Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots holds a celebration of Robert Burns at Parliament Buildings
The Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots MLA hosted an event to celebrate Robert Burns and Ulster Scots in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday.
This is the second time the Speaker has held the celebration event.
The Speaker was led into the Great Hall by bagpiper Grahame Harris and joined by Assembly Members and Assembly Commission staff.
Coloratura soprano Rebecca Murphy sang four songs - ‘My Luve is Like a Red Red Rose’, ‘Ae Fond Kiss’, ‘Scots Song’ and ‘My Lagan Love’ and was accompanied by pianist Tristan Russher.
Following that, David Gilliland from the Ulster Scots Agency presented a talk about Robert Burns and the poet’s links with Northern Ireland.
Refreshments, including haggis, were served in the Members Dining Room after the event.
Burns Night is a cultural event that predominately takes place in Scotland on January 25.
The event has been celebrated for over 200 years and is steeped in tradition.
Burns Night Super is at the heart of the celebrations, with traditional food and poems featured throughout.
While each Burns Night Supper is individual, traditionally, the night will follow this running order.
Before everyone tucks into the meal, the Selkirk Grace is said:
“Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be Thankit!”
When the meal is served the host reads one of Burns' most well known poems - Address to a Haggis.
After the meal, more poems are shared and the Immortal Memory is given, which comes from the original speech given by Burns' friends, those centuries ago.
There is also a Toast to the Lassies where a male guest says a toast to women present, they then return the favour with the Reply to the Toast to the Lassies.
The evening ends with guests crossing their arms and joining hands to sing Auld Lang Syne.