With the shock announcement that Groundskeeper Willie, the fictional character from the hit tv series The Simpsons,  has Orkney roots we wondered about his heritage.

The Simpsons Heritage Trail

In the episode entitled The Daughter Also Rises, to be broadcast in America on 12 February 2012, Groundskeeper Willie confides in Bart that his father was a ‘doonie’ and his mother was an ‘uppie’, in reference to the two teams in the world-famous Orkney ‘Ba game’.

Possibly a new trail could be devised for visitors to Orkney to experience the islands, but what should be included and what would be the route?

To get the project underway here are a few suggestions.

Let us know, via the comments area, places you think should be listed with Groundskeeper Willie’s history and heritage.

Where to start The Simpsons Heritage Trail?

For us, the start has to be on Broad Street, Kirkwall and the home of the Ba’ Game.

From here any visitor can then explore either of Groundskeeper Willie’s roots and get a flavour of the area.

To follow his fathers roots, as a Doonie, the explorer would travel north of St. Magnus Cathedral.

Walking in the opposite direction as an ‘Uppie’ the historian would re-trace his mothers family.

Family History

The Orkney Family History Society, based at Kirkwall Library, is a fantastic resource full of Viking and Norse genealogy.

With his striking red eye brows and full beard, it is highly likely that Groundskeeper Willie’ s ancestors are Viking, travelling over the water from Norway and Scandinavia .

His temperament may also be an indicator to his past,  being unafraid to get stuck in to sort things out.

Where next?

Just for fun, what areas and places do you think are linked to Groundskeeper Willie’s history and heritage ? Add your comments below…Similar Posts:

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What is your favourite Orkney experience?

Local people are being encouraged by Orkney Islands Council to vote on the best experiences that Scotland’s islands have to offer.

Being run by the Scottish National Rural Network, the ‘100 Best Things on Scotland’s Islands’ vote is part of Scotland’s Islands Year of Culture, a programme of events and activities planned to showcase the island’s vibrant cultures and creativity, natural environment and quality produce.

The Year of Scotland’s Islands aims to raise the profile of the islands across the UK and internationally, attract more visitors, bolster economic development and strengthen links between the islands and mainland cultural organisations.

The programme, which includes over 140 events across 42 islands, showcases the music, arts, food, sport, history and heritage of the islands, as well as highlighting their unique beauty as visitor destinations.

Orkney Experiences

A number of Orkney ‘experiences’ have already been nominated, including the scenic cliffs at Yesnaby and the Mull Head walk.

Scotland’s Islands Year of Culture has provided funding towards a number of events in Orkney this year including the Sanday Soulka, the Deerness in 100 objects exhibition and the Orkney Book Festival.

Council Convener, Stephen Hagan, said: “The 100 Best Things on Scotland’s Islands vote will provide an ideal showcase for the amazing experiences available in Orkney. For me it has to be a visit to St Magnus Cathedral, a magnificent, iconic building steeped in the history of our islands.”

“Scotland’s Islands has been a huge project which has boosted tourism within Orkney, and created a lasting legacy of collaboration and interaction with our fellow island communities.”

Scotland National Rural Network website editor Norette Ferns said, “We’re excited to be launching our 100 Best Things on Scotland’s Islands list. Whatever your favourite island experience is, we want to hear about it! We’re expecting well known attractions and hidden gems to make the list. We also expect to get many more than 100 comments and won’t put a limit on the number of contributions.”

You can add a comment on the 100 Best Things on Scotland’s Islands Forum at www.ruralgateway.org.uk, on the Scottish National Rural Network Facebook page or tweet @SNRNwebsite using hashtag #scotislands100.

More information

The Scottish National Rural Network  – Add your comment on the Scotlands’ islands forum

Scotlands Islands - You can find out more about the celebration of Scotland’s island culture and details of events taking place.

The Scotland’s Islands initiative has been developed through a partnership of the six local authorities with island communities – Argyll and Bute, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

Other supporters who have contributed to the funding of the programme include Highlands & Islands Enterprise, EventScotland, European Regional Development Fund, VisitScotland and Awards for All.Similar Posts:

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The pre reformation Tankerness House in Kirkwall is now home to the Orkney Museum, but has a wealth of history of it’s own.

The frontage of Tankerness House belies what lays behind

Opposite St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall is Orkney’s finest town house, with the first pre reformation structures built as manses for the Archdeacon and Choir Master of St. Magnus Cathedral.

