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Billy Kay

@billykayscot.bsky.social
1.9K followers 927 following 1.1K posts

Scriever/Braidcaster in Scots, English, an a wheen ither leids forbye. Writer/Broadcaster in English, Scots and a few other languages as well. Passionate about Scottish independence, my wife, my weans and grandweans. Oh, and Scotland & Dundee United.

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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
A guid passage fae Born in Kyle for a Sunday mornin. As weans, we gaed tae the wee evangelical kirk in Gawston whaur ye didnae jist sing the hymns, ye yaised her haunds an yer airms tae gie an action packed portrayal! Ye can lug in tae me readin the haill quair on Audible.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Oot for a daunder atween shouers and by here, dae ye no need a stoot hert for the stey braes o Derval?!
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Gin ye fancy total immersion in the guid Scots tongue o Ayrshire, jyne me in ma hame toon o Gawston on Sunday efternuin. A puckle places still available but tak tent or they’re tint.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Thoroughly enjoyed the @playpiepint.bsky.social show Whaur’s Yer Wullie Shakespeare Noo @traversetheatre.bsky.social Brian Logan’s play is a romp set in 18th C Edinburgh with appearances by historical figures like Hume and Witherspoon. Stimulating, entertaining, engaging and an excellent cast.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
If you are in East Ayrshire on Sunday afternoon, there are still a few places available for my book sessions in Galston. Contact the library to book your place. See you there.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A wee readin fae the chapter The Last Gemme in ma memoir an love letter tae an Ayrshire childhood, Born in Kyle. Ye can get the book fae me or Amazon & Kindle or lug intae me narratin it aw on Audible.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
wee hame toun o Gawston wis mentioned in Barbour’s Scots epic The Brus set in the 14th century, an seiven hunner years on I’ll speak an read in the same dear mither tongue Barbour yaisit lang syne. “The King lay into Gallistoune that is richt even anent Loudoun.” It’s a week the day, guid fowk 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
A lovely gig at the Ness Book Festival in Inverness with the lovely Robyn Stapleton yestreen.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
While @joao_kay was driving us home from Inverness, I was taking photos of the beautiful Atholl countryside for her friends in Portugal. One of my favourite Jacobite songs is “Cam ye by Atholl, lads wi the philabegs.”
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
For #NationalPoetryDay an early Hugh MacDiarmid lyric - The Bonnie Broukit Bairn - the beautiful neglected child.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A good crowd has signed up for Friday in Inverness, but there are still a few places available. Get them or they’re gone - tak tent or they’re tint. For everybody interested in Scotland’s ither mither tongue.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I’ve read all of @shonamclean.bsky.social’s novels that are set in Scotland and thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. This one is no exception and there’s even a cameo appearance by one of my favourite 19th century Scottish figures, Hugh Miller.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
“East’s east, west’s west but hame’s best.” Twa weeks the day I’ll be hame in Gawston bletherin aboot ma memoir o growin up there an mindin fowk o their literary pedigree wi John Barbour’s epic The Brus an Burns’ Holy Fair baith mentionin the toun. Hope ye can jyne me there.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Mature claret for my birthday tasting yestreen and it was a treat - warm, reekin, rich! I address my group as claret cunnars, and let them ken it’s based on a quote from Dunbar. The decanter is by the 1586 Cristallerie St Louis which was part of my Wines of France award from the French government.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A week tonight I’m in Inverness with my favourite Scots singer Robyn Stapleton and it’s a free event. The mell of Scots song & story is very special. Join us there.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
“Ye Hielans an ye Lowlans o whaur hae ye been?” Two lovely Born in Kyle events in the next few weeks in Inverness and East Ayrshire. Hope to see you there for total immersion in the guid Scots tongue. If ye cannae be there, ye can lug in tae me readin the haill book on Audible.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Ilka time I tak the caur alang the road tae the Sandford garage in Wormit, I aye enjoy takin a glisk o the view fae the ither side o the road. The auld rail brig aye luiks braw streitchin oot ower the firth tae Dundee. Dae ye ken ony ither garages wi sic a view tae please the ee?
