THE winners of the Scots Language Awards 2023 were unveiled at a ceremony on Saturday night.

The event, held at Johnstone Town Hall in partnership with Renfrewshire Council, saw 13 individuals, projects and businesses out of more than 60 nominees honoured.

Showcasing the best of Scots language and culture, the awards, which were launched in 2019, celebrate the importance of Scots within arts and culture but also within daily life, education, and business.

Playwright and screenwriter Rona Munro, from Selkirk, took home the award for Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by National Library of Scotland. Her stage credits include The James Plays for the National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and the National Theatre UK, with screen credits including work from Dr Who to Silver Bear and Bafta-winning films.

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Scots content creator Lauren Hay was named Scots Media Personality o the Year, while Rebecca Logan from Banff Academy was announced as Scots Teacher o the Year.

Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year, sponsored by the Scottish Government, was Guid Mornin! An Guid Nicht!, which was translated by Matthew Mackie and published by Tippermuir Books. Banff Academy teacher Jamie Fairbairn was named Scots Speaker o the Year. Monymusk Primary School in Aberdeenshire was awarded Scots School o the Year, sponsored by Itchy Coo / Black & White Publishing.

Scots Business o the Year was awarded to JG Ross the Baker, which has branches across the north-east.

Aberdeen student show Ayetanic was named Scots Project o the Year, while Thomas Clark from Bellshill won Scots Book o the Year for Animal Fairm, his translation of George Orwell’s 1945 novel. It was published by Luath Press, with the category spon- sored by the Scottish Book Trust.

Traditional singer Natalie Chalmers won Scots Performer o the Year. Young Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust, was awarded to Elise Atkins.

Shane Strachan, the current Scots Scriever at the National Library of Scotland, was named Scots Champion o the Year. The Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to singer, songwriter and broadcaster Frieda Morrison, who has spent her life promoting Doric.

Simon Thoumire, of Hands Up For Trad, which organises the awards, said: “It wis jist grand tae be giein richtfu recognition tae the mony fowk, businesses, scuils an ithers wha ower years lang syne an forrit intae oor ain time gie thir aa tae makin shair the Scots leid steys in guid hert.

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“This is the fowk keepin oor guid leid tae the fore in cultur, music an wirds as weel as speikin it wi pride in ilka pairt o thir day tae day livin.

“A muckle thanks tae thaim wha nominatit an votit fir this years winners an ilka bodie wha cam thegither wi us at the Johnstone Toon Ha.”