Following the reformation in 1574, it became home to Gilbert Fulzie, Kirkwall’s first Protestant priest.

The street front to the house does little to illustrate the large building that lays behind.

Built  around a rectangular courtyard with a large walled garden, it was acquired in 1641 by James Baikie and at this point was given it’s name of Tankerness House.

Baikie

Baikie, like many other names in Orkney can be traced back to it’s viking past and James Baikie, who was a successful Kirkwall merchant was descended directly from Paul Baikie, navigator to King Håkon IV in 1264, mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga’s. James’ son Arthur Baikie became Provost of Kirkwall.

The west wing of the house was built by James Baikie in the 1640s and the family continued to live there, renovating and developing the property until

The large, well manicured gardens with the Groatie House in view

1951.  Tankerness House was then passed to Kirkwall Borough Council and later came under the care of the Orkney Islands Council.

Extensive restoration was carried out in 1968 when it was converted into Orkney Museum, telling the story of Orkney from prehistoric times to the present day.

The museum now houses artefacts from Orkney’s prehistoric past, native pictish peoples and the viking invaders and settlers.

Orkney’s commerce is also well represented with collections from local businesses and fishing industry.

Walled Garden

The beautiful walled garden of Tankerness house is planted with herbaceous borders surrounding a neatly manicured large lawn area.

Somewhat protected from the Orkney elements, the garden has a few rockeries and an area close to the house where herbs are grown.  At the bottom of the garden is a strange tower shaped building with a conical roof, known as the Groatie Hoose.

Groatie Hoose

A square box like room with it’s conical roof appears to have been in the garden of Tankerness House for many years. However, the story behind this building involves pirates, a large fire and a restoration project.

More information

Orkney Museum – Find out more about the collections and opening times.

Groatie Hoose - Discover the story behind this strange building

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Malcolm Laing was a Scottish lawyer and historian born in Orkney to Robert Laing and Barbara Blaw in 1762.  A blue heritage plaque marks the now seemingly insignificant site in Kirkwall.

Malcolm Laing birthplace opposite St. Magnus Cathedral in Orkney.

Trained as a lawyer, he was called to the Scottish bar on 9 July 1785, but his interests lay elsewhere and he spent much of his time devoted to historical study.

Following the death of a local Historian, Dr. Robert Henry, executors requested that Malcolm Laing complete his writings and in 1793, volume six of the ‘History of Great Britain’ was published.

In 1802 Laing published his own work;  ‘History of Scotland, from the Union of the Crowns, on the Accession of King James VI to the Throne of England, to the Union of the Kingdoms’.

Laing published a second, four volume, revised edition of his ‘History of Scotland’ in 1804.

The first two volumes concentrated on the ‘Dissertation on the participation of Mary Queen of Scots in the Murder of Darnley,’  His attempts to bring authenticity to the original “Casket letters” and his following conculsion makes for a very strong case against queen Mary.

He also edited ‘The Life and Historie of James VI,’ in 1804 and a year later in 1805, Laing published two volumes on the ‘Poems of Ossian, containing the Poetical Works of James MacPherson in Prose and Verse, with Notes and Illustrations.’

1805 also saw his marriage to Margaret Dempster Carnegie, on 10 September, daughter of Thomas Carnegie and Mary Gardyne.  They had no children.

Malcolm Laing represented Orkney and Shetland in Parliament, between 1807 and 1812 as a Liberal politician and did a great deal to improve agriculture in the region.

Heritage Plaque marking the place of his birth

In 1808, Malcolm Laing returned to his estate in Orkney.  He became ill, never leaving the bounds of his estate.  When Sir Walter Scott visited him in 1814, he wrote ‘Our old acquaintance, though an invalid, received us kindly; he looks very poorly, and cannot walk without assistance, but seems to retain all the quick, earnest, and vivacious intelligence of his character and manner’ (Lockhart, Life of Scott, ed. 1842, p. 271).

Laing died at his Orkney estate on 6th November 1818. A memorial tablet is situated on the wall of the north nave of Kirkwall Cathedral;

‘Depth, truth, and independence as an historian were,’ says Lord Cockburn, ‘the least of his merits, for he was a firm, warm-hearted, honest man, whose instructive and agreeable companionship was only made the more interesting by a hard, peremptory, Celtic manner and accent.’

Available from our Spirit of Orkney book store

More Information

Electric Scotland – Significant Scots.

