Critic of funding for Ulster-Scots Agency was happy to have our organisation publish his work

WILSON Burgess (Writeback, July 30) tells us that it is a “national affront” that the Ulster-Scots Agency should receive £2.3m of taxpayers’ money to promote concerts and marching bands.

It is not clear what Wilson has against concerts and marching bands, but these things are legitimately part of the breadth of our Ulster-Scots cultural identity; and, of course, they represent one element of a much bigger story.

It is worth noting, however, that Wilson did not feel in any way affronted when the Ulster-Scots Agency was publishing his work or paying him to appear at our Burns concert. Indeed, only this week Wilson took part in an Ulster-Scots Poetry Night as part of the New Gate Fringe Festival in Londonderry, which was funded by the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Our hugely successful work in relation to Burns, which saw an extensive programme of activity built on our shared linguistic heritage which culminated in an excellent television programme with more than 160,000 viewers, is simply dismissed out of hand. Likewise, our work to create linguistic relationships with Scotland and our plans for Ulster-Scots Language Week in November.

When the fact is highlighted that there have been numerous high-quality programmes about Ulster-Scots of late, Wilson claims that they are “mythical”, even though they are on the iPlayer for everyone to see.

It is a fact that Ulster-Scots will continue to grow and prosper — in spite of those who attempt to undermine or belittle it.

IAN CROZIER

Chief executive of Ulster-Scots Agency