The Forum for Research on the Languages of Scotland and Ulster Conference

This celebration of poetry, drawn from thirty years researching local Ulster writing, made a major contribution to linguistic and literary studies in Northern Ireland and beyond. His collection was groundbreaking and daring. He gathered a range of writers from across many of the counties of Ulster, and for the first time gave serious critical reaction and space to labouring-class authors whose writing, culture and language were heavily inflected by the Scots literary and linguistic traditions in Ireland.

As much as he was a champion of the Scots language, he was particularly attuned to the established and new languages of Scotland and Ulster. His summers were spent in the Antrim Glens discovering the remnants of Gaelic culture and community life. Like his gathering of many works of local significance, he played a major role as mentor and supporter of emerging writers across the province. As a member of Irish PEN he travelled throughout Europe as champion of the vernacular and written word. His work as a critic brought him into contact with writers working on a variety of translations of Asian and European tongues.

In his personal life his house was open to any number of individuals keen to share their language and art. From fostering Basque children after the Spanish Civil war to sharing his table with various displaced person from Ireland and across Europe during and after World War Two his sense of inclusivity and support of those in need was a beacon to many.

In this year’s conference of the Forum for Research on the Languages of Scotland and Ulster they wish to use the memory of John Hewitt to highlight those individuals, groups and associations who have worked to improve the standing of the languages we cherish. In this way they would welcome papers that examine key figures and successes within language development as well as raising awareness of challenges that currently exist that may require special resolution and responses.