History of Scotland, from the Union of the Crowns, on the Accession of King James VI to the Throne of England, to the Union of the Kingdoms

This title remains a valuable work for those studying Scottish history and is available from the Spirit of Orkney secure online book store.

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A large part of the imposing and magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall has stood for over 850 years.

In 1137, work started on this church built of red and yellow sandstone, to house the bones (relics) of St. Magnus.

St. Magnus

Northern side view featuring the Rose window.

St. Magnus is the patron saint of Orkney and a 12th century Norwegian ruler of the islands.

Earl Magnus Erland ruled alongside his cousin Earl Haakon but the two had many differences.

Around 1117, the two earls were brought together by their followers, in an attempt at reconciliation but the warmongering Earl Haakon had no intention of a peaceful meeting and brought with him eight ships and an army of men.

The popular and peace loving Earl Magnus attempted to settle things amicably but Haakon’s advisers insisted that Magnus must die.

The grim task fell upon Haakon’s cook, Lifolf, who killed Magnus with his axe.  The body was then buried at Christ’s Church in Birsay.

Miracles

Stories of miraculous cures began to be associated with Earl Magnus’ burial place.  Public opinion became so strong that the Bishop of Orkney declared Magnus a saint and the day of his death, 16th April, became the day of his martyrdom.

Earl Rognvald

In 1129 Kali Kolson, the nephew of Earl Magnus came to Orkney and defeated Haakon’s ruling son.  Kali became Earl of Orkney and took the name Rognvald in memory of a previous Earl.  Rognvald vowed he would build a church of stone dedicated to his uncle and to it “be brought his relics and with them the Episcopal seat”.

Upon his death, Rognvald was laid to rest in the magnificent church which he had founded, and thirty years after his death was also declared a saint.  The remains of St. Magus and St. Rognvald remain within the cathedral.

The cathedral

Stunning vaulted ceiling and Romanesque arches of the nave

The strong walls of St Magnus Cathedral are constructed of red and yellow sandstone, giving a warmth and softness to the magnificent structure.

Impressive Romanesque style blind arches, run along the full length of the nave of the cathedral.  It is suggested that these were not only ornamental but helped to reduce the weight of the walls.

Detailing in the stonework is breathtaking but not ostentatious.  For a large building constructed of stone, it has a feeling of homely warmth and a certainty that one is safe within it’s walls.

Many tombstones lifted from the floor, now stand against the walls of the nave isles, the majority from the 17th century.

An arched recess in the south wall is believed to belong to the native Orkney Paplay family and is thought to date back to the 14th century.

Dungeons & Knights Templar

St. Magnus cathedral is the only cathedral in the British Isles with a dungeon.  Located between the south wall of the choir and south transept chapel, it is known as Marwick’s Hole and records tell of imprisoned men and women as late as the 18th century.

A Knights Templar cross can also be seen carved into one of the stones in the south transept.

Fine carvings

Throughout the cathedral is a wealth of intricate wooden carvings.  None more so than the choir area and the decorative organ screen designed by George Mackie Watson.

During restoration works in 1919, some of the stones in the choir’s south arcade were found to be loose.  In a cavity behind these stones was found a casket containing the relics of St. Magnus.  The casket now resides in Orkney Museum but the bones were restored to their original resting place.

HMS Royal Oak

Memorial in St Magnus Cathedral

In the north choir isle, is a memorial to the 833 drowned men of HMS Royal Oak, which was torpedoed in Scapa Flow by a German U-Boat in 1939.

The ship’s bell which was recovered from the wreck by dievrs int he 1970′s, hangs over a wooden plaque and glass topped case.

The glass case contains a book listing the names of those who perished at sea.

A regular weekly job of the cathedral wardens is to turn a single pages of the book of remembrance.

St. Rognvald Chapel

The east end of the choir, part of which dates from the 13th century was dedicated St Rognvald chapel in 1965.  New furnishings were commissioned which incorporate 16th and 17th century carved panels which had been held for preservation in the cathedral.

Fine carvings and ancient panels adorn the chapel

Designed by Orcadian Dr Stanley Cursiter, the Queen’s limner and Painter in Scotland and made by local carpenter Reynold Eunson, the communion table and prayer desk are inlaid with the 16th and 17th century panels with three figures of Kol, St. Rognvald and Bishop William the Old standing above in three arches.

