New Year Awards 2023
The richness and diversity of the North East’s Doric culture is set to come under the spotlight once again, thanks to the launch of the Doric Board New Year Awards 2023. The Doric Board has just opened up the fourth annual awards to applications from projects which celebrate the region’s exceptional heritage of Doric language, music, ballad, song, story, history, lore – and the creativity of those who live and work in the area.
Welcome Tae The Doric Board
North East Tradition An Language
The North-East o Scotland is hame tae an exceptional heritage o language, music, ballad, song, story, history an lore – alongside the dynamic creativity o fowk faa bide an wirk there. A key element in ess heritage, is North East Scots, (generally kent as Doric) the expressive tongue in fit mony North-Easters spik, think an feel.
A sma gaitherin o like-minded fowk cam the gither recently, tae energise public appreciation o this heritage an formed The Doric Board (North-East Tradition an language – NETAL). The main aim o The Doric Board will be, through advocacy, campaignin, education, events and fundin, is tae enhance linguistic an cultural confidence in the North-East, an be a powerful vyce for social, and economic regeneration – and a driver towards a national Scots Language Board. The Doric Board aims tae create an support a sustainable, dynamic future for Doric as a vibrant language – respected across the region in the context o a divers an open society.
It is the intention o The Doric Board, tae support the aims bi promotin an developin Doric as an integral pairt o the region’s heritage, identity an cultural life. Oer mony decades Doric his suffered, like the Scots language generally, fae bein seen as somehoo lackin in value.
Fooiver, The Doric Board will wirk towards promotin an facilitatin access tae the region’s cultural treasures through its language, an increase the acceptance o Doric in education, the workplace an in the media. Tae dae this effectively, the Doric Board will wirk wi The Scottish
Government, local authorities, universities, schools and colleges – tae improve provision an accessibility across aa sectors, baith for native spikkers – an importantly, learners.
Welcome to the Doric Board
North East Tradition And Language
The North-East of Scotland is home to an exceptional heritage of language, music, ballad and song, story, history, and lore, alongside the dynamic creativity of those who live and work there. A key element in this heritage is North-East Scots (generally known as “Doric”), the expressive tongue in which many North-Easters speak, think, and feel.
A small group of like-minded people came together recently to energise public appreciation of this heritage and formed The Doric Board (North-East Tradition and Language – NETAL). The main aim of The Doric Board will be, through advocacy, campaigning, education, events and funding, is to enhance linguistic and cultural confidence in the North-East, and be a powerful voice for social, and economic regeneration, and a driver towards a national Scots language Board. The Doric Board aims to create and support a sustainable, dynamic future for Doric as a vibrant language – respected across the region in the context of a diverse and open society.
It is the intention of The Doric Board to support these aims by promoting and developing Doric as an integral part of the region’s heritage, identity, and cultural life. Over many decades Doric has suffered, like the Scots language generally, from being seen as somehow lacking in value. However, The Doric Board will work towards promoting and facilitating access to the region’s cultural treasures through its language, and increase the acceptance of Doric in education, the workplace and in the media. To do this effectively, the Doric Board will work with Scottish Government, local authorities, universities, schools and colleges to improve provision and accessibility across all sectors, both for native speakers, and importantly, learners.
News and Press
Press & Journal: “Aberdeen’s Frieda Morrison is thrilled at the success of the Doric Film Festival and other initiatives”
By Neil Drysdale The broadcaster, singer and culture lover has spent decades supporting the endangered north-east language and lore Frieda Morrison is one of those little coiled springs of energy...
Elphinstone Institute – Tales Fae The Doric Side
Tales Fae The Doric Side is collaboration project between writer Jo Gilbert and The Friends of Elphinstone, Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, and funded by Creative Funding.
The Cruden Bay Bram Stoker Knew
In 1891 Rev Adam Drummond arrived as the new minister of the Congregational Church in Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire. His tenure of office was short as he moved to Macduff some four years later.
But, in that short period, Mr Drummond…
Cullen Skink World Championships results
Congratulations tae Margaret Macrae fae Kyle of Lochalsh for winning the Cullen Skink World Championships on Sunday (26th March). Margaret saw aff tough competition fae Cullen's Lynne Watson, who...
Celtic Media Festival 2023
The Scots Radio team is delighted to announce that they have been nominated for a 'Torc Award of Excellence' at the Celtic Media Festival. This year the festival will be held at Dunloe in County...
Soutar Festival of Words line-up announced
The programme an line-up for this year's Soutar Festival of Words has been announced bi Culture Perth & Kinross, wi poets, storytellers an writers taen pairt atween 28th-30th April. There will...
Tickets available for Peter and the Wolf
Tickets have gone on sale for SNOJO's Peter and the Wolf, performance which will be showcased at 3pm on Saturday 18th March at Aiberdeen's Queens Cross Church. It will be presented by the Scottish...
Peter and the Wolf – Premier in Doric
The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra puts a local spin on its jazz adaptation of Peter and the Wolf for a special performance at Queen’s Cross Church, Aberdeen on Saturday 18th March.Celebrated...
Tales fae the Doric Side launch
An Anthology o new writin in North East Scots, caad ‘ Tales fae the Doric Side’ is being launched at the Blue Lamp in Aiberdeen today (Tuesday 21st February) – 7pm for 7.30pm. The collection was...
Gordon Hay Interview
Gordon Hay fae the Doric Board spiks wi Frieda Morrison, aboot the Doric Board's 'New Year Awards' an his ain special projects. https://soundcloud.com/scotsradio/gordon-hay
Doric Board New Year Awards 2023
The Doric Board has distributed its latest series of financial awards to 15 projects across the North East of Scotland. The annual awards once again attracted a rich and diverse range of entries from across the North East and beyond…
Steve Byrne appointed as new Director o TRACS
Steve Byrne will tak oer as the Director o TRACS in March (photograph by Neil Hanna) TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) announced on Monday 11th January that they hiv appointed Steve...
Special Features

Quinepedia
A new website has been set up tae celebrate and commemorate some o the kent an nae sae weel kent women o the North East. Quinepedia wis the brainchild o Professor Sarah Pederson an Professor PeterReid fae Robert Gordon University, an it's pairt o the Being Human...

Love Golf
Aroon 290,000 golf fans will be gaitherin in St Andrews this week for the 150th Scottish Open. The event is forecast tae provide £200 million tae the economy an stimulate even mair interest in the game. But fit has made this sport so popular. Frieda Morrison jines golf professional…

Special Poem from North-East Makar – Sheena Blackhall
Have a look at another special poem recorded by North-East Makar, Sheena Blackhall for the Doric Board. This one is being used by the Dictionaries of the Scots Language as part of their anniversary celebrations of A.J (Jack) Aitkin's 100th birthday. Aitkin was editor...

A Sense of Place – Jackie Ross
In ess episode, Jackie Ross taks Finn Nixon doon the ferm road tae a place that huds the start o a special North East story – foo o kidnaps, adventure an slavery. Afore that we hear fae Jackie aboot plans for the new Doric Books Publication company. The Doric Board ·...

TedX Talk – ‘Is Doric Dying?’
‘Is Doric Dying?’ - That’s the title of the speech that local entrepreneur, Lauren Hay will be presenting at this year’s TED Talk organised by TEDX Aberdeen. A unique line up of speakers will be presenting their insights into a diverse list of topics at the Aberdeen...

Book o Deer Project
An Aberdeenshire Heritage Community Group welcomed guests to the Aden Heritage Museum in Mintlaw – to celebrate the return of one of Scotland’s most valuable treasures…

North East Makar – Sheena Blackhall
Have look at these three special poems recorded by North-East Makar, Sheena Blackhall for the Doric Board: "Bawd bi the Dee" by Sheena Blackhall "Drumneachie Farm" by Sheena Blackhall "Veesions frae a Heilan Burn" by Sheena Blackhall

The Puddock
A special adaption o ‘The Puddock’ for video produced bi Cameron Lawie. The storyteller is Jackie Ross fae Doric Books an it has…

Jackie Ross – North East Storyteller
In this year of stories, Jackie Ross, a director of the Doric Books Company, is one of the busiest storytellers in Scotland.Journalism student Esther Chizat from Toulon in France, wanted to find out more about Jackie’s company and plans for…

Daniel Abercrombie – Scottish International Storytelling Festival
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival launches on the 15th October and runs until the 31st October. With the theme ‘Imagine’, the festival hosts over 100 performers to take…