It has been a year since Peter Mackay was announced as the new Makar, or National Poet, of Scotland. Peter is the first native Gaelic speaker to take the position, and, like previous Makars, he has put his own unique stamp on the role.
To give an idea of the range of requests received, and carried out, below is a list of the activities that Peter has specifically undertaken as Makar, along with links to interviews, recordings and articles.
Among the activity of course is writing and delivering new or commissioned poems including commissions for the Scottish Government, Linen Hall Library (Belfast), University of Stirling, Odessa Unesco City of Literature, World Poetry Day, Burns Night and the opening of the new shinty museum in Inverness.
We are sure you’ll agree our Makar has not been idle in his first year!
The Makar’s Year 1 Engagements
| Date of activity | Engagement |
| 29.11.24 | Interview with The Scotsman conducted prior to official start, but article published on 03.12.24 |
| https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/books/gaelic-makar-scottish-culture-4892587 | |
| 29.11.24 | Interview with The Guardianconducted prior to official start, but article published on 03.12.24 |
| https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/dec/03/scotland-has-always-been-multilingual-new-scottish-makar-peter-mackay | |
| 03.12.24 | Various Makar announcement interviews with BBC Alba, BBC Scotland and Scottish Government |
| 04.12.24 | Interview with BBC Front Row programme |
| https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025kzp | |
| 05.12.24 | Interview with BBC Arts Mix |
| https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025mbz | |
| 06.12.24 | Interview with The Scottish National , article published 08.12.24 |
| https://www.thenational.scot/news/24767084.gaelic-expert-peter-mackay-named-scotlands-new-makar/ | |
| 13.12.24 | Interview with The Courier,published 04.01.25 |
| https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/culture/5150216/peter-mackay-makar-poetry-standrews-university/ | |
| 13.12.25 | Interview with Fiona Rintoul, Hebevents,published 09.01.25 |
| https://www.hebevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/EVENTS-227.pdf | |
| 17.12.24 | Interview with Irish publication, tuairisc.ie. |
| https://tuairisc.ie/munlaionn-mo-dhuchas-gaelach-mar-fhile-me/ | |
| 18.12.24 | Naoi gu Deich , BBC Radio nan Gàidheal interview |
| https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025zgy | |
| 23.12.24 | Interview with Katie Laing, Stornoway Gazette |
| https://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/education/lewis-inspired-makar-aims-to-make-a-mark-4924446 | |
| 27.12.24 | BBC Front Row – recording poem for use on Hogmanay |
| https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00268zy |
| 29.12.24 | The Scottish Government requested a poem/quotation for Angus Robertson’s introduction to the languages bill debate |
| 08.01.25 | Interview with The Week Junior magazine |
| 09.01.25 | The poem Pluto was recorded for the Scottish Poetry Library’s Burns Night Skies |
| 09.01.25 | Interview for Financial Times about Scottish Gaelic TikTok. |
| 17.01.25 | Talk at Bun Sgoil Taobh na Pairce Primary School in Edinburgh |
| 17.01.25 | Burns poem, To James Smith, recorded for St Andrews University Global Burns Night |
| 18.01.25 | Oidhche nam Bàrd – reading & interview for American Gaelic Association |
| 20.01.25 | Interview for Radio News Hub (syndicated radio) |
| 21.01.25 | Interview for Swedish podcast, Portrettpodden |
| 21.01.25 | Interview for Blas, BBC Gaeilge |
| 22.01.25 | Filmed interview with FM John Swinney MSP for Burns Night |
| 23.01.25 | O’r Pedwar Gwynt – Interview with Martin Huws, published 16.04.25 https://pedwargwynt.cymru/cyfweld/holi-bardd-cenedlaethol-yr-alban-padraig-macaoidh |
| 24.01.25 | Recorded podcast for Plague Remedy, talking about the art of language. |
| 06.02.25 | Interview for BBC Scotland about AI and publishing: |
| 10-12.02.25 | Mentored three Young Makars for StAnza poetry festival |
| 24.02.25 | Visit to James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh for Seachdain na Gàidhlig /World Gaelic Week |
| 25.02.25 | Joined the Multi-Language Lunch Club activity at Kirkcaldy North Primary School |
| 25.02.25 | Attended Culture Counts Cross Party Working Group on Culture and Community and read opening poem in Gaelic and English |
| 28.02.25 | The poem Caller Oysters, mas e do thoil [Caller Oysters, please] was written in honour of Robert Fergusson for O’er a’ my labours sey your skill (edited by Amy Wilcockson and Rhona Brown) |
| https://robert-fergusson.glasgow.ac.uk/publication-announcement-and-glasgow-celebration-oer-a-my-labours-sey-your-skill-poetic-responses-to-robert-fergusson/ | |
| 04.03.25 | Interview with Kathleen Madigan for Highland Hospital Radio |
| 05.03.25 | Recording for BBC’s The Entertainment Mix |
| 05.03.25 | Hosted launch of Fower Pessoas by Colin Bramwell |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iaxn55wGWfE | |
| 12.03.25 | Read Mar a chanas tu An t-Abhall and Bun na slighe at the opening of Pathfoot Memory Orchard and Planting at University of Stirling |
| https://www.facebook.com/unistirlinghistoryheritagepolitics/posts/1140577751192885/ | |
| 13.03.25 | Poetry reading to close the first day of Edge Conference for libraries, Edinburgh |
