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St Andrews Honorary Doctorate St Andrews August 18. Portobello Sept 20 Darvel October 10, 2026 Saltire Sessions Youtube The Gathering Stream Spotify ScotsWhayHae Podcast Born in Kyle Book Details/Contacts Books on Audible A Time for Reflection Scottish Parliament Indymatters YoutubeH Honorary Degree July 1st 2026 St Andrews University What a great honour for me and a wonderful day out for my family this memorable day was. The whole ceremony is fascinating as it includes the installation of the new Chancellor of the University Anne Pringle. The wonderful Laureation by the Makar Peter Mackay begins after the choir 1.28.00 and my reply ends at 1.37.00 https://www.youtube.com/live/setHE3kdNd4?si=5JBa_ir2qc2PmPYQ This the Laureation text https://graduation.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2026/laureation-address-billy-kay/ This is the text of my reply: TAPADH LEAT, FOR THESE KIND WORDS PETER, AND THANK YOU VICE CHANCELLOR FOR CONFERRING THIS HONOUR UPON ME. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FELLOW GRADUATES IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SHARE THIS WONDERFUL DAY WITH YOU I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CLASSICAL THEME BY RECALLING THAT WHEN ANCIENT SCOTTISH BURGHS LIKE ST ANDREWS WERE FOUNDED IN THE REIGN OF DAVID I BACK IN THE 11th CENTURY, HE ADDRESSED THE INHABITANTS AS SCOTTIS ET ANGLIS, FRANKIS ET FLEMMINGIS – THE SCOTS, ENGLISH, FRENCH AND FLEMISH WHO INHABITED WHAT WE PROUDLY CALLED THE COMMUNITY OF THE REALM. SCOTLAND THEN WAS A MULTI NATIONAL, MULTI CULTURAL AND MULTIINGUAL COUNTRY FROM ITS VERY BEGINNINGS AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT THIS CONTINUES TODAY WHERE DIVERSITY IS CHERISHED, A CIVIC RATHER THAN AN ETHNIC NATIONAL IDENTITY PREVAILS AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO BELONG IS TO WANT TO BELONG, TO RESPECT THE CULTURE AND TO RETURN THE LOVE THAT WE BESTOW UPON ON YOU… AND THIS IS NOW YOUR ROLE TOO, TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU CHERISHED YOUR TIME HERE AND TO BECOME AMBASSSADORS FOR SCOTLAND WHEREVER IN THE WORLD YOU GO – TO ENGAGE WITH US IN THE SOFT DIPLOMACY THAT WE'RE VERY GOOD AT - FROM THE BRILLIANCE OF OUR SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS TO THE GALLUS CHARM OF THE TARTAN ARMY – AND I WAS A FOOTSOLDIER IN BOSTON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I WAS BROUGHT UP IN AYRSHIRE BY PARENTS WHO GAVE MY CULTURE AND LANGUAGE RINGING ENDORSEMENTS WITH OLD SCOTS PROVERBS LIKE "THAIM WI A GUID SCOTS TONGUE IN THEIR HEID ARE FIT TAE GANG OWER THE WORLD." I TOOK THAT PHILOSOPHY WITH ME ON MY TRAVELS FOR THE SCOTTISH WORLD AND WHEN THE FIFE BORN PHILANTHROPIST ANDREW CARNEGIE APPLIED FOR A JOB IN PITSBURGH AS A YOUNG MAN IN 1870 AND THE BOSS ASKED HIM IF HE WAS NATIVE BORN, ANDREW REPLIED "NO, SIR, I'M A SCOTCHMAN" WHEN HE RECALLED THE INCIDENT LATER IN LIFE HE SAID THAT "IT MADE HIM FEEL AS PROUD AS EVER ROMAN DID WHEN IT WAS THEIR BOAST TO SAY "I AM A ROMAN CITIZEN" CARNEGIE WAS PART OF THAT GREAT SCOTTISH TRADITION CALLED THE DEMOCRATIC INTELLECT - WHERE FROM THE REFORMATION ONWARD SCOTS OF EVERY CLASS HAD ACCESS TO EDUCATION. WE STILL DO, AND YOU'VE BEEN PART OF IT HERE IN ONE OF OUR MOST PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS GIN YE HAE A GUID SCOTS OR GAELIC TONGUE IN YER HEID, THEN YAISE IT, BUT EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD SCOTS TONGUE IN YOUR HEAD, YOU CAN STILL LEAVE HERE WITH A GOOD SCOTS HEART IN YOUR BREAST AND WE'LL LOVE YOU FOR KEEPING IT BEATING STRONGLY WHEREVER YOU GO…. AND REMEMBER IN THE WORDS OF ROBERT BURNS NAE TREASURE NOR PLEASURE COULD MAK US HAPPY LANG, THE HERT AYE'S THE PAIRT AYE THAT MAKS US RICHT OR WRANG. THE HEART IS ALWAYS THE PART THAT MAKES US RIGHT OR WRONG GANG FORIT FAE HERE IN GUID HERT – GO FORTH FROM HERE IN GOOD HEART BUT HASTE YE BACK – COME BACK AND SEE US WHENEVER YOU CAN. THANK YOU Preaching a sermon in St Salvators Chapel July 3rd I was also asked by the University Chaplain Reverend Donald McEwan if I would give a sermon as part of one of the thanksgiving for graduation services. The Service lasts just over 30 minutes and includes a fine readin by the Chaplain from the Lorimer Scots Bible. My sermon on the Democratic Intellect begins at 22.20 ends 32.15 https://www.youtube.com/live/bikZrYtyESU?si=SHeSbSILCJjsLE55 Time: 22.20 end 32.15 A Guid Scots Tongue in Yer Heid August 18 at 2.30 pm in St Andrews Bowling Club Oranised by St Andrews Preservation Trust to complement the Exhibition on Scots, Hamewith at the Museum in North Street You can book your place here: https://tynyurl.com/AutumnTalk1-26 Billy Kay is one of the country's greatest proponents of the Scots language. Here he will celebrate the history, the social history and the literature in the language from Dunbar through Burns to Lewis Grassic Gibbon. Billy will show the contemporary relevance of Scots with readings from his Ayrshire childhood that he recounts vividly and humorously in his book Born in Kyle. Mair in Scots Gey few scrievers hae duin mair than Billy Kay tae mak fowk awaur o the pouer o the Scots leid an the pleisure its speakers hae in celebratin it's virr an beauty as pairt o their Scottish identity. In thir events, Billy will delicht the audience by giein thaim stories fae their ain linguistic history through examples o Scots leiterature gaun back hunners o years – fae Dunbar tae Fergusson an fae Burns tae Grassic Gibbon. He'll talk as weel aboot the social history o Scots an explore unco attitudes tae it fae its gowden era o the Makars tae the Scottish Cringe manifested by the likes o the Sook, James Boswell efter the Union. Fowk engage wi thir stories for they hae never heard ocht like thaim afore an they touch baith their heid an their hert. As weel as that, he'll shaw that Scots is still a leivin leid, giein ensamples o his ain scrievin fae his book Born in Kyle – A Love Letter tae an Ayrshire Childhood. Thir readins will range fae bairnheid memoirs that are sae thrang wi humour that they've been compared tae Mark Twain's writin aboot Tom Sawyer an Huckleberry Finn… tae dowie stories like Inrush at Nummer Fower aboot a minin disaster in Billy's hame toun o Gawston in 1924. Luggin in tae Billy's talk will gar fowk realise hou muckle Scots they hae fae their ain background, syne hoo important it is tae hain it as pairt o their identity. Fergusson's Auld Reikie Portobello Town Hall Afternoon of September 20th We go again with another great line up of Traditional musicians. After the sell-out success of Fergusson's Auld Reikie in 2024, it is time to give it another airing! We come together to celebrate the genius of 18th Century Edinburgh poet, Robert Fergusson. Auld Reikie will be read by Billy Kay with music and song of the period intertwined by Jim Malcolm, Sarah Hoy, Steve Byrne and Gary West. Fergusson's Auld Reikie portrays the teeming life of Edinburgh's closes, tenements and taverns in the 1770s through the vivid poetry of Robert Fergusson and the great Scots songs and airs of the time. Fergusson's Auld Reikie was originally performed by Billy Kay, Tony Cuffe, Derek Hoy, Norman Chalmers and Rod Paterson and it is an honour to bring this beautiful piece of work back to life. Doors open at 2.30pm for a 3pm start. The first part of this concert will feature solo sets from the musicians and singers before a short interval and then the second half will be a performance of the show Fergusson's Auld Reikie. This concert is being supported by Creative Scotland. Tickets here: LACE150 Darvel Town Hall October 19th A As part of Darvel's 150th anniversary celebration of the coming of the machine lace industry to the Irvine Valley I will host an event with local folk celebrating the lace industry and its impact on the community. More details toFollow Saltire Sessions February 2026 I had a great conversation with fellow writer Mairi Kidd as part of this new initiative by the highly respected Saltire Society. You can join us here. https://www.youtube.com/@thesaltiresociety4598 The Gathering Stream with Paul Malgrati Paul is a French academic who has taken Scottish culture to heart. So it was a pleasure to take part in his podcast. https://open.spotify.com/show/33kscKGpRCI7pVywRoB0j7 https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wjKtLxSvvyQMUcRVNFg1f Scots Whay Hae Podcast on Youtube Delighted to talk to Alistair Braidwood about out shared passion for Scottiswh literature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2kFSRWiOY&list=PLTMXFztpzkGU-N-4od7HwcNsCxm7jvBu4&index=9 Born in Kyle is available in Paperback & Hardback and on Kindle & Audible. If you would like a signed copy and can pay by BACS transfer, please e mail me with your details: billy@billykay.scot For an address in the UK, the cost would be £12 for the paperback and £18 for the hardback. You can see them all by visiting my Author Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001K85LGO BORN IN KYLE A Love Letter tae an Ayrshire Childhood Naebody has duin mair than Billy Kay tae mak fowk awaur o the pouer an beauty o their guid Scots tongue, an tae gie it its richtfu place at the hert o the national culture. In Born in Kyle, Kay gaes back tae his ain linguistic ruits in the toun o Gawston in Ayrshire's Irvine Valley, an scrieves vieve memoirs o growin up there in the saicont hauf o the 20th century. But he duis mair than that in a steirin mell o creative non-fiction an gleg short stories that create a sense o place wi a historie gaun back hunners o years an a sense o belangin for aw the fowk that appear here; fae glaikit gomerils tae wice worthies, fae guid sowels tae sleekit nyaffs, fae braw lassies tae gallus laddies, fae heidbangers tae fitba pioneers! Billy Kay lues the airt an the fowk he cam fae, sae the lowe o this shines bricht in this, his celebration o wha we are. One of the most important figures in the Scots revival of the late 20th and early 21st centuries is Billy Kay. Through radio, television, plays, creative writing and especially his hugely influential book Scots The Mither Tongue, Kay's work helped change people's negative perception of Scots and paved the way for its acceptance as a key element in Scottish cultural identity. In Born in Kyle Kay goes back to his own linguistic and cultural roots and celebrates a sense of place and belonging in his native Galston in Ayrshire's Irvine Valley. Looking back, Kay realises that his was the last of the pre-television generations, and life was lived in a strong Scots-speaking environment which would be eroded when television in English was beamed into every household from the early 1960s onwards. In a vivid, gutsy and realistic Scots prose shot through with humour, Kay brings alive the characters he grew up with, some in personally recalled memoirs, others in short stories which bring out a history and a literary history inherited by local folk going back hundreds of years. This is his love letter to working class life in small town Scotland. Hardback ISBN 978-1-9993309-4-1 £16.99 "He has shown us images of ourselves that don't conspire with the prevailing media coverage – half pantomime, half Hollywood – and he has shown us that we can and do speak naturally and easily in a language of grace,dignity and power. Much of his work has been moving, delightful, even inspiring." Cover images: Author pic by Louis DeCarlo; other photos courtesy of the author. Cover design: James Hutcheson PAPERBACK EDITION £9.99 ISBN 978-1-9993309-3-4 MY BOOKS ON AUDIBLE Both Born in Kyle and Scots The Mither Tongue are available as Audiobooks through Audible. Both are narrated by me. https://www.audible.co.uk/author/Billy-Kay/B001K85LGO Time for Reflection Scottish Parliament April 26th, 2022. I wis gey vauntie tae be invitit tae gie the Time for Reflection speech in Scots by Emma Harper MSP. It created quite a stooshie, wi the majority luein it, an ultra unionist Scots deniers foamin at the mooth ower it's inclusion! Their ignorance is as deep as Loch Ness. Tae thaim I gie ye the words o Burns. The mair they talk, I'm kent the better, E'en let them clash; An auld wife's tongue's a feckless matter To gie ane fash. It was a privilege to lead the Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament on April 26th, and to create a bit of history. This was almost certainly the first speech delivered in Scots since the pre Union parliament of 1707. Ye can see whit I said by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am1MCJsEGYA Here is the Scots text: Thenk ye, Presidin Officer, for giein me this honour o addressin oor National Pairlament. I'll stairt wi a kenspeckle quote fae Hugh MacDiarmid, ane o the skeeliest makars in Scots leiterature's thoosan year history: Tae Be Yersel's an tae mak that worth bein/Nae harder job tae mortals has been gien. It's maybe even harder for MSPs – for you cannae jist be yersel for yersels – but for aw the sels, aw the sowels, aw the brither an sister Scots fae Maidenkirk tae Johnny Groats and ayont, that ye represent, amang whilk theres ower 1.5 million Scots speakers. Noo's the day an noo's the oor tae rax oot an bring their words scrievit on the waws ootside the pairliament intae the hert o this chaumer, words perfit for debate like SPEIR inquire THREAP assert JALOUSE suspect, TAK TENT take care OR IT'S TINT its lost, OR gin ye dinnae want tae be douce ye can hae a FLYTIN – for it's a leid hoatchin wi gleg insults - glaikit gawkit gowk In daein sae ye'll raise the international profile o this airt wi words fae fremmit leids that touch us hame - French se facher - dinnae fash yersel – Dutch hunkers, Scandinavian lugs, an Latin dispone. Ye'll be howkin as weel fae a gowden seam in yer ain histories MacDiarmid wis a foundin faither o the National Pairty - Fellae makar Cunninghame Graham an his frien Kier Hardie the Labour Pairty The chiel wha first defined oor democratic intellectualism wis the Conservative Walter Elliot…. The Liberal Gladstone – wis oreiginally Gled Stane, Gled bein Scots for the bird o prey the kite. An the Greens are thirled tae oor ayebydand land whaur Scots words like smir, caller, haar or gloamin seem tae arise oot the yird itsel an haud oor herts. But mair important than thon ye'll gie a signal tae weans in the schuil that the culture o their hame is valued bi fowk electit by their mithers an faithers. Bairns like the quaet wee lass in P2 in Fawkirk wha ran an lowped intae her teachers airms lauchin an greetin wi joy when she furst heard her mither tongue in cless, or the sweirt learners in Dundee, dour teenage boays wha gaed tae the tap o the cless for the first time when the langage they yaised ilka day cam intae the schuil in books they then devoured …an never luikit back. Scottish weans transformed learnin a Scottish leid. A nation whaur naebody's excludit and awbody kens they belang – shuirly, dear Members o the Scottish Pairliament, thon's weel worth bein yersel for. Indymatters Anyone in search of my programmes when they are no longer available on BBC Sounds, should head over to the Youtube channel Indymatters. They have uploaded a number of my archive series, so you might well find what you are looking for there: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8pvizzdWKWWNqaTIZirHyg/playlists?disable_polymer=1 |