Will McAvoy

William (Will) McAvoy was born on Mid Island in Strangford Lough, one of three sons of a small farmer. The only language he heard growing us was the broad Scots tongue of his family. Will went to school in Greyabbey where, except for the teachers, the pupils all spoke in the same broad tongue. As well as farming, Will had several other jobs and was a professional wildfowler and later a warden on the Lough for the National Trust.

Will was a founder member of the Ulster-Scots Language Society and is also a very capable Scottish country dancer. Will’s one love is the Ulster-Scots language. He is well known for reciting poems and ‘addressing the haggis’ at Burns nights. Will has appeared on TV and radio as well as the Long Hall at Stormont and the City Hall in Belfast.

He is happiest when in the company of other Ulster-Scots speakers and promotes the language whenever possible. Through the Language Society he has produced three one-hour audio cassettes telling of his life on the Lough.