| 14.03.25 | Recorded Ubhal and A’Ghaoth for Scottish Government for World Poetry Day |
| 15.03.25 | Chaired events at StAnza Festival |
| 18.03.25 | Opened event discussing Gaelic literacy at the Creating a Gaelic Reading Culture symposium at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis |
| 24.03.25 | A new poem, Fo làn bhlàth, was commissioned for Blossom Scotland, celebrating the blossom season |
| 05.04.25 | Reading at the Society of Young Publishers (SYP) Scotland conference in Edinburgh |
| 10.04.25 | Wrote a blog on the role of Scotland’s Makar for the Scottish Poetry Library: |
| https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2025/04/makar-talk-with-peter-mackay/ | |
| 10.04.25 | Spoke at the launch of Machine Whisper: Reading-Writing-Robots by Pip Thornton of the University of Edinburgh at the Scottish Poetry Library |
| 11.04.25 | Wrote a new poem, Cairdeas / Friendship, for Book Week Scotland (Scottish Book Trust & Gaelic Books Council) |
| 11.04.25 | Recording for Òrain Ùr, BBC Radio nan Gaidheal |
| 16.04.25 | Wrote and recorded the poem, Nan robh thu san fhuaradh, for Fragments of Scotch Poetry (poetry jukebox project) for Linen Hall Library, Belfast |
| 19.04.25 | Read Fo làn bhlàth at Culloden battlefield for the Gaelic Society of Inverness |
| 30.04.25 | Recorded a piece on 100 years of the NLS for BBC Radio nan Gaidheal |
| 15.05.25 | Spoke on The Verb, BBC Radio 3, about the Linen Hall Library’s poetry jukebox project |
| 3-4.06.25 | Spoke at Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Inverness |
| 11.06.25 | Participated in a Celtic languages panel event in Paris in support of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions |
| 29.06.25 | Spoke at Imagine a Country event at St Andrews University |
| 30.06.25 | Launch of Banff school pamphlet at Banff Castle (wrote foreword for their Doric Glossary) |
| 30.06.25 | Wrote a new poem, Innis, for Scottish Government’s foreword to National Islands Plan annual report |
| 01.07.25 | Edinburgh International Book Festival launch of Paper Trails at Ratho Library |
| 08.07.25 | Filmed an interview with BBC Antiques Roadshow at Hill of Tarvit. |
| 08.08.25 | Read Fo làn bhlàth for Odessa, City of Literature |
| 01.08.25 | In conversation with Kevin Williamson at Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
| 07.08.25 | Events with Emirati and Scottish poets for the Scottish Poetry Library at Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
| 11.08.25 | Curated and presented a Many-Voiced Country event, Our Mother Tongue, at Edinburgh International Book Festival. |
| 13.08.25 | Momentum Delegation presentation to international literary festival directors with Creative Scotland and British Council Scotland at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh |
| 19.08.25 | Read new poem, Keys without houses, at First Minister’s Reception for Creative Industries at Bute House in Edinburgh |
| Sep-25 | Wrote a blog on libraries for Scottish Poetry Library: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2025/09/library-vans-and-hidden-doors-by-peter-mackay/ |
| Sept 25 | Residency with Jamaican poet Lorna Goodison at Robert Burns Farm and Museum, including a public reading at The Stove in Dumfries. Recorded interviews for the film, Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne, Robert Burns Ellisland Farm |
| Sept 25 | Writing workshop with Irish and Scottish Schools Poetry Exchange project at the Scottish poetry Library in Edinburgh |
| Sept 25 | Braemar Book Festival: events at Festival, Aboyne and Braemar Schools; reading at dinner |
| 04.10.2025 | Gave a talk on Kathleen Jamie’s work at the Association of Scottish Literature Studies Schools Conference in Glasgow. |
| 13.10.25 | Interview with Andrew Sclater for the launch of Quite Joyful |
| 23.10.25 | Read new poem, Coille Làn de Shaorsa, at a concert at St Giles Cathedral to mark the 730th anniversary of the Auld Alliance with France |
| 24.10.25 | Ireland/Scotland international match – ‘Shinty’s Story’ – Sgeul na Camanachd. Read new poem, Iomain. |
| 01.11.25 | Attended Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association Annual Gathering to accept Leodhasach of the Year award. |
| 06.11.25 | Gaelic Poetry Showcase, organised by St Mungo’s Mirrorball in Glasgow |
| 07.11.25 | Read poem at Oor Vyce event at the Scottish Storytelling Centre |
| https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6365/913:27994/ | |
| 11.11.25 | Lecture on “As changeable as language itself: Makaring / Bàrding, Gaelic poetry and Scotland ” for Glasgow University, School of Celtic and Scottish Studies |
| https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peter-mackay-as-changeable-as-language-itself-tickets |
| 23.11.15 | In conversation with Gerda Stevenson for Book Week Scotland event at Tills Bookshop in Edinburgh |
| 25.11.25 | Chaired event, Am I Really Home, at Scottish Storytelling Centre |
| https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6374/913:28007/ | |
| 27.11.25 | An evening with Scotland’s Makar event at Pittenweem Library |
| https://pittenweemlibrary.org.uk/autumn-2025-a-new-series-of-talks/ | |
| 29.11.25 | Chaired Blasad event at National Library of Scotland, showcasing Gaelic culture in Edinburgh |
| https://www.nls.uk/whats-on/blasad-gaelic-culture/ |