Jay Basra Advocates for Ulster-Scots Language Recognition

By Aoife Wilson

On 11th February the newly reformed Ulster-Scots Society was unanimously approved by the Students’ Union Council – a move that was welcomed by Jay Basra, Vice-Chair of the QUB Young Unionists. When asked if the unanimous support from the SU Council is a positive indication of support, Basra remains cautiously optimistic. ‘It’s a great start, and the fact there was no opposition is encouraging, but more must be done in order to fully recognise the Ulster-Scots language at Queen’s University Belfast.’

The decision to revive the Ulster-Scots Society was influenced by previous versions of the group, which had never quite managed to last. ‘We took inspiration from that,’ says Basra, who also credits the efforts made by the Ulster-Scots Community Network (USCN) in his local council area. Founded in 1995, the USCN works to promote the Ulster-Scots language and culture, supporting over 400 member groups across Northern Ireland, the border counties of the Republic, and the wider Ulster-Scots diaspora [1]. With their backing and resources, Basra felt that setting up an official Ulster-Scots Language society on campus would be the most effective way to share those materials with students and encourage more people to get involved.

During Ulster-Scots Language Week, Basra teamed up with the Ulster-Scots Community Network to host an event which introduced QUB students to the language and its cultural roots. Deirdre Speer Whyte from the USCN delivered a talk outlining how the society could maintain its activity and longevity. Encouraged by the strong turnout and positive response from students, Basra and his peers were motivated to develop the society and subsequently gain official recognition from the Queen’s Students’ Union.

Although the society was unanimously approved by the Students’ Union Council, Basra’s motion for the Ulster-Scots language to be officially recognised by the SU has largely been ignored. The motion was classified as requiring a constitutional amendment – something the Council no longer debates. Although he was told it could progress to a student assembly, Basra has yet to receive any updates – ‘I have still yet to hear back from them on this issue. I have met with the SU officials and have heard nothing since November 2024.’

Expanding on his concerns, Basra references policies that actively promote the Irish language at Queen’s, including initiatives that were built upon the New Decade, New Approach agreement. In response, he lobbied the Students’ Union to include Ulster-Scots on the same basis, arguing that the language should receive equal treatment [2]. However, the lack of engagement from the SU has left Basra concerned that continued inaction could lead to the university’s Ulster-Scots heritage being gradually overlooked in favour of Irish.

Basra has been vocal about what he sees as unequal treatment between Irish and Ulster-Scots at Queen’s. He argues that the lack of investment and institutional support contributes to the perception that Ulster-Scots is a ‘second-class language.’ This, in turn, affects how younger generations view its relevance.

While Ulster-Scots is promoted at the primary and secondary school levels through outreach programmes by the Ulster-Scots Agency and Community Network, there is nothing equivalent at university level. According to Basra, both organisations have faced challenges engaging with Queen’s students because ‘there was no support available to them on campus.’ Until recently, the QUB Orange Society was the only group promoting the Ulster-Scots language on campus. Basra predicts that the formation of the new society will help preserve and promote the language within higher education institutions like Queen’s.

Despite these challenges, Basra is clear that gaining official language status for Ulster-Scots within the Students’ Union is not the society’s ultimate aim. Instead, he hopes that organising more events and activities that promote Ulster-Scots will help raise awareness and appreciation for the language. The society has already secured SU support for an annual Burns Night celebration, and Basra remains optimistic – ‘I hope that our work will overshadow the fact that we are not currently recognised as a language by the SU.’

Looking ahead, Basra plans to introduce Ulster-Scots language classes, delivered by experienced speakers from the Ulster-Scots Agency or Community Network. He believes that bringing this level of educational quality into a university setting will give students the opportunity to engage with the language in a worthwhile way.

He also recognises the importance of student-led movements in building momentum. ‘We need more student-led movements so we can get more students on board,’ he says, noting that students are more likely to connect with their peers. ‘Not every student wants to sit through a thirty minute language lecture on a Wednesday night. We can provide a wider range of activities that actually reflect student life.’

While some students may be hesitant to join the society due to perceived political associations, Basra is keen to set the record straight. He explains that, for him, Ulster-Scots is a matter of cultural identity rather than politics. ‘The political aspect is completely misconstrued,’ he says. ‘There are Ulster-Scots speakers who don’t come from unionist or Protestant backgrounds, and that needs to be acknowledged.’

When asked how the society plans to ensure inclusivity, Basra stresses the need of challenging stereotypes in order to create a welcoming space for all students, regardless of cultural or religious background.

Even if the Ulster-Scots language does not receive formal recognition from the SU, Basra finishes his statement confidently, ‘We want to have that presence, not in writing by the SU constitution but through our events and activities on campus.’ With the formation of the new Ulster-Scots Language Society, Queen’s University Belfast is taking a meaningful step toward recognising and celebrating the language’s cultural heritage. With Jay Basra’s passion and commitment, the future of Ulster-Scots at QUB seems bright.

More information on how to join the QUB Ulster-Scots Society is available here: https://home.q-su.org/clubssocieties/ulsterscots/

Sources

[1] Ulster-Scots Community Network (https://ulster-scots.com/ )

[2] Basra, Jay. “Recognition and Equality of the Ulster-Scots Language and Culture at Queen’s University.” Facebook photo. Last modified 2024. https://www.facebook.com/JayBasra.UUP2023/photos/recognition-and-equality-of-the-

[3] Ulster Scots Agency. “We’re Very Glad to Hear the New Ulster-Scots Society at Queen’s University Belfast.” Facebook post. Last modified 2025. https://www.facebook.com/UlsterScotsAgency/posts/were-very-glad-to-hear-the-new-ulster-scots-society-at-queens-university-belfast/907364714905791/.