In Scotland makar = maker of poems = poet

from The Guardian:
“Scots appoint first poet laureate”
Noting that the UK laureate has always been English and not Scottish, Welsh or Irish, Scotland’s first minister Jack McConnell has created the post of Scots Makar and appointed Edwin Morgan, who seems to be universally acknowledged as Scotland’s leading contemporary poet. The BBC reports that Morgan “has vowed not to shy away from speaking his mind, even if that upsets those in establishment who appointed him.”

from icWales:
“Welsh poet laureate ‘not needed’”
In response to calls for the appointment of a Welsh laureate parallelling the Scots makar, the Archdruid has said that Wales’ poetic tradition is carried on in “the annual crowning of the Eisteddfod bard,” and a laureate would be redundant.

Related resources:
Poets Laureate of the U.S.A., a Net-annotated list
Louise Glück named U.S. Poet Laureate