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Billy Kay

@billykayscot.bsky.social
1.9K followers 926 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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Reposted by Billy Kay
Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 19h
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 · 19h
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.
0108
Reposted by Billy Kay
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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Reposted by Billy Kay
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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Reposted by Billy Kay
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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Reposted by Billy Kay
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 · 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.”
042
Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Doesn’t ring any bells.
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Reposted by Billy Kay
Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Ye Heilans an ye Lawlans o whaur hae ye been…were the words of one of my favourite ballads, The Bonnie Earl o Moray. Tomorrow I’ll be celebrating the bonnie Scots tongue of the Lowlands in the heart of the Highlands along with Robyn, the finest sangster we have. Last few places available.
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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 · 01/10/2026
Ye Heilans an ye Lawlans o whaur hae ye been…were the words of one of my favourite ballads, The Bonnie Earl o Moray. Tomorrow I’ll be celebrating the bonnie Scots tongue of the Lowlands in the heart of the Highlands along with Robyn, the finest sangster we have. Last few places available.
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Reposted by Billy Kay
James Aithie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @jamesaithie.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
#Inverness 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 📚 #Scots 💬
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Reposted by Billy Kay
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 · 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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Reposted by Billy Kay
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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Reposted by Billy Kay
Dawn Robertson 🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇫🇷 @hayloftbooks.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
While looking for recipe in French book found one of Louis XIV’s favourite drinks which starts with a litre of red wine with lots of spices - at end recipe says: “It’s a bit strong with cinnamon but when you drink it you see 36 suns.” There's more but it's not for polite company!
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Yes - quality rather than quantity!
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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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Reposted by Billy Kay
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 · 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.
043
Reposted by Billy Kay
Maria João Kay @joaokay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Happy 75th birthday to @billykayscot ! My Scottish cultural revolutionary & hero. “Thank you for your service” should, exceptionally, be used for Billy too & I’ve been happy to see him so honoured in recent years. I’m just delighted I was on the incredible journey with him ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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Reposted by Billy Kay
Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Onythin ye can gie will help weans tholin hunger in Gaza the day. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️🇵🇸 chuffed.org/project/2021...
chuffed.org
SUPPORTING DISPLACED FAMILIES IN GAZA -PALESTINE
Life has never been easy for our community. Airstrikes and gunfire are still a daily reality, despite the ceasefire.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Onythin ye can gie will help weans tholin hunger in Gaza the day. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️🇵🇸 chuffed.org/project/2021...
chuffed.org
SUPPORTING DISPLACED FAMILIES IN GAZA -PALESTINE
Life has never been easy for our community. Airstrikes and gunfire are still a daily reality, despite the ceasefire.
052
Reposted by Billy Kay
James Aithie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @jamesaithie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"Tonight on Reporting Scotland, we dedicate the entire programme to the fact that Scotland is still Europe's Drug Death Capital. Whilst Drug Policy in Scotland is reserved to a government in England, & all the drugs are brought in by gangs in England, we ask "What are the SNP doing about it?""
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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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Reposted by Billy Kay
Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
If you can afford to donate even a few pounds, it will go a long way to easing the burden of children suffering in Gaza. Thank you for any kindness you can show 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇸SUPPORTING DISPLACED FAMILIES IN GAZA -PALESTINE chuffed.org/project/2021...
chuffed.org
SUPPORTING DISPLACED FAMILIES IN GAZA -PALESTINE
Life has never been easy for our community. Airstrikes and gunfire are still a daily reality, despite the ceasefire.
31011
Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
These people are living in hellish circumstance. The last thing they should be worried about is the thumbnail.
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Billy Kay @billykayscot.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
If you can afford to donate even a few pounds, it will go a long way to easing the burden of children suffering in Gaza. Thank you for any kindness you can show 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇸SUPPORTING DISPLACED FAMILIES IN GAZA -PALESTINE chuffed.org/project/2021...
chuffed.org
SUPPORTING DISPLACED FAMILIES IN GAZA -PALESTINE
Life has never been easy for our community. Airstrikes and gunfire are still a daily reality, despite the ceasefire.
31011
Reposted by Billy Kay
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 · 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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Reposted by Billy Kay
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 · 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.
063
Reposted by Billy Kay
Simon Varwell @simonvarwell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Glad NessBookFest is still going.
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Reposted by Billy Kay
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 · 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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Reposted by Billy Kay
Ruth Watson @ruthwatson.eurosky.social · 18/09/2026
ICYMI @scotnational.bsky.social @lauraewebster.bsky.social @billykayscot.bsky.social @scotslanguage.bsky.social
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Aileen McHarg @aileenmcharg.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
But I agree with you, the cutting of single honours programmes looks more serious than joint honours. Edinburgh not offering Scottish Literature is almost incomprehensible given its history.
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David Frier @dgfrier.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Very sad...
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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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Reposted by Billy Kay
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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Ruth Watson @ruthwatson.eurosky.social · 17/09/2026
One of my friends is doing a sponsored virtual walk to raise funds for the UK charity #MedicalAid for #Palestinians, @medicalaidpal.bsky.social The work they do is vital. If you can make a wee donation, please do. #Palestine medicalaidforpalestinians.enthuse.com/pf/marino-ma...
medicalaidforpalestinians.enthuse.com
Stride for Palestinians 26
Follow my journey as I complete 195km (virtually) in one month across Palestine, from Jenin to Gaza, for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). The month of October marks the beginning of the olive harve
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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
Loved it too. Saw every episode.
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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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