Alice comes second in national competition with The Ballad of Janitor Mackay

Congratulations to Alice W. from P5C at Annanhill Primary who won second place at the Primary Schools’ Festival in Dumfries recently for her recital of the poem – The Ballad of Janitor Mackay.

Alice was crowned Annanhill Burns Champion 2025 earlier this year for her performance of the poem before claiming the title of Ayrshire champion. She then performed exceptionally well at the Primary Schools’ Festival, securing second place.

Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education and, Children and Young People said:

“Huge congratulations to Alice on this wonderful achievement, everyone is incredibly proud. I have heard that her recital was outstanding and that she had everyone in stiches telling the tale of old Mackay.

“This verse certainly had me in stiches:

Ma gran is only fower fit ten

but she kens whit shes aboot,

Yev hud it noo, Mackay, I cried,

Ma gran will sort ye oot!

“I think we all know a gran like that!”

'The Ballad of Janitor Mackay', by Margaret Green, is one of the poems from 'The Kist' -  an anthology of Scots (and Gaelic) poetry.