Lisneal College Burns Night

Hello Oul freens you are all invited to Lisneal's Burns Night Supper, Concert and Ceilidh on Friday 25th January at 7pm. The entertainment includes Tullitrain Pipe Band, Sollus, Shelly Anne Campbell and Tiny Feet schools of dance as well as a variety of talented local singers and musicians. Followed by the Alistair Scott Ceilidh Band. Tickets are priced at £14.50 and can be bought from the School Office (028 71348888)

Auld Lang Syne

Now you have no excuse on Mon Night (Tues morning) and of course on the 25th as well.

Auld Lang Syne

1788
Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne! Chorus.-For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne. And surely ye'll be your pint stowp! And surely I'll be mine! And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet, For auld lang syne. For auld, &c. We twa hae run about the braes, And pou'd the gowans fine; But we've wander'd mony a weary fit, Sin' auld lang syne. For auld, &c. We twa hae paidl'd in the burn, Frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin' auld lang syne. For auld, &c. And there's a hand, my trusty fere! And gie's a hand o' thine! And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught, For auld lang syne. For auld, &c

Lisneal Burns Night

All Welcome

Up tha Lum

Taken at the Ulster American Folk Park

As a wean I often heard burning something on the fire referred to as sending it "up tha lum". The lum being the chimney.
References to the lum can be found in Scots / Ulster-Scots literature from 1700 onwards eg.
1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings 77:
    Puir buddy, she lukit startit like, an’ sut doon awa at the tither side o’ the lum.
1786 Burns Halloween viii.:
    Till fuff! he started up the lum. 
I also uncovered a few sayins regarding the lum on the Internet.
Someone with a cast might have been referred to as - 'One eye on the pot and the other up the lum.'
  'Lang may yer lum reek.' — was a common expression to wish someone prosperity and plenty. 


Note my mother whose takin up computerin sent me an email to tell me that the entire sayin is:
Lang may yer lum reek an yer spicket (spigot) dribble.


Lastly 'Cryin' up the lum.' - it has been suggested that this phrase was used to stress the importance of self reliance. However I'm not entirely convinced that this is correct. Any suggestions on the meaning of this sayin' would be most welcome.

Winter: A Dirge

Winter: A Dirge
by Robert Burns


The wintry west extends his blast, 
And hail and rain does blaw; 
Or the stormy north sends driving forth 
The blinding sleet and snaw: 
While, tumbling brown, the burn comes down, 
And roars frae bank to brae; 
And bird and beast in covert rest, 
And pass the heartless day. 

"The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast," 
The joyless winter day 
Let others fear, to me more dear 
Than all the pride of May: 
The tempest's howl, it soothes my soul, 
My griefs it seems to join; 
The leafless trees my fancy please, 
Their fate resembles mine! 

Thou Power Supreme, whose mighty scheme 
These woes of mine fulfil, 
Here firm I rest; they must be best, 
Because they are Thy will! 
Then all I want-O do Thou grant 
This one request of mine!- 
Since to enjoy Thou dost deny, 
Assist me to resign.

Yin befur bedtime

“Dare to be honest and fear no labor.”


 Robert Burns

Guid advice

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion!


Robert Burns - To a Louse

Say Nithin

A wheen a months ago I wrote aboot tha local version o Rabbie Burns' Epistle to a Young Friend that wus aftin quoted in mae hoose as a wean.


Aye ricth han your story tell
Whun wi a bosom crony
But aa keep something ta yorsel
Ye dinne tell ta onnie.

Aye free, aff-han', your story tell,
When wi' a bosom crony;
But still keep something to yoursel',
Ye scarcely tell to ony:


Whun I axt mae mither whut it meant she said,


"Whutiver ye say say nithin."

Yin that'll stan ye in guid stead

Today's aul sayin is a favourite of my mothers.

I'll gie it tae ye the way I herd it as a ween

Aye ricth han your story tell
When wi a bosom crony
But aa keep something ta yorsel
Ye dinne tell ta onnie

Those of you who are familiar with Rabbie will of course have recognised this, as a local version of the first 4 lines of verse five of Burn's, Epistle to a Young Friend the version that appears in most books of Burn's poetry is given below.

Aye free, aff-han', your story tell,
When wi' a bosom crony;
But still keep something to yoursel',
Ye scarcely tell to ony:

I love this piece of advice. To me encapsulates the Ulster-Scots ethos of stern, practical, level headedness. Burns is full of gems like this.

If your are unfamiliar with his work there are many free PDF copies of his poems and songs online.

Find below the full version of Robert Burn's - Epistle to a Young Friend
Many a young man leaving home to make his way in the world would --- da weel ta heed Burn's guid advice.

Epistle to a Young Friend

I Lang hae thought, my youthfu' friend,
A something to have sent you,
Tho' it should serve nae ither end
Than just a kind momento:
But how the subject-theme may gang,
Let time and change determine;
Perhaps it may turn out a sang:
Perhaps turn out a sermon.

Ye'll try the world soon my lad;
And, Andrew dear, believe me,
Ye'll find mankind an unco squad,
And muckle they may grieve ye.
For care and trouble set your thought,
Ev'n when your end's attained;
And a' your views may come to nought,
Where ev'ry nerve is strained.

I'll no say, men are villains a';
The real, harden'd wicked,
What hae nae check but human law,
Are to a few restricked;
But, och! mankind are unco weak,
An' little to be trusted;
If self the wavering balance shake,
It's rarely right adjusted!

Yet they wha fa' in fortune's strife,
Their fate we shouldna censure;
For still, th'important end of life
They equally may answer;
A man may hae in honest heart,
Tho' poortith hourly stare him;
A man may tak a neibor's part,
Yet hae nae cash to spare him.

Aye free, aff-han', your story tell,
When wi' a bosom crony;
But still keep something to yoursel',
Ye scarcely tell to ony:
Conceal yoursel' as weel's ye can
Frae critical dissection;
But keek thro' ev'ry other man,
Wi' sharpen'd, sly inspection.

The sacred lowe o' well-plac'd love,
Luxuriantly indulge it;
But never tempt th' illicit rove,
Tho' naething should divulge it:
I waive the quantum o' the sin,
The hazard of concealing;
But, och! it hardens a' within,
And petrifies the feeling!

To catch dame Fortune's golden smile,
Assiduous wait upon her;
And gather gear by ev'ry wile
That's justified by honour;
Not for to hide it in a hedge,
Nor for a train attendant;
But for the glorious privilege
Of being independent.

The fear o' hell's a hangman's whip,
To haud the wretch in order;
But where ye feel your honour grip,
Let that aye be your border;
Its slightest touches, instant pause--
Debar a' side-pretences;
And resolutely keep its laws,
Uncaring consequences.

The great Creator to revere,
Must sure become the creature;
But still the preaching cant forbear,
And ev'n the rigid feature:
Yet ne'er with wits profane to range,
Be complaisance extended;
An atheist-laugh's a poor exchange
For Deity offended!

When ranting round in pleasure's ring,
Religion may be blinded;
Or if she gie a random sting,
It may be little minded;
But when on life we're tempest-driv'n--
A conscience but a canker,
A correspondence fix'd wi' Heav'n,
Is sure a noble anchor!

Adieu, dear, amiable youth!
Your heart can ne'er be wanting!
May prudence, fortitude, and truth,
Erect your brow undaunting!
In ploughman phrase, ``God send you speed,''
Still daily to grow wiser;
And may ye better reck the rede,
Than ever did th' adviser!

Robert Burns