A Word in Your Lug is a series of films produced by Macmillan Media in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund. The 20 films are shot in some of Northern Ireland’s most scenic locations. Each features presenter Jane Veitch and Ulster Scots expert Liam Logan having a light hearted chat about the language and the meaning of many of the words we use in everyday conversation.
The backdrops feed the content of the banter between the two in this illuminating and entertaining collection of short films.
All videos made available on the Northern Ireland Community Archive with the kind permission of Liam Logan.
Sollus Centre for a hooley
Everyone loves a hooley and at the Sollus Centre near Strabane they are the experts. More than nine hundred people use this facility to train as dancers and we met up with a piper and dancer to show us how it’s done. You’ve got to be quare and soople to be a dancer and Liam explains that at a hooley he likes to get cleeked on to his dancing partner. And then there’s the origin of the US Dollar sign. Watch to find out more.
Tasty treats at Arthur’s Cottage
In this mouth watering episode, Liam and Jane have fired up the griddle at Arthur’s Cottage, Cullybackey. The Ulster Scots kitchen is renowned for its selection of bread products, as part of the Ulster Fry or indeed at any time of the day. Carbs are very much on the menu! We explore what a Soda Farl, Dropped Scone, Fadge and Slim are. So make yourself a Wee Drap of Tay, pull up a seat and enjoy.
Ark Open Farm
In this episode Liam & Jane are discussing some of the wonderful Ulster Scots words for amounts. With the help of some cute animals at the Ark Open Farm near Newtownwards, we discover what a ‘wheen, twathree, lock and clatter’ all mean.
An avian adventure at Castle Espie
On the shores of Strangford Lough, Co. Down, Castle Espie Wetland Nature Reserve is home to a vast array of our feathered friends. It’s the perfect backdrop to explore some Ulster Scots words for species of bird. Discover what a ‘whap, heatherbleat and pyyet are and where that widely used term ‘bake’ comes from – so shut yours and have a watch!
Come fly with me at the Ulster Aviation Museum
Liam was hoping to jet off somewhere exotic, but Jane has taken him down to explore the Ulster Aviation Museum near Lisburn. They don’t fly anywhere, but discover aircraft aplenty and if you’re called ‘fly’ by an Ulster Scots speaker, it isn’t a compliment!
Gone fishin’ in Fermanagh
Jane returns to her home County of Fermanagh in this episode and tries her hand at something she hasn’t done since she was a wee girl or ‘cutty’ as we like to say in Ulster Scots… fishing. With Liam’s help, she hooks a quare big pike and discovers a hook isn’t just something to catch a fish.
Spinning a yarn at the Linen Museum
It’s a trip to the Irish Linen Centre in Lisburn to discover some of the Ulster Scots connections to the weaving of linen. Jane tries her hand at some spinning, and Liam spins a few yarns about ‘lint, stooks, retting and Linen Greens. We also discover the impact Londonderry Linen had across the pond!
A boul of brochan at Arthur’s Cottage
Liam and Jane are in Arthur’s Cottage, Cullybackey and Liam is whipping up an Ulster Scots breakfast favourite. In the ancestral homestead of Chester A Arthur, the 27th President of the United States, the duo enjoy ‘a boul of brochan’ with Liam dispensing some Ulster Scots wisdom to round off the episode.
Weather chat at Crawfordsburn Country Park
Weather – it’s our favourite topic of conversation in these parts, and the lush backdrop of Crawfordsburn Country Park on a wet morning is the perfect location to discuss just some of the many Ulster Scots words for rain. Discover ‘skiff, smur and plump’ with Liam and Jane looking a little bit drookit by the end of the episode!
Seaside treats at Donaghadee
It’s an old fashioned trip to the seaside today and over some ice-cream, Liam and Jane discuss the Ulster Scots words and phrases for being fond of your grub. It’s not long before both of them start ‘culfin’ their cones.
Acting the gype at the Grand Opera Hoose
Charlie Chaplin, Luciano Pavarotti, Darcey Bussell , they’ve all treaded the boards here, but today it’s double act Liam and Jane visiting the stunningly restored Grand Opera House in Belfast. As usual, there’s a bit of ‘acting the gype’ and Pantomime favourite May McFettrige makes an appearance.
Somme Museum (part 1)
The Somme Museum outside Bangor, County Down, remembers the best known battle of the Great War and its huge significance to Northern Ireland and Ulster Scots Heritage. The museum’s recreation of a World War 1 trench, provides the backdrop for Liam to describe the conditions the troops would have endured – ‘the glar, clabber and stoor.’
Somme Museum (part 2)
Jane and Liam are back at the Somme Museum and continuing our journey in the trenches of World War 1. Discover more about the appalling conditions of trench warfare, how soldiers had to ‘jook’ and get down on their ‘hunkers’ and the overwhelming ‘steuch’ that would have permeated everything.
An Ulster fry at Platform 3
Food is never far from the agenda, and this episode dissects the constituent parts of a breakfast classic, The Ulster Fry. Discover how it’s different from a full English or full Irish, all in the delightful surroundings of the Platform 3 cafe at Whitehead Railway Museum.
A brave good day at Belfast Castle
Jane and Liam step back in time in this episode with a visit to beautiful Belfast Castle in Cavehill Country Park. The regal surroundings are perfect for Liam to tell us the story of Robert Quigg, from Bushmills, who received the Victoria Cross from King George V for his bravery at the Battle of the Somme. But of course in Ulster Scots, brave doesn’t just mean courageous. Take a minute to watch and you’ll learn a ‘brave’ bit.
The Gobbins
It’s been described as the most dramatic coastal path in Europe and the Gobbins Cliff path near Larne doesn’t disappoint. Join Liam and Jane as they navigate the walkway, and discover what would happen if they coped!
Titanic
It’s the world’s most famous ship, so Liam and Jane couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Titanic Visitor Experience in Belfast, on the site where the Titanic was actually built. Back in 1910, you would have heard lots of Ulster Scots words and phrases out in the shipyard, we uncover some of them in this episode.
A wee drap a tay on Lough Erne
This was a wonderful October day on Lough Erne, blue sky and sun reflecting on the clear waters at Devenish Island. Steering the boat is thirsty work so reason enough to boil the kettle and enjoy a ‘wee drap o tay.’ Jane has a right ‘druth’ on her and Liam’s looking for a ‘squig’ of milk in his cup.
Codology at St George’s market
Jane and Liam visit the market to buy some cod and explore the Ulster Scots word ‘codology’ which of course has no relation to fish at all.
Quet Yer Aul Codology!
Londonderry Walls
Liam and Jane are back in the days of the Siege in the Maiden City and exploring words like ‘weeflas’ and ‘weechils’ to describe how young the Apprentice Boys were when they closed the gates against invading Jacobite forces. In the Siege Museum we learn how the city starved and people had to eat their ‘doags’ to stay alive.
