Billy Kay, an esteemed writer and broadcaster, was born in Galston, Ayrshire, in 1951. His educational journey unfolded at Galston High School, Kilmarnock Academy, and Edinburgh University. Through his company Odyssey Productions, he produces documentaries that delve into Scottish cultural history for BBC Radio Scotland. The series “The Complete Caledonian Imbiber” from Odyssey Productions has earned him five international awards.
On the television front, he has hosted series such as “Haud Yer Tongue” for Channel 4 Schools and “Miners” for BBC Scotland. His creative pursuits extend to radio plays and theatrical endeavors, including two radio plays and a theatrical work for Dundee Rep. His literary contributions are also found in various anthologies, featuring his poetry and short stories.
Billy Kay’s dedication to the world of wine has garnered recognition and awards in both Britain and France. He is the co-author, along with Cailean Maclean, of the book “Knee Deep in Claret.”
An ardent champion of the Scots language, Kay authored the seminal work “Scots: The Mither Tongue.” His exploration of the remarkable global influence of the Scottish diaspora culminated in the publication of “The Scottish World” in 2006.
Renowned for his remarkable communication skills, Billy Kay has graced numerous venues with his insights into Scottish culture. His engagements range from the Library of Congress in Washington DC to the Moscow Caledonian Club, and from the Great Hall of Stirling Castle to universities in Heidelberg, Warsaw, and Belfast. Presently, he is engrossed in a book penned in Scots, a heartfelt homage to his Ayrshire upbringing. “Born in Kyle” is set to be released in late 2023.
The accolades bestowed upon Billy Kay are a testament to his immense contributions. The University of the West of Scotland conferred upon him an honorary Doctorate in 2009. In 2010, he was honored with the Oliver Award by the Scots Independent newspaper, followed by his appointment as the Honorary Preses of the Scots Language Society. His enduring impact on Scottish literature earned him the title of Honorary Fellow from the Association for Scottish Literary Studies in 2015. The Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame inducted him in 2016 for his services to Scots. In 2019, he was crowned Scots Media Person of the Year at the Scots Language Awards in Glasgow. His international influence was further underscored when he received the Mark Twain Award from the St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York during their 263rd Annual Banquet in 2019.
Apart from his mastery of Scots and English, Billy Kay is fluent in French, German, and Portuguese. He shares his life with Maria João de Almeida da Cruz Diniz, and together, they are blessed with three children: Joanna, Catriona, and Euan.
For more information, please visit www.billykay.scot.
On a personal level, Billy Kay kept the flames of the Scots language blowing through gie dreich wather and so, is worthy of thousand strathspeys.
A guide track for ‘Billy Kay’ is available below for listening: -
The track is additionally available within the following collections and sets: -
Associated Collections: -
4/4
Ayrshire Characters
Strathspey
The Tarbolton Collection
