Perform in Perth has honoured one of its most distinguished contributors, Irene McFarlane, marking 50 years of commitment to Scots language and culture.

Educated at Dollar Academy and later the University of Edinburgh, where she studied Scottish History and English, Irene has long championed Scotland’s linguistic heritage.

Festival Secretary Eileen Waterston praised her remarkable contribution—much of it unseen by audiences. Speaking to this year’s young competitors, she said: “Irene has been bringing pupils to the festival for much longer than all your years put together. You are a credit to her teaching.”

Irene responded with characteristic humour, recalling how her journey began in 1977. She joked she had been “about three” at the time. A friend had introduced the Soutar Tassie to the festival and encouraged her, then a newly qualified teacher, to enter pupils. One of her first entrants, Scott Mitchell, won the trophy.

“That was it,” she said. “I was hooked. It changed my life.”

Since then, Irene has entered pupils into the Soutar class every year, as well as performing in recitation and song herself, marking five decades of continuous involvement. She has also supported competitors across a wide range of festival classes, helping to build confidence and creativity in generations of young people.

Named Scots Teacher of the Year in 2022, Irene has played a key role in keeping the language alive in classrooms and on stage. She has worked as a LAMDA teacher since the 1990s and has promoted Scots through drama and writing, including producing a Scots version of The Nicht Afore Christmas during lockdown.

Her passion has extended beyond Scotland. While teaching in Finland, she introduced pupils to Scottish culture and hosted a Burns Supper, reinforcing her belief in the value of Scots at home and abroad.

When asked what her favourite moment with Perform in Perth has been, she answers without hesitation that her daughter, Ishbel, winning the Soutar award in the centenary year of the Perth poet’s birth is the icing on the cake. Ishbel has proudly followed in her mother’s footsteps, championing Scots with a play she has toured across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Irene’s legacy reminds us all of the importance of safeguarding our roots and ensuring that Scotland’s unique voice continues to resonate across the world. 

Irene has also contributed to the work of the Scots Language Society, supporting efforts to raise awareness of the language.

Her legacy is most closely tied to Perform in Perth. The Soutar Competition, which she helped establish, remains a cornerstone of the festival.

To mark her 50-year milestone, Irene is restoring the Soutar Tassie trophy, ensuring it is preserved for future generations.

Her contribution stands as a lasting legacy—one that continues to strengthen the Scots language in Perth and beyond.

Article by: Dr Kylie Murray