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
A braw efternuin in Portobello daein Fergusson’s Auld Reikie wi thir skeely musicians an bonnie sangsters…Sarah Hoy, Steve Byrne, Gary West & Jim Malcolm, and introduced by oor frien Ally Heather. Ower 260 fowk cam tae lue an appreciate poetry in oor guid Scots tongue.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Here’s a wee flavour o Born in Kyle. I’m gey vauntie that ma hame toon wis mentioned in John Barbour’s epic The Brus. Ye can lug intae me readin the haill quair on Audible.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Twa weeks the nicht, Scots leid, Burns sangs an stories fae ma memoir Born in Kyle. Ma frien @RobynStapleton has ane o the brawest singin vyces ye’ll ever hear, sae dae yersel a treat an jyne us in Inverness.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Delighted to say that we’re close to 200 coming and heading for a sell out. Still time to get the last few tickets…but tak tent or they’re tint!
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
O, nature, cantie, blyth and free/Whaur is there keekin gless like thee/Is there on earth that can compare/Wi Mary’s shape an Mary’s air”. A passage fae Fergusson an the auld Scots sang Mallie Lee fae Fergusson’s Auld Reikie at oor rehearsal. See ye on Sunday in Portobello.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I don’t know how I missed this for so long, but delighted that my daughter flagged it up as unmissable, quality television. A series with integrity, great acting, and believable characters engaged in the morally dubious world of espionage. Welcome suggestions for a replacement?
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
A gourmet treat by @joaokay.bsky.social - Ameijoas à Bulhão Pato cockles with olive oil, garlic, lemon & coriander and superb Riesling from one of the great Alsace houses Zind Humbrecht - a bouquet of turkish delight then rich flavours of pear & pineapple with a zesty lime citric finish. Braw!
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The stert o Scots The Mither Tongue, ma history o the guid Scots tongue that ower 1.5 million o us hae in oor herts an heids. The quair also gies kenspeckle passages fae the leiterary history in the leid. I can whisper the haill story in yer lug gin ye get haud o it on Audible!
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Three weeks tonight I’ll be in Inverness with one of our greatest singers of Scots song, @RobynStapleton. Hope you can join us for a celebration of Scotland’s ither mither tongue in story and song.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
An auld Scots saw I got fae ma mither an faither growin up in Ayrshire as a wean. I lived weel follaein its wice advice an sae shuid you: Thaim wi a guid Scots tongue in their heid are fit tae gang ower the warld.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The War Memorial in Newport luikin braw against the caller watter o the Tay.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The three towns of the Irvine Valley are celebrating the areas textile industry in Lace150. I'll host the Saturday evening event in Darvel, talking to folk who worked in the industry: lovenewmilns.org/events-diary I'll also talk about my book on the Sunday in Galston library.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
As a member of the admirable Saltire Society for many years, I was delighted to write one of the pamphlets celebrating their 90th birthday. I just got it in the post & it’s a wee gem - available to order by emailing saltire@saltiresociety.org.uk. cost £5 plus £2.50 p&p.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Fergusson wis afore his time in monie weys. This is him descrievin polis violence fae whit he cried the black banditti, the City Gaird - a roch squad made up mainly o muckle Hielan chields, whase Gaelic influenced Scots he mimicks. Mair like this in the Audible version o Scots the Mither Tongue.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Spicy Mexican fajitas with chilli salsa, guacamole and rice along with a wee Czech Budvar to toast United’s late equaliser against the Fawkirk bairns. Braw!
