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
Frieda Morrison is awarded The Janet Paisley Award for services to the Scots Language.
The Doric board wish to extend our mony congratulations to oor very ain, Frieda Morrison on being awarded The Janet Paisley Award for services to the Scots Language, at the Na Trads awards on this...
Doric Corner with Dawn Leslie
Courtesy of The Press & Journal, Doric Corner with Dawn Leslie, Dec 2, 2023
Doric Board Recipients Inspire Ahead of Deadline
Mike Gibb Projects which received a financial shot in the arm to bring their ideas to fruition are encouraging other applications to a scheme which celebrates the richness and diversity of the North...
Doric Corner with Gordon Hay
Courtesy of Press and Journal, Doric Corner with Gordon Hay 25th November 2023
Doric Corner with Frieda Morrison
Press and Journal, Doric Corner Frieda Morrison, Sat 18th November 2023
Doric Corner with Jamie Fairburn
Courtesy of Press & Journal, Doric Corner, Jamie Fairburn Saturday 11th of November 2023
Meet the Doric P&J Columnists tae follow Robbie’s much loved legacy.
Mony o’ us were fair doon heirtit fan we learned o’ Robbie’s passing. Bit this is the waye o’ things, naebidy lasts fir iver. But ae thing fur sure is Robbie can be prood o’ a legeacy thit will be aroond fur a lang time yet.
Fowerteen fowk fae different wak’s o life hiv cam forward tae cairry i’ can forrit for Robbie ‘n’ keep his doric fire fairly stoked in huddin gan his P&J column. Fin’ oot mair in Neil Drysdale’s article in the P&J
A poetry collection, CAAL CRIES bi Alistair Lawrie
Alistair Lawrie is invitin fowk tae jine him for the launch o his new poetry collection ‘Caal Cries” at twa ivents, ane in Stoney and ane in Aiberdeen.
Aberdeen & Beyond Storytelling Festival 2023
Aye, there’s a fair puckle o’ yarns and nae doot a few haverin’s tae be telt at Aberdeen & Beyond Storytelling events, as pairt o’ the Scottish International Story Telling Festival. Courtesy o’ the varsity we are sharing pairt o’ the program here for ye, tae jalouse or doonload.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival 13-29th October 2023
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (13-29 October) 2023 opens today!
Congratulations as Doric Books Duo win Culture Award
The Doric Board gie’ their warm wishes an’ mony congratulations to Aaron Gale an Jackie Ross fa wun the Culture Award at the Inspiring Aberdeenshire Awards.
Grant Scheme Launches to Celebrate Doric
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 2024.
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 oor Doric Board Makar – Sheena Blackhall
Have a look at another special poem recorded by oor Doric Board 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...

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…

Doric Board Makar – Sheena Blackhall
Have look at these three special poems recorded by oor Doric Board 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…