Peter Mackay has been appointed as Scotland's new makar, or national poet, making history as the youngest and first Gaelic-speaking makar.

His appointment comes at a crucial time, with a renewed focus on Scotland's native languages, Gaelic and Scots, amid declining speaker numbers.

As makar, Mackay is tasked with promoting poetry across Scotland and engaging with national themes, particularly climate and environmental issues significant in Gaelic literature.

He believes that poetry can play a vital role in keeping endangered languages alive by evolving and adapting rather than becoming conservative.

Mackay notes the evolution of poetry culture in Scotland over the past two decades, emphasizing the rise of slams and social media that have engaged new generations.

In a humorous take on his role, he mentions the possibility of being the first TikTok makar, indicating a modern approach to poetry.

Looking ahead, he is excited about the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, viewing it as an opportunity to explore poetry's role in a multilingual context.

Mackay's poetry is often written in Gaelic and translated into English, a process he describes as 'necessarily dishonest translation' due to the unique truths conveyed by different languages.

He acknowledges the responsibility of representing Gaelic speakers while also focusing on his own poetic voice, stating, 'that's a lot of different hats to wear.'

Mackay aims to contribute to discussions on Scotland's multilingual identity and the upcoming Scottish languages bill, which seeks to give Gaelic and Scots official status.

Born on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Mackay has studied in Glasgow and Dublin, where he developed a keen interest in Scottish and Irish literature.

Currently, he serves as a senior lecturer in Literature at the University of St Andrews and has published poetry collections, including 'Gu Leòr/Galore' and 'Nàdar de/Some Kind of', both shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish poetry book of the year.