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Oor tribute tae the chield ma fellow Ayrshire man Burns cried his elder brither in the muse. Ae quote fae him aye rings true: “Black be the day that e’er tae England’s ground/Scotland wis eikit by the Union’s bond.” [eikit: added] Jyne us for an unforgettable efternuin in auld reikie an Portybellie
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Yestreen had a fabulous night out @vadundee.bsky.social’s Scotland Fashion Now: Graduate Showcase ‘26. Great creativity from our art colleges being celebrated. Also a pleasure for João and I to meet Mairi McAllan who opened the event along with Leonie Bell.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Inverness gig with Robyn last year was cancelled because of the big storm. So we’re hoping that all of you who booked tickets then will make it along on October 2nd for an evening of Ayrshire culture in the heart of the Highlands. www.tickettailor.com/events/nessb...
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
An article in the National, a win for my team and a lovely Alvarinho Vinho Verde to go with roast cod & tatties. Contacto is made by a great Portuguese wine maker Anselmo Mendes and an important Scottish Portuguese family the Symingtons who are also big in Port.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Car park with a view! St Andrews this afternoon.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
A visit to the R & A in St Andrews where I saw the famous claret jug trophy. Discussing with a golf historian whether they were aware of the auld alliance claret tradition when they designed it and made it the prize.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Nemo me impune lacessit - wha daur meddle wi me! This is ane o jist a puckle things that cam doon tae me fae ma Fife grandmither - a cheenie lion that wis wrocht in Boness lang syne.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A passage fae the chapter Valley Boays in Born in Kyle set in an independent Scotland, wi an auld member o the Tartan Army reminiscin that it wis us that taught the warld tae kick a baw. Lug in tae the haill story on Audible or get a copie fae me, Kindle or Amazon.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
It was a pleisure for @joaokay.bsky.social and I tae meet up wi auld friens Hamish MacDonald and Liza Mulholland at the Dundee Burns Club. The Not So Serious Burns Unit wis jist great, a braw mell o tradeitional an modren.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
If you love Edinburgh, traditional music and Scots poetry I promise that this will be one of the shows of the year for you. It is a sheer joy to be part of it. A review of the last performance www.edinburghmusicreview.com/reviews/wrs4... Tickets here: events.humanitix.com/fergussons-a...
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
During the period of the 1540s called ironically the Rough Wooing, English armies invaded Scotland with extreme violence. The Complaynt of Scotland was written at this time, and states the Scottish position brilliantly. It still has echoes today. More in Scots The Mither Tongue, Audible & Kindle.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
My appearance on the @scotnational.bsky.social podcast triggered a backlash from “proud Scots” who do not believe in the sovereignty of their own people! Boswell is a good example of this post Union conflicted identity. You can listen to me reading all of Scots The Mither Tongue on Audible.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Saw this muckle lad at the antique centre in Abernyte. I reckon he gaes stracht intae the central defense for the gemme against the Dees on Setturday.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Yesterday was a fantastic day for my son-in-law Luca and his family as his Contrada Nicchio (the Shell) won the Palio horse race in Siena for the first time since 1998…and on his mother Luciana’s birthday too. Here are the Kays wearing the Nicchio colours a few years ago.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
With the Hamewith exhibition at their Museum creating an interest in all things Scots, my talk A Guid Scots Tongue in yer Heid with drew an audience of close to a hundred people today. They enjoyed an hour of total immersion in their ain dear mither tongue.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Five weeks today, we’re taking Fergusson’s Auld Reikie to Portobello. Don’t miss out on a classic of Scottish culture. Here’s a review when it was last performed: www.edinburghmusicreview.com/reviews/wrs4... Book your tickets here: events.humanitix.com/fergussons-a... Tak tent or they’re tint.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
The British General Wolfe’s infamous dismissal of his Scottish Highlanders as cannon fodder before the battle of Quebec: ”..they are hardy, intrepid, accustomed to a rough country, and no great mischief if they fall” - who cares if they die, they are totally expendable.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
“I ken fine weel that I bide in a bonnie airt aside caller watter…but maistly I’m douce an happy acause o ma bonnie bairns clackin roon aboot me. Aye, I’m gey vauntie, an as browdened on thaim as ony prood mammy deuk that ever leived. I jist lue ma wee weans.”
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