Gaelic Poet and Academic Appointed Makar
Keira Brown
Communications
Edinburgh City of Literature Trust
05 December 2024
New Scottish Makar Announced
The Scots word Makar means "one who fashions, constructs, produces, prepares, etc." (Dictionary of the Scots Language), and in a literary context it is the role of the poet or author as a skilled and versatile worker in the craft of writing. Twenty years ago the first Scottish Makar was appointed, which at that time was the late Edwin Morgan. Holders of the post are appointed by the Scottish Government and supported by the Scottish Poetry Library, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024..
Established in 2004, the Makar is also known as the National Poet of Scotland, and takes a leadership role in promoting poetry in Scotland and internationally, as well as producing work relating to significant national events.
Academic, writer and broadcaster Pàdraig MacAoidh [Peter Mackay] has this year been appointed as Scotland’s Makar – our national poet. First Minister John Swinney MSP formally welcomed him into the role at Edinburgh Central Library on 2 December 2024.
Photo of Peter Mackay and John Swinney by Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter
Pàdraig is a native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Lewis. He is an academic, writer and broadcaster whose work is influenced by the diverse linguistic heritage of his birthplace. With an MA from Glasgow University and a PhD from Trinity College Dublin, he has worked at the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, Queen’s University Belfast, and at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, where he was writer in residence. He has also worked as a journalist and television news producer for the BBC. He lectures on literature at the University of St Andrews.
'It is an honour and a pleasure to be appointed as Scotland’s new Makar.
I’m very grateful to the panel for their faith in me, and to the First Minister for his support, and especially his enthusiasm about a Gaelic poet taking on the role. I have grown up reading the work of and learning from the previous holders of this post and it is a privilege to follow in their footsteps.” He continued: 'I love that Scotland has a ‘Makar’, not a poet laureate: the act of ‘making’ is central to the role, and that the title is in Scots adds a particular distinctive grounding. Part of my task, as I see it, is to encourage people to make things in all the different languages of Scotland, the dozens of languages spoken in this country: to see what kinds of conversations, games, debates can be sparked between them. I can’t wait.'You can find out more about Peter/Padraig through the Scottish Poetry Library's website, and he's also on X.
