Poet, Journalist, University of Glasgow Teaching Fellow, Burns Scholar, Broadcaster, Immortal Memory Speaker, Author, Creativity Consultant

The best Burns speaker you’ve never heard of. What do James Nesbitt, Muriel Gray, Sir Alex Ferguson, Fred MacAulay, Dougie Donnelly, Andy Cameron, Sally Magnusson, Jackie Bird, Stephen Jardine, Ruth Wishart, John Beattie, Leslie Riddoch and Alex Salmond have in common? They all say the same thing: they have never heard a finer Immortal Memory than the ones delivered by poet, journalist and university teacher Donny O’Rourke. Among those who know the Burns circuit well, his reputation is quietly formidable.

Those who encounter him, often without prior introduction, recognise it straight away. Donny speaks without notes, weaving recitation, anecdote, humour and song into a seamless whole; the effect is both effortless and precise. Each address is crafted for the room, the audience and the moment, often including a bespoke poem in the style of Burns, written for that evening. He places Burns clearly in his own time and, just as sharply, in ours; one audience in Edinburgh heard him link a 1780s letter to modern political rhetoric in under two minutes, to laughter and then applause. It is a rare balance, light in touch yet grounded in insight, with the fluency of a broadcaster and the instinct of a seasoned performer.

His clients reflect that standard. Donny’s Immortal Memories have enhanced events for leading banks, global companies, charities and institutions across Scotland, Europe and North America. He has spoken for The Institute of Directors aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, for the Caledonian Society of Chicago, for London’s Caledonian Club, the Glasgow Art Club, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Pembroke College, Cambridge, among many others. The range is wide, the expectation high, and the response consistent.

Alongside his speaking work, Donny has spent recent years as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Glasgow, focusing on creative writing and film. He has held visiting roles and fellowships across major institutions, edited a respected edition of Burns’s letters to Clarinda, and contributed to international Burns scholarship and broadcast programmes. With more than twenty books and recordings to his name, he brings depth as well as performance. For events that require substance, intelligence and genuine connection, Donny O’Rourke stands apart.

Why Hire Donny O’Rourke?