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Moville Scotch

Posted Monday, November 12, 2007

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Moville Scotch

I have taken an interest in the past in the etymology of Moville for instance where newcomers are termed 'blow ins' and visitors are known as 'strangers'.

I also found it interesting how you go up to Derry (but down to Dublin), down to Greencastle, across to Magilligan and over to Portrush as well as out to Carn as I set out in a previous article.

Scotch Week

The use of one word fascinates me.

I have asked on various occassions why there were suddenly a lot of Scottish people around.

"This is Scotch week" or "This is Scotch weekend" I have been told.

Archaic Term

Having been brought up in Scotland where the term Scots or Scottish instead of Scotch has been used for and by the people since before my mother was born in 1928.

Indeed I read that Scotch stopped being the term in use for the people since the start of the 19th century.

Anglicisation

It was an Anglicisation which the Scottish started using themselves for a while in the 18th century before going back to Scots or Scottish.

Indeed in England 'Scotch' got dropped in the early part of the 20th century.

But it still gets used in Moville to describe Scottish people.

Ulster Scots?

"Very curious", I thought.

Perhaps the term is Ulster Scots which I'm told is used to a certain extent around these areas.

I do find certain Scots words used around here which are not used in the south of Ireland, e.g. the use of the word Aye instead of Yes.

Ulster Scotch

However, if it was an Ulster Scots word surely the term for the dialect (or language) would be Ulster Scotch.

But it isn't.

The word Scotch is still used for terms like Scotch Whisky, Scotch Proth, Scotch Pies etc. but not for the people.

Moville Only

Indeed Moville is the only place where I've ever been where the people are still described as Scotch.

I did read in Wikipedia that the use of the term Scotch to describe the people is considered pejorative by Scottish people.

I don't think that's true though. They simply think it is incorrect.

Seems Odd

However, it is up to people to call them what they like and it is interesting that in Moville they are still called Scotch.

It must seem odd to the visitors (or 'strangers') to hear themselves called Scotch which they would consider an archaic word for them from two centures ago.

Moville Terminology

I wonder if anyone has gathered together a book of Moville Terminology at any time.

I also wonder if it is just in Moville that they are called Scotch or whether it is in Inishowen or even the whole of Donegal.

Perhaps someone can put me right if they see me out and about.