‘Air Stràidean Ghlaschu’ (On Glasgow Streets) - Part 5, from ‘Smeur an Dòchais’ (The Bramble of Hope), Canongate Books, 1992

Derick Thomson was a Lewisman who spent much of his life in Glasgow, where he was one of the most influential writers, scholars and publishers of the late 20th Century. His images of Glasgow in the 80s in his Gaelic poetry are absolute reflections of my own memories growing up as a young Gaelic speaker in the city. They’re read by actors Bill Paterson and my sister Wilma Kennedy.

An Orange walk, the triumphalist commemoration of a 330-year-old battle, is a sad and fearful thing to watch in my home town where I was brought up to celebrate diversity rather than reinforce difference. I remember the weird juxtaposition of singing at a Gaelic Mòd (festival) as a child while the sounds of the fifes and drums floated through the window from a passing parade. They were oblivious to the fact that, unlike people, language doesn’t take sides.