Ards Writers presents
Ards Writers, in the company of the Twa Wullies, invite you to join them for“A Backward Glance” to celebrate a decade of their participation in the Festival of the Peninsula.
'The Twa Wullies'
Thursday 15th September, Web Theatre, Newtownards8.00pm Bar Facilities £5.00 (Concessions £4.00)
Inc refreshment and light supper
Will McAvoy
William (Will) McAvoy was born on Mid Island in Strangford Lough, one of three sons of a small farmer. The only language he heard growing us was the broad Scots tongue of his family. Will went to school in Greyabbey where, except for the teachers, the pupils all spoke in the same broad tongue. As well as farming, Will had several other jobs and was a professional wildfowler and later a warden on the Lough for the National Trust. Will was a founder member of the Ulster-Scots Language Society and is also a very capable Scottish country dancer. Will’s one love is the Ulster- Scots language. He is well known for reciting poems and ‘addressing the haggis’ at Burns nights. Will has appeared on TV and radio as well as the Long Hall at Stormont and the City Hall in Belfast. He is happiest when in the company of other Ulster-Scots speakers and promotes the language whenever possible. Through the Language Society he has produced three one-hour audio cassettes telling of his life on the Lough.
Willie Cromie
William (Willie) Cromie was born in Ballywalter and was educated at the local school. His father worked on the land and his mother’s family were fishermen. He grew up knowing no other language than Ulster-Scots and still speaks it fluently and by choice. He joined the Ulster-Scots Language Society shortly after it was formed and became a staunch supporter of the language. Willie wrote several articles in Ulster-Scots which were published in ‘Ullans’. He also went round the country recording the voices of native speakers in the Greater Ards area. He later began to tell these stories to various groups and has appeared on TV and radio relating them. He loves conversing in the language and has formed a long-lasting friendship with Will McAvoy: together, they give many charity performances and hope to continue this for a long time to come.