One of the things I discussed in my October 2004 "interview" conversation with a very senior civil servant, ahead of accepting the offer to become Chair of the Ulster-Scots Agency, was the tantalising prospect of an Ulster-Scots Academy which would have some kind of university affiliation(s) and would be tasked to deliver a generation of projects at the very highest level of scholarship. Unsurprisingly it never happened. 20 years of vital work has not been done. But perhaps that was always the real plan...
Regardless of the many failures of 'the system', community volunteers and enthusiasts have reassembled and unearthed a lot of important material. Being immersed in the local historical literature helps to join the dots. Even a rank amateur like me, through enough reading, can find some good stuff.
..........
John Young (1826-1915) of Galgorm was one of the Mid Antrim representatives at the Ulster Unionist Convention of 1892, along with other many other members of the family. Over 20 years later he was one of six signatories to the Ulster Proclamation of 24 September 1913 (see previous post here).
The Young family were also funders and supporters of Mid Antrim Ulster-Scots poetry:
• The Given Brothers' guarantors and subscribers for their 1900 Poems from College and Country included the Right Hon John Young PC, DL, Galgorm Castle and also his son William Young JP Fenaghy.
• Adam Lynn's 1911 Random Rhymes frae Cullybackey was dedicated to "Mrs Young, Fenaghy House, Cullybackey".
• Agnes Kerr's 1914 Poems from Ahoghill subscribers list included Mrs Wm Young, Galgorm Castle and also Mr G C G Young of Galgorm Castle.
• David Herbison's poetry also includes two addressed to members of the Young family
The Young family had various cultural interests. This recent BBC TV programme highlighted the photography of Mary Alice Young. Rose Maud Young is renowned for her interest in Gaelic language and culture. The 1892 Ulster Unionist Convention which the Youngs took part in is usually only ever talked about these days for its (apparently surprising) use of the Gaelic Irish slogan "Erin Go Bragh", but it was a slogan which was entirely mainstream and was also used by Adam Lynn within his Ulster-Scots poetry.
The Youngs, like their contemporaries the Milligans that I have mentioned here before, were comfortably multi-faceted in their cultural interests. It was an era long before our present-day divisions.
The Youngs, like their contemporaries the Milligans that I have mentioned here before, were comfortably multi-faceted in their cultural interests. It was an era long before our present-day divisions.
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