Scotland’s national poet appointed

First Minister John Swinney has announced Scotland’s next Makar will be Dr Peter Mackay.

The role of Makar involves taking a leadership role in promoting poetry nationally, as well as producing work relating to significant national events.

Dr Mackay was appointed by the First Minister on the recommendation of an expert panel representing Scotland’s literary sector. He has chosen to serve for a three-year term.

He is the fifth person to hold the role since it was established by the Scottish Parliament in 2004, following in the footsteps of Kathleen Jamie, Jackie Kay, Liz Lochhead, and Edwin Morgan.

First Minister John Swinney said:

“I am very pleased that Scotland’s new Makar is Gaelic-speaking poet, Peter Mackay.

“Peter published his first collection Gu Leor/Galore in 2015. Since then, he has attracted a wide audience, and many accolades, through his originality, playfulness and willingness to take risks with language. 

“With his keen understanding of how different languages interact with one another, Peter is well equipped to help forge strong connections between different linguistic communities across both Scotland and the rest of the world.

“I have no doubt that his passion and dynamism will allow him to excel at helping to promote both poetry and our wider cultural heritage.”

Dr Peter Mackay said:

“It is an honour and a pleasure to be appointed as Scotland’s new Makar. I’m very grateful to the panel for their faith in me, and to the First Minister for his support, and especially his enthusiasm about a Gaelic poet taking on the role.

“I have grown up reading the work of and learning from the previous holders of this post and it is a privilege to follow in their footsteps. I hope to do justice to their example: their warmth and support for other writers, their gifts for laughter and the right phrase, their advocacy for poetry as being central to Scottish life, as a medium that can tell truths slant, be a shape-shifter, and help us see and come to terms with the world anew.

“I love that Scotland has a ‘Makar’, not a poet laureate: the act of ‘making’ is central to the role, and that the title is in Scots adds a particular distinctive grounding. Part of my task, as I see it, is to encourage people to make things in all the different languages of Scotland, the dozens of languages spoken in this country: to see what kinds of conversations, games, debates can be sparked between them. I can’t wait.”

Background

Following Kathleen Jamie’s departure from the role in August 2024 , the Scottish Government convened an expert panel to consider nominations for the next Makar.

The panel met twice to consider potential candidates against the role description. They compiled a confidential shortlist of potential candidates and agreed upon a recommendation which was accepted by the First Minster.

Expert Panel

Collectively the Expert Panel bring a wide range of skills in poetry, including in the use of the Gaelic and Scots languages, and in the way it is communicated to audiences.

Panel members:

• Anna Feintuck, Team Leader, Access, Arts and Participation Team, Culture & Historic Environment Division, Scottish Government, (Chair)
• Henry Bell, Editor, Gutter
• Dr David Goldie, President, Association for Scottish Literature
• Peggy Hughes, Director, National Centre for Writing, Norwich
• Marc Lambert, Chief Executive, Scottish Book Trust
• Duncan Lockerbie, Director, Tapsalteerie/Stewed Rhubarb Press
• Marjorie Lotfi, Director, Open Book
• Jill Mackintosh, Head Librarian, Scottish Poetry Library
• Harriet Macmillan, Literature Officer, Creative Scotland
• Dr Robyn Marsack, Independent Adviser
• Niall O’Gallagher, Gaelic Poet and Broadcaster
• Amina Shah, National Librarian and Chief Executive, National Library of Scotland
• Ryan van Winkle, Director, Stanza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival
• Mark Wringe, Senior Lecturer, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the Highlands and Islands

Bàrd nàiseanta ùr na h-Alba air ainmeachadh

Chaidh am bàrd is ùghdar an Dr Pàdraig MacAoidh ainmeachadh mar Makar ùr na h-Alba.

Dh’fhoillsich am Prìomh Mhinistear Iain Swinney an naidheachd gur e an Dr Pàdraig MacAoidh a bhios air a chur an dreuchd mar an ath Mhakar airson Alba.

Mar phàirt dhen dreuchd aca bidh am Makar air ceann na h-iomairt gu nàiseanta gus bàrdachd a chur air adhart, agus bidh iad a’ sgrìobhadh bàrdachd airson phrìomh thachartasan nàiseanta.

Chaidh an Dr MacAoidh a chur an dreuchd leis a’ Phrìomh Mhinistear às dèidh dhan bhàrd a bhith air a mholadh le pannal de dh’eòlaichean bho roinn litreachais na h-Alba. Tha e air roghnachadh trì bliadhna a chur seachad san dreuchd.

’S e an Dr MacAoidh an còigeamh neach a tha air a bhith san dreuchd seo bho chaidh a stèidheachadh le Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ann an 2004, agus b’ iad Kathleen Jamie, Jackie Kay, Liz Lochhead, agus Edwin Morgan a bha san dreuchd roimhe.

Thuirt am Prìomh Mhinistear Iain Swinney:

“Tha e a’ toirt toileachas mòr dhomh gur e am bàrd Gàidhlig Pàdraig MacAoidh a chaidh ainmeachadh mar Makar ùr na h-Alba.

“Dh’fhoillsich Pàdraig a’ chiad chruinneachadh aige, Gu Leòr, ann an 2015. Bhon uair sin, tha farsaingeachd de luchd-leughaidh air ùidh mhòr a thogail na obair, agus tha e air grunn dhuaisean a chosnadh, mar thoradh air dàin làn tùsalachd agus mireanachd agus ri linn mar a tha e deònach nithean ùra fheuchainn le cainnt is cànan.

“Tha tuigse mhath aig Pàdraig air mar a bhios diofar chànanan a’ dol an lùib a chèile agus air an dàimh a gheibhear eatarra, agus mar sin tha e làn uidheamaichte gus ceanglaichean làidir a thogail eadar diofar choimhearsnachdan cànain air feadh Alba agus air feadh an t-saoghail mhòir.

“Tha mi làn chinnteach, le a chuid dealais is dìchill, gun dèan e obair ionmholta gus bàrdachd a chur air adhart agus gus aire dhaoine a tharraing gu ar cultar is dualchas.”

Thuirt an Dr Pàdraig MacAoidh:

“’S e urram is tlachd a th’ ann dhòmhsa gun deach m’ ainmeachadh mar Makar ùr na h-Alba. Tha mi fada an comain a’ phannail airson a bhith a’ cur earbsa annam, agus mo thaing dhan Phrìomh Mhinistear airson a chuid taice, agus gu h-àraidh airson a’ ghàirdeachais a rinn e ris an naidheachd gur e bàrd Gàidhlig a ghabhas an dreuchd seo os làimh.

“Rè nam bliadhnaichean, bho làithean m’ òige, tha mi air a bhith a’ leughadh agus ag ionnsachadh bho bhàrdachd nan daoine a bha san dreuchd seo roimhe, agus ’s e urram mòr a th’ ann gum faigh mi cothrom togail air na rinn iad. Tha mi an dòchas gun tèid agam air cur ris an dìleib a dh’fhàg iad às an dèidh: an càirdeas is taic a bh’ aca do sgrìobhadairean eile, mar a bha iad làn aoibhneis agus cainnt eirmseach is sgiobalta, agus an iomairt a rinn iad gus sealltainn gu bheil bàrdachd na bunait dhar beatha ann an Alba, mar mheadhan gus an fhìrinn innse air fiaradh, mar mheadhan de dh’iomadh cruth, agus mar mheadhan gus ar cuideachadh le bhith a’ faighinn tuigse as ùr air an t-saoghal. 

“Tha e a’ còrdadh rium gu mòr gu bheil ‘Makar’ aig Alba, chan e laureate: tha a bhith ‘a’ dèanamh’ rudan aig cridhe obair na dreuchd seo, agus tha mar a tha tiotal Albais oirre a’ fàgail na dreuchd air stèidh shònraichte. Dhòmhsa dheth, bidh e mar phàirt dhen obair agam daoine a bhrosnachadh gu bhith a’ dèanamh rudan anns gach cànan a th’ againn ann an Alba, na ficheadan de chànanan a chluinnear san dùthaich againn: gus am faic sinn dè na còmhraidhean, geamaichean is deasbadan a bhios ann eatarra. Abair thusa gu bheil mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri sin.”

Bun-fhiosrachadh

Às dèidh do Kathleen Jamie an dreuchd fhàgail san Lùnastal 2024, chuir Riaghaltas na h-Alba pannal eòlaichean air dòigh gus beachdachadh air na molaidhean airson Makar ùr.

Choinnich am pannal dà thuras gus beachdachadh air daoine airson na dreuchd agus iad a’ gabhail ealla ri tuairisgeul-obrach na dreuchd. Thagh iad geàrr-liosta dhìomhair de thagraichean agus dh’aontaich iad air an neach a bha iad a’ moladh agus ghabh am Prìomh Mhinistear ris a’ mholadh aca.

Am Pannal Eòlaichean

Tha farsaingeachd de dh’eòlas is sgilean aig a’ Phannal Eòlaichean a thaobh bàrdachd, a’ gabhail a-steach bàrdachd Ghàidhlig agus Albais, agus na dòighean sam bithear a’ taisbeanadh bàrdachd do luchd-leughaidh is luchd-èisteachd.

Buill a’ Phannail:

• Anna Feintuck, Ceannard Sgioba, An Sgioba airson Chothroman, nan Ealain is Com-pàirteachadh, Roinn a’ Chultair is na h-Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, (Cathraiche)
• Henry Bell, Neach-deasachaidh, Gutter
• An Dr David Goldie, Ceann-suidhe, Comann Litreachas na h-Alba
• Peggy Hughes, Stiùiriche, An t-Ionad Nàiseanta airson Sgrìobhadh, Norwich
• Marc Lambert, Àrd-oifigear, Urras Leabhraichean na h-Alba
• Duncan Lockerbie, Stiùiriche, Tapsalteerie/Stewed Rhubarb Press
• Marjorie Lotfi, Stiùiriche, Open Book
• Jill Nic an Tòisich, Prìomh Leabharlannaiche, Leabharlann Bàrdachd na h-Alba
• Harriet Nic a’ Mhaoilein, Oifigear Litreachais, Alba Chruthachail
• An Dr Robyn Marsack, Neach-comhairleachaidh Neo-eisimeileach
• Niall O’Gallagher, Bàrd is Craoladair Gàidhlig
• Amina Shah, An Leabharlannaiche Nàiseanta agus Àrd-oifigear, Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba
• Ryan van Winkle, Stiùiriche, Stanza, Fèis Bhàrdachd Eadar-nàiseanta na h-Alba
• Mark Wringe, Àrd-òraidiche, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean