language.

The award for Scots Bairns Book o the Year, sponsored by the Scottish Government was given to Riverbank Primary’s Summer e Magic Scurry. The book was written by the Primary 5F class at the school in Aberdeen and features a story about a naughty herring gull who takes the pupils on an adventure.

Local teacher Danielle McNulty from New Cumnock Primary School in East Ayrshire was named Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Qualifications Authority.

New Cumnock Primary School was also awarded Scots Schuil o the Year, thanks to their dedication to showcasing the Scots language as part of their curriculum. The award is sponsored by Itchy Coo and Black & White Publishing.  

Doric Film Festival won the award for Scots Cultural Project o the Year. The acclaimed festival is the brainchild of Scots Radio Director Frieda Morrison, showcasing Doric language and culture through film.

Rab Wilson (right) is presented with The Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award. (Image: Peter Sandground)

The Scots Educational Project o the Year award was presented to the Open University’s Scots language teacher professional learning programme. The course is designed to upskill teachers of any subject and allow them to incorporate Scots language and culture into the classroom.

Scots Language theatre company Braw Clan from Lanarkshire was named Scots Community Project o the Year. The group makes gripping new plays in Scots, inspired by the history and people of Clydesdale, for rural audiences in southern Scotland. 

This year’s Scots Stage Production o the Year award went to Sunset Song by Dundee Rep Theatre in co-production with Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. The production, which toured stages across Scotland in Spring, is a revitalised and reimagined adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s powerful coming-of-age tale. 

Martin O’Connor from Glasgow was named Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS. Director of the Tron Theatre Young Company, and associate artist with Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre.

O’Connor has worked as a tutor for many years and is currently Artist in Residence with Inverclyde, and with Glasgow Life Creative Communities, working with venues, schools and individuals on a range of poetry activities.

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The esteemed Janet Paisley Services to Scots Award was presented to local Cumnock-born poet Rab Wilson. One of Scotland’s most accomplished poets, Wilson has published a number of highly praised volumes of poetry and is a valued Burns scholar, currently the scriever in residence for the National Trust of Scotland based at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Liz Niven from Dumfries and Galloway was named Scots Champion 2024. Niven has published several poetry collections and has written and edited texts to support Scots language work in education, teaching creative writing and working with hundreds of pupils throughout the year, inspiring them to write their own poetry.

Rudi Hawkins took home the Young Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by Education Scotland.

Scots Leid Award organiser an Hands Up For Trad Creative Director, Simon Thoumire haed thae wirds: “Whit a nicht! It wis oor honour an delicht tae annoonce this year’s Scots Language Awards winners - the braw fowk keepin oor bonnie Scots leid tae the fore spiekin it ilka day in thir daily livin, in eddication, business, airts an culture. 

“Mony thanks tae aabody taein the time tae nominate an vote (mair than ivver afore!) fir the awards, tae the musicians an airtists, an aa wha jined us at Cumnock Toon Ha - we are sae gled o yer support acause we cuidnae dae it wioot ye!”

East Ayrshire Provost Jim Todd said: “It was wonderful to be able to host such a special evening in Cumnock and even more incredible that we were able to celebrate our very own local winners from New Cumnock. My sincere congratulations go to Scots Teacher o the Year Danielle McNulty from New Cumnock Primary School, and to the school itself for winning the prestigious Scots Schuil o the Year for the passion and commitment it shows to making sure its pupils learn about the importance of the Scots language.

“Congratulations also go to Rab Wilson, a well-kent name in East Ayrshire and indeed the whole of Scotland, for his award which recognises his important work in relation to Burns and his impressive catalogue of poetry in the Scots language. 

"The whole ceremony was filled with so many talented people who all work incredibly hard to promote the Scots leid across Ayrshire and it was truly inspiring and heart-warming to hear their stories and to be able to celebrate this wonderful language with them.”

Karen Dick, Head of Place, Partnerships and Communities at Creative Scotland said: “Weel done tae a’ winners an’ nominees!  The remarkable creativity and diversity showcased by those working in Scots, as highlighted by the Awards, emphasise the significance of nurturing the ongoing growth and celebration of the Scots Language. We’re excited to partner with Hands Up for Trad on the Wee Grants for Creativity in the Scots Leid again this year.”

The Scots Language Awards are among a number of events and outreach activities carried out by Hands Up For Trad as part of the organisation’s ongoing vital cultural advocacy work, promoting and developing Scotland’s indigenous cultural assets.