Ulster-Scots survey 'encouraging'

Published Thursday, 26 August 2010

Culture Minister Nelson McCausland says he is "encouraged" by the results of a survey in which 43% of respondents felt that Ulster Scots was a valuable part of culture in Northern Ireland.

Findings from the 'Public Views on Ulster-Scots Culture, Heritage and Language in Northern Ireland' study were broken down in a report published on Thursday.

Respondents gave their views on topics including public awareness of the plantation of Ulster, the teaching of the Ulster-Scots language and how many people perceive themselves to be an Ulster-Scot.

A total of 1,212 adults across Northern Ireland took part.

Commenting on the findings, the DUP Culture Minister said: "These results show that Ulster-Scots continues to be widely recognised across both sections of our community as an integral part of the cultural fabric of Northern Ireland.

"As such, and as part of a shared future, it is only right and proper that we continue to support and promote this important aspect of our culture."

One result of the poll showed that 43% of respondents view Ulster-Scots as a valuable part of Northern Irish culture.

Mr McCausland said this equates to over 600,000 people in the country.

"I am also pleased that 43% of respondents agreed that Ulster-Scots is a valuable part of the culture of Northern Ireland," he said.

"When you bear in mind that 1% in this survey represents 14,000 people, this finding equates to over 600,000 in Northern Ireland. Once again this shows the importance of Ulster-Scots culture in our everyday life."

The Minister also said the figures back up his belief that Ulster-Scots should be taught in schools.

Comments

11 Comments

saoirse32 in usa wrote (635 days ago):

what no one has if these stats are supposed to be true then 57% are from an irish gaelic culture which is being being denied the a above minister in his effort of cultural cleansing of anything irish

JohnL in Larne wrote (635 days ago):

ULSTER SCOTS, yet another example of WHATABOUTY "Oh , they Have a Language therefore we need a language comprising of poor English" ................. I'm a Prod but lets be honest, Its a response to the Irish Language. Nelson, I really hope that the "CULTURE" department is cut, your just a little Joseph Goebbels

seamas in belfast wrote (636 days ago):

As the UK moves closer to regionalisation the absence of a separate identity for the protestant unionist community here becomes more noticeable. NI Unionists have always been British. The rest of us have been Scottish and British or Welsh and British and yes even Irish and British. You see they can’t be Northern Irish because that includes the Catholics. But they can’t be just British anymore either so what are they? The answer is Ulster Scots. The Ulster bit means they’re from here but the Scots bit rules out the Catholics. It is the need now to have a separate regional identity that drives the Ulster Scots movement. Lets face it if it was genuine wouldn’t the all Unionist, all protestant 50 year long administration here not have promoted it sooner.

Des Gusted in Belfast wrote (636 days ago):

There are lies, damned lies & statistics.... then there's this red faced clown trying to multiply up a 1,200 skewed sample to a 1.5 million population and claim it represents 600,000.... How desperate can you get to justify something!!!!

C.Vorderman in Count y Down wrote (636 days ago):

David wrote: ""JJ The result could al be much higher if a larger more representative sample were used!".... And the result could be much lower if a smaller less representative sample were used! Hardly worth mentioning though.

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