Blue plaque honour for Strabane Ulster Scots poet

COUNCILLORS have given approval for a blue plaque to be erected at the front of the Alley Theatre to commemorate the life and work of the poet, William Starrat.

At a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Business and Culture committee, the request by the Ulster History Circle was brought before councillors.

Strabane SDLP councillor, Jason Barr proposed the officers' recommendation to approve the erection of the plaque and DUP Sperrin councillor, Alderman Maurice Devenney seconded.

A report on the matter advised that there are no cost implications for council as the Ulster History Circle has secured funding from the Ulster Scots Agency.

William Starrat was a Strabane schoolmaster who penned the earliest known Ulster Scots poem as early as 1722.

He was better known as a surveyor and mathematician than as a schoolmaster.

He is thought to have written six ‘Scotch Poems’ which were published in the Ulster Miscellany of 1753, believed to be the first examples of Ulster Scots printed poetry

"He was one of the foremost land surveyors in Ireland, mostly active between 1716 and 1738, with major estate surveys completed for important landlords in counties Armagh, Donegal, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Leitrim, Cavan, Antrim and Tyrone," a report to the meeting explained.

"About 1720, when Starrat was a young man, a remarkable renaissance in Scots vernacular poetry began with the publication of Allan Ramsay’s first works.

"Ramsay’s earliest works must have struck an inspirational chord with William Starrat, for in 1722 he sent a manuscript to Ramsay of the following poem which was annotated 'Straban May 15th 1722'.

"In Ramsay’s own hand a note was added: “Mr Starrat Teaches Mathematicks at Straban".

"Starrat’s poem was published in 1725 as a broadsheet, “A Pastoral in Praise of Allan Ramsay by Willy Starrat”.

He died circa 1768.

Council's Head of Culture, Aeidin McCarter, further advised: "In January 2022 B&C (Business and Culture members approved a proposed programme for the erection of a series of Ulster History Circle Blue Plaques in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

"The Ulster History Circle have requested the blue plaque for William Starrat to be included as an addition to this list.

"It is their ambition to have the plaque in place in time for a launch event as part of Ulster-Scots Language Week (November 21 to 25, 2022)."

The plaque will be erected at the front of the Alley Theatre.

Proposing the move, councillor Barr commented: "There's going to be no cost to council so I don't see any reason why we just go ahead and proposed this."