Reclaim The Enlightenment presents an Alternative Burns Night 2025

The immense popularity of Rabbie Burns in Ulster is unquestioned. He was first published outside Scotland here. He spoke our language but his radicalism had a particular appeal for our discontented masses. Our weaver poets imitated him. Some and notably Samuel Thompson, ‘The Bard of Carngranny’ visited him and sought to enlist Burns’s support for the United Irish newspaper, the Northern Star.

There was an easy assumption that conditions in Ulster and Scotland were similar. In fact the Scottish radical movement was crushed in 1793-94 and its leaders were transported to Van Diemens Land whereas in Ulster the United Irish cause gathered pace.

By 1795 Burns’s position as a customs officer was under threat and he was in increasing ill health. He joined the Dumfries Volunteers, a government militia ,and wrote them a loyal ballad. His erstwhile admirers in Ulster were appalled and Samuel Thompson wrote a savage satirical riposte to Burns’s ballad.

Nonetheless on this ‘alternative’ Burns night we will celebrate his radicalism in song, music, and with writings from Dr Frank Ferguson and poetry from Alan Millar. Belfast harpist Ursula Burns and All Ireland Champion Piper Lachlin McKibbin will also take centre stage.

The night will include a traditional dinner of Haggis costing £20 each. Payment of £10 without dinner. Please book via Ticketbrite

Running Order:Dr Frank Ferguson – a tribute.
A suffragette’s response to the toast.
Hugh Jordan – songs and a meeting with Hugh Macdiarmid.
John Gray – William Wordsworth and Burns
Alan Millar – an Ulster Scots poetic tribute.
The ultimate Burns quiz.
Music by Ursula Burns on harp and Lachlan McKibbin on the uilleann pipes.
Dinner of haggis and neaps.Price £20 with dinner, £10 without.If requiring a vegetarian option please send an email to [email protected]

Each entry includes a years membership.

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