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
Scottish Parliament Congratulates 2023 Scots Language Awardees.
Fit rare tae see sae mony fowk fae the northeast get recognition in this years awards.
Toulmin Prize 2023 Winners
Mony Congratulations to the Toulmin Prize winners for 2023.
Tracy Geddes and Rachel Matheson are baith winners ess ‘ear.
Winners crowned at Scots Language Awards 2023
The winners of the Scots Language Awards 2023 were unveiled at a celebratory ceremony
Doric Film Festival Films tae be shown in Cineworld, Union Square
The 48 Hour Film Project an’.SHMU poodly present a nicht o’ cracking wee short films showcasing the beezers o’ local filmmaking talent!
The screening will be followed by a Q & A with the filmmakers and networking drinks in the bar.
A fair pucklie o’ oor ain Doric Film Festival winners will be featured in the evening.
Doric Board Announces New Event
Dinna miss iss ane! The Flora Garry Memorial Lecture - A North East Hairst A New Event from the Doric Board. Plans to stage a brand-new event inspired by one of the North East’s most important...
Aul MacDonald Hid a Fairm
Check oot iss great wee video o’ Aaron Gale’s bookie, ‘Aul McDonald Hid a Fairm’ sang and told by Aaron Gale and Jackie Ross. Funded by The Doric Board
Dracula – Mina’s Reckoning
A doric Dracula?
Nae fir the faint heartit! We hear great reviews aboot this grand Scottish production inspired bi the weel kent Brahm Stoker’s tale o’ Dracula. Dracula wis inspired by Brahm’s ain jaloosies roon Slains Castle and there aboots, he took pen tae paper and gied us the world’s maist famous bleed sooker baddie, Dracula. Nae doot there wis plenty doric amang the inspiration o’ the bars and shebeens roon Cruden Bey at the time.
ABERDEEN & BEYOND STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
Join GAS – Grampian Association of Storytellers and the Elphinstone Institute for a jamboree of stories from Aberdeen and beyond, reflecting the real international character of...
Doric Nursery Rhymes for Loons and Quines
Doric Nursery Rhymes for Loons and QuinesGordon Hay reads fae his book ‘Doric Nursery Rhymes for Loons & Quines’. Filmed bi Graham Read at Alford Heritage Museum. The book wis voted ‘Best Scots...
Wayword Festival – Storytelling & Place
Fower short films tae be premiered throughout WayWORD. Young French film-maker Anais Fourrier follows four North-East storytellers around Aberdeenshire as they tell their lively folktales in situ. ...
New Book by Mike Gibb – I Had Never Heard a City Cry Before
I Had Never Heard A City Cry Before is a novel about two fictional men, the shy and gentle Kenny from Peterhead and the jack-the-lad Steven from Aberdeen, set against the background of the world’s worst oilfield disaster on the Piper Alpha platform in the North Sea on 6 July 1988.
Robbie Shepherd championed Doric all his life after his teachers tried to ‘drum it out’ of him
Robbie Shepherd, picture courtesy of the P&J The much-loved broadcaster, musician and writer fought to preserve the north-east's cultural traditions - and poet Sheena Blackhall has written a poem in...
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…