A NEILSTON author is hoping Paisley’s bid to become UK City of Culture will win two of the town’s literary giants a whole new audience.

Claire Casey, who now lives in Paisley, has published books of poems and songs by Alexander Wilson and Robert Tannahill, known as the ‘Weaver Poets.’

And, as the campaign to secure City of Culture status for 2021 gathers pace, she is highlighting the duo as outstanding examples of the town’s cultural heritage.

Claire said: “Paisley has such a wonderful literary heritage and Alexander Wilson and Robert Tannahill are two of our most important writers.

“When it was announced that Paisley was going to go for City of Culture status, I independently published a collection of songs and poems by Robert Tannahill, called 'The Weaver Poet'.

“I have also published a collection of poems by Alexander Wilson, called 'Lines Written on a Summer Evening'.

“I want to get both collections into as many local retailers as possible. I am hoping that this will help to highlight the part that Paisley has played in the world of Scottish literature.”

Wilson was born in 1766, educated at Paisley Grammar School and apprenticed as a weaver.

But the town was at the very beginnings of the industrial revolution and his radical politics led him to rage against the pay and conditions being imposed on his craft.

He was a friend of Robert Burns before emigrating to America under a legal cloud.

Wilson’s radical verse saw him brought before the courts and imprisoned, facing charges of libel and blackmail.

In 1803, he undertook an epic journey on foot to Niagara Falls to sketch and shoot birds, later becoming known as the Father of American Ornithology.

Tannahill was born in 1774 to a weaving family but showed a talent for writing poetry.

His song 'Braes o’ Balquhidder' is thought to be the basis for the famous folk song 'Wild Mountain Thyme'.

Tannahill had a book of his poems published but a later volume was turned down and he became depressed.

On May 17, 1810, his body was found in a culvert at the Candren Burn, in Paisley, having killed himself.

You can buy 'The Weaver Poet' at Abbey Books and the gift shop at Paisley Abbey.

Copies of both 'The Weaver Poet' and 'Lines Written on a Summer Evening' are also available on Amazon.