Arctic Explorer

A monument to a great Orcadian explorer

To the right of the St. Rognvald Chapel is a life size monument to Dr. John Rae, the famous Orcadian Arctic explorer who surveyed parts of the North West Passage and discovered the fated Franklin expedition.

More information

Orkneyinga Saga - Discover more about the Norse Earldom of Orkney.

St Magnus Cathedral website

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Orkney’s Highland Park distillery has unveiled the oldest ever island single malt whisky.

275 bottles of the 50 year old spirit have been produced and will launch exclusively to Harrods, before being sold nationally and globally by specialist retailers.

Each bottle will be encased in an intricate amulet of hand-crafted Sterling silver, created by Scottish jewellery designer Maeve Gillies and these have to be the most beautiful bottles in the world. Maeve Gillies is an internationally renowned designer of engagement rings and bridal jewellery based in New York. Maeve is also a ‘Global Scot’, a business ambassador for Scotland. Her design for Highland Park 50 Year Old celebrates Orkney; in particular the influence of the sea, wild weather and the passage of time.

The front of the bottle will also bear a circular piece of Orkney sandstone hand carved with the Highland Park logo.

For anybody who has the nerve to open the bottle and drink the whisky, a sterling silver replica of the St Magnus Cathedral rose window will be revealed as the bottle empties.

The special 50 year old Highland Park bottling is a vatting of five casks distilled in 1960. Like all Highland Park, the 50 year old has been cask-harmonised, that is to say, refilled into casks upon reaching maturity in order to ensure perfect balance and consistency.

To ensure the full impact of the rich, complex flavours that come from a lifetime of maturation, Highland Park 50 Year Old has been bottled at 44.8% abv.

Available to purchase from the Highland Park online shop 5th October 2010.

More information

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January

The Ba’ – The famous Uppies and Doonies rugby match starting from St. Magnus Cathedral – 1st Jan 2010

February

10th – 13th Feb - The Pirates of Penzance – Kirkwall Amateur Operatic Society

March

15th March – Brown Trout season opens – Orkney trout Fishing Association

.

April

7th – 11th April – Orkney Ceilidh Weekend – Orkney Traditional Dance Association dance events. 16th April – St. Magnus Day service of praise. 17th – 18th April – Bag The Bruck – Environmental Concern Orkney voluntary county wide clean up. 23rd – 25th April – Orkney Jazz Festival – Weekend of Traditional Jazz at the Stromness Hotel.

May

1st May – Rugby Sevens – Orkney Rugby Club annual sevens tournament. 1st May – 25th Sept – Orkney Museum Summer Exhibition – Local memories of World War II. 17th May – Norwegian Constitution Day Celebration. – Orkney Norway Friendship Association. 27th – 30th May – Orkney Folk Festival - One of the most unforgettable experiences on the Folk Festival calendar.

June

5th – 13th June – Orkney Wine Festival – Scotland’s only wine festival is now in it’s fourth year. 13th June – Hoy Half Marathon. 18th – 23rd June – St. Magnus Festival - Orkney’s midsummer celebration of the arts. 19th June – Stromness Golf Club Competition. 11/12 June 2010 - Taste of Orkney Ceilidh – Evening of traditional food, music and hospitality. 27th June – Sanday Cricket Club “The Embers” - Annual match between Sanday and Stromness Cricket clubs. June – August – Ring of Brodgar walks – World Heritage Site Ranger Service.

July

7th – 31st July – Orkney Crafstmen’s Guild Exhibition - Wide selection of traditional and modern crafts. 18th July – Stromness Golf Club Competition – Stromness shopping week open. 18th – 24th July – Stromness Shopping Week – Stromness community gala, celebrating it’s 61st anniversary. 31st July – Kirkwall Open, Orkney Golf Club – Annula 36 hole competition.

August

6th August – Sanday Show - Sanday Island agricultural show. 7th August – Stromness Golf Club Competition – Men’s Stromness Amateur Open. 7th August – East Mainland Agricultural Show. 8th August – Stromness Golf Club Competition – Ladies Stromness Amateur Open. 10th August – Shapinsay Show – Shapinsay Island agricultural show. 11th August – South Ronaldsay & Burray Show – St. Margaret’s Hope Community School. 14th August – Orkney County Show – Biggest event in the Orkney agricultural calendar. 15th August – Riding of the Marches – Celebrating of the granting of Kirkwall’s Charter. 15th August – Vintage Rally Show - Orkney Vintage Club. 20th – 22nd August – Orkney Bikers’ Rally. 21st August – South Ronaldsay Boys’ Ploughing Match 27th – 29th August – Orkney Beer Festival – Stromness Hotel offer the chance to try local ales and guest beers.

September

2nd – 8th August – Orkney International Science Festival. 25th – 27th August – Orkney Blues Festival- Venues in Stromness host a weekend of Blues music.

October

Harvest celebrations throughout the county with traditional music, dancing and prize giving to the years’ show winners.

November

Orkney’s Northern Lights Festival - Winter events throughout the islands. (We have been advised that this event may not be taking place and are trying to verify this, so please check with the event organisers before travelling). Maeshow Winter Solstice - from November to late January. Winter sunset light into the chamber of Maeshowe is broadcast via webcam. Bonfire Night celebrations

.

December

From first week in December – Christmas tree lightings in various towns and villages. 25th December – The Ba’ – The famous Uppies and Doonies rugby match starting from St. Magnus Cathedral – 1st Jan 2010. 31st December  – New Year’s Eve celebrations – Kirkwall and Stromness.

Further details or updates

Please note that events may be changed or cancelled without our notice. We would advise that you contact the organisers directly to confirm arrangements. If you know about an event we are not listing or a change in details then please get in touch via the contact us page.Similar Posts:

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The story of a storm raising witch is based upon historical fact and island myth.

Janet Forsyth lived in Westray in the 17th century.

In 1627, Janet dreamed that she saw her fisherman sweetheart, Benjamin Garrioch, perish at sea.

The following day, Garrioch, and his colleagues set sail on their fishing expedition not heeding the warning of her premonition.
Whilst out at sea, a thick fog descended and the men never returned.

Janet, heart broken and desolate, shut herself away in a solitary existence and because of her dream, The people of Westray blamed her for the fog and the loss of their men folk.

During the 17th Century witch hunts were at their zenith and like many solitary women of the time Janet was branded a witch.

From that time on, stormy weather was blamed on Janet’s alleged witchcraft.

When Janet spotted a boat in trouble a few years later, she tried to get the islanders to help.  Nobody was interested in her plea, so she took her small boat and set off to help the storm stricken vessel.  Janet managed to safely guide the boat back to the safety of Pierowall bay.

The islander’s seeing and hearing of this courageous deed decided that she was indeed a witch, as only witchcraft could lead her through the storm and bring the men to safety.

Janet Forsyth was put on trial in Kirkwall On November 11, 1629 and found guilty of witchcraft, for which the sentence was death by burning.

The story goes that as the sentence was being delivered Janet looked up into the onlooking crowd to see her lover Benjamin Garrioch.  Now in a naval uniform. He had been press ganged into the Navy and not lost at sea at all.

It is alleged that she screamed “save me, Ben” as she was dragged to Marwick’s Hole, the dungeon in St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.

The next day, when she was due for execution, her captors arrived to find Marwick’s Hole empty. Janet being thought spirited away by her sweetheart.

Orkney and indeed the island of Westray have long had a scary reputation as a haven for witches and warlocks. You can find out much about their stories and those of fairy folk and Hogboons on the Orkneyjar website.

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This Kirkwall Ba’ Game is the traditional mass ball game also known as the Uppies and Doonies, played in the town’s streets on Christmas Day and new Year’s day, starting at 1300 GMT.

Commemorative Ba' game plaque at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

The Uppies attempt to get a leather ball to a wall at the top of Kirkwall town whilst the Doonies do everything in their power to get the ball the Kirkwall harbour. Once the ball reaches one of the ‘goals’ a second battle ensues to see who in the winning team can get posession of the ball and keep it.

The exact origin of the Orkney Ba’ game has been lost in time but records indicate it’s existence is over 300 years old, with folklore suggesting it dates back to the Earldom of the Vikings to commemorate the defeat of a Scottish tyrant called Tusker.  The heads of enemies were said to be the forerunner to the leather football used today.

In recent years, the fun has been tinged with politics, as the local council worry about the threat of injury claims.

Orkney Islands council cover the cost of damage to property and shop windows during the very physical game which is also a huge social event culminating in a big celebration.

The Ba’ game in pictures – Magnus and Charles Tait’s archive of the Ba’ Game on Bagame.com

Ba’ game history on the Orkneyjar website

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On 14th October 1939, HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German Torpedo in Scapa Flow, off the southern coast of Orkney.

Scapa Flow had