Schoolchildren meet Scottish poet Robert Burns in Belfast today

Date: 22 Jan 2024

Four schoolchildren with Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy, Ian Crozier from Ulster-Scots Agency, a bagpiper and actor Christopher Tait as Robert Burns

Local primary schoolchildren and their teachers met Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns in Belfast today - in a special celebration of the life and works of the Scottish poet and lyricist.

Burns Week runs from today, Monday 22 January to Sunday 28 January, and, the event in City Hall was organised by the Ulster-Scots Agency in partnership with Belfast City Council.

In the photo are Robert Burns (Christopher Tait); Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy; Chief Executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency, Ian Crozier, bagpiper Grahame Harris and school pupils from Knockbreda and Rosetta Primary Schools.

Belfast has a strong historical connection to Ulster-Scots and a unique relationship with Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. It was the first place outside Scotland where his work was published and was home to members of his family and close friends.

One of the world’s oldest Burns clubs – the Belfast Burns Club - was established 151 years ago and Belfast is home of the largest collection of Burns material in the world outside Scotland, which is held at the Linen Hall Library.

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