Ness of Brodgar Dig 2024
The Ness of Brodgar is expecting another record-breaking day for visitors today, after 877 visited the archaeological dig yesterday. The site will close to the public on for the final time on Friday, as two decades of excavation work concludes. Find out more about what is next for the Ness in next week’s edition of The Orcadian.
Dounby Show Float Parade 2024
What a fantastic show of floats this Dounby Show Night! Here are some of the highlights from the parade.
Agility at East Mainland Show
Waggy tails and tongues out for the dog agility competition at East Mainland Show.
For the 90th time teams from Orkney and Shetland face each other in the inter-county fixture.
Rescue efforts are continuing in Sanday after a mass stranding of pilot whales at Tresness.
Sanday-based Emma Neave-Webb, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, has confirmed that 77 whales have stranded in what she believes to be one of the worst incidents of a stranding in Scotland in living memory.
"We've got about 12 animals still alive out of 77 and the tide is coming in really quickly, so there's not a lot we can do to be honest," said Ms Webb, speaking from the scene, just minutes ago.
"A lot of them are too big for us to manhandle and get up right.
"We're just trying to keep them as comfortable as possible and just see what happens at the moment."
The whales are thought to have stranded in the early hours of Thursday morning, and the chances of survival of any of the whales are heartbreakingly slim, according to Ms Webb.
"I think realistically, none of them are going to survive, just knowing from experience of how these kind of events normally unfold. They're incredibly difficult to deal with. These animals have been here probably for 12 hours now. So, they're incredibly compromised anyway.
"We're going to try our utmost to do what we can, but I think being realistic, the chances are we're not going to get any of them back out."
Alistair Carmichael has been returned to his seat for a seventh time, representing the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
The counting of the Shetland votes has began. A final result is expected around 5am.
The ballot boxes from Shetland have now arrived at the count! 🗳️ 🗳️🗳️
And the count begins - based on previous years the result is likely to be announced around 5am on Friday morning.
And the count begins - based on previous years the result is expected to be announced around 5am on Friday morning.
The first of the ballot boxes arrive at KGS for the Orkney and Shetland General Election Count.
The first of the ballot boxes arrive at KGS for the Orkney and Shetland General Election Count.
The Cross Kirk in Sanday was officially “reopened” this afternoon, marking a new chapter and future for the building.
The Friends of Sanday Kirk group have now purchased the building after its sale by the Church of Scotland, and envisage a vibrant future as a communal meeting place, exhibition space, performance venue, as well as retaining it as a place of worship.
To mark this new future, a ceremony took place today, including a fantastic performance from the Orkney Rocks! choir.
Pick up next week’s The Orcadian to hear more about the plans and photographs from the ceremony, which included a ribbon being cut by the oldest (102) and youngest (4 months) Sanday residents.
The Gathering for Billy
Laughter and tears, rats and chamber pots, and plenty of folk came out in force to remember the legendary Billy Jolly for this afternoon’s The Gathering, as the Orkney Folk Festival 2024 heads towards its final evening of entertainment.
While the Orkney Folk Festival’s Stomp is currently shaking Stromness to its foundations, John McGoldrick, John McCusker and Kris Drever were some of the musicians helping to raise the roof at the Pickaquoy centre.
While the Orkney Folk Festival’s Stomp is currently shaking Stromness to its foundations, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and Kris Drever were some of the musicians helping to raise the roof at the Pickaquoy centre earlier this evening.
Friday Folk Festival Feast
Folk festival fans were treated to a spellbinding show at the Picky last night at the Friday Feast.
Five acts were on the bill — acclaimed fiddle quartet RANT; multiple Canadian Folk Award winners, Genticorum; KGS school band, the highly talented Hadhirgaan; Orcadian folk royalty Saltfishforty (accompanied by some friends and “Peedie Fishes”); before the headline act, Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden and Seamie O’Dowd, an Irish trad supergroup.
It’s all set for a super Saturday today!
Here’s a short clip as Douglas Montgomery and Brian Cromarty from Saltfishforty do their thing! 🎻 🎸 🎶
Orkney celebrated Norwegian Constitution Day alongside our Scandinavian neighbours, with Kirkwall hosting the annual tog parade, and speeches by OIC convener, Councillor Graham Bevan, and guest Truls Hanevold, a former member of the Norwegian Foreign Service.
Dame Mary Beard says Orkney’s ancient past has opened her eyes! Tonight, she hosted the official opening reception for the Orkney Museum’s Ness of Brodgar exhibition after several days exploring the county.
Mass pipe band parade
What a spectacle as five pipe bands — including one from Kincardine, Ontario — come together and parade in unison through the winding street of Stromness, complete by the RNLI, a Jarl Squad and more!
Plenty of other activities and performances on a dry day in Stromness — with a great buzz in the town for the 200th anniversary of the RNLI!
A warm welcome for Canadian pipe band
Stromness RBL Pipe Band give a rousing welcome to visiting Canadian band, the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, onboard the Hamnavoe, as they arrive in Orkney.
The two bands, along with Kirkwall, Thurso and Wick, will all play in a mass pipe band parade, starting on Sunday at 2pm, to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI.
Orkney’s very own “Lovely Girls” strutted their stuff this evening, as Joe Rooney (aka Father Damo) entertained an audience of Father Ted fans at The Pickaquoy Centre.
Three cheers for Ros, Mrs Doyle (Cate), and Gary! 🤣 👏
Naming the Ruby.
Mrs Ruby Foubister officially names the Holm Sailing Clubs new rescue boat, the Ruby. The club will host fun sailing nights each Wednesday over summer as well as their regular Tuesday night Snipe racing.
