Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Duck Dynasty - the Ulster-Scots connection continues

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Pictured here is Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson... just before Christmas I had the privilege of taking part in the unveiling event for the Ulster History Circle's Blue Plaque to Ulster-Scots poet, novelist, story collector and newspaper man Wesley Greenhill Lyttle, in Bangor, County Down, at the original site of his newspaper offices. Following this I have been re-reading his 1886 novel Sons of the Sod (set in Carrowdore, where my mother's family are all from) and also his 1880 collection of humourous short stories, Robin's Readings. On page 27 of Robins Readings, Lyttle introduces a new character called... 'Wully Rabertson'. With all of the duck and pheasant hunters I know, as well as anglers (both freshwater and sea), I think the Ards Peninsula could be the venue for a special overseas edition of Duck Dynasty right here in Northern Ireland, overlooking the west coast of Scotland - a transatlantic Scotch-Irish kinsfolk extravaganza.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Judge Euan (Evin) Robertson of Vivian,Louisiana was born in Tennessee 1883, his parents were Z Z Robertson & Ella Haskins. (Billy fae Irvine)

Barry R McCain said...

I have talked to Phil Robertson about his family's ancestry. (I grew up in Ouachita Parish Louisiana, ran in the same circles as did the Robertsons) Phil said they were 'Scottish,' but being in the business as I am, I strongly suspect they are classic Scots-Irish. It would be very interesting to properly research their origins. Excellent post as always.