Lewis man appointed as Scotland’s national poet

4 December 2024

Lewis man Dr Peter Mackay has been named Scotland’s new Maka the National Poet for Scotland.

The announcement was made at Bute House by First Minister John Swinney.

Dr Mackay’s appointment marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first Makar to primarily write in Gaelic.

The role of Makar, a three-year tenure supported by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Poetry Library, is a prestigious literary position dedicated to championing poetry across Scotland. The Makar is tasked with producing work reflecting significant national events and fostering a deeper appreciation of poetry throughout the country.

Dr Mackay, who is senior lecturer at St Andrews University said: “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.”

Dr Mackay also paid tribute to his predecessors, including Edwin Morgan, Liz Lochhead, Jackie Kay, and Kathleen Jamie, saying: “I have grown up reading the work of and learning from the previous holders of this post. It is a privilege to follow in their footsteps. I hope to do justice to their example: their warmth and support for other writers, their gifts for laughter and the right phrase, and their advocacy for poetry as being central to Scottish life.”

The term Makar originates from Scottish literature and was historically used to describe poets or bards in the 15th and 16th centuries. Revived in 2002, it now refers to the National Poet for Scotland, a role imbued with the creative act of “making.”

Dr Mackay said: “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 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—and to see what conversations, games, and debates can be sparked between them. I can’t wait.”

Dr Mackay, an expert in Scottish and Irish literature from 1800 onwards, has published acclaimed poetry collections, including Gu Leòr / Galore and Nàdur de / Some Kind of, both shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Poetry Book of the Year. A BBC Next Generation Thinker and regular broadcaster on Radio 3 and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, he brings extensive literary and cultural expertise to the role.