News /

Isles writer takes home prestigious Scots language award

8 September 2025 11:02

Two women stand indoors, one in a red dress and one in black, smiling and holding a plaque reading "Scots Language Awards, Scots Writer of the Year.

Yvonne Tait (right) has been named Scots Writer of the Year.

SHETLAND writer Yvonne Tait has picked up the prestigious Scots Writer o’ the Year award at the Scots Language Awards 2025.

Tait, from Bigton, collected the award at the annual celebration of Scotland’s indigenous language at Discovery Point in Dundee.

Writers, teachers, businesses and charities were recognised across 13 categories, highlighting the importance of the language to Scottish national identity.

A public vote, which saw more than 16,000 votes cast, determined nine of the winners across the day.

Tait’s “significant contribution to preserving and celebrating Shetland dialect through creative writing” saw her take home the Scots Writer o’ the Year prize, the award’s biggest honour.

Scots Language Awards host Taylor Dyson said the award winners were “truly the pride o Scotland”.

“Each one o them has played a vital role in maken sure the Scots leid is uised, taucht, shairt an luved in awkin o weys, an it is wunnerfu tae be able tae gie recognition tae that,” she said.

“Scots is a leid tae be cherishit, sae big congratulations tae aw oor winners, an nominees, for their role in that.

“The strength o the field shows us that Scots is in a positive place, and has a very bright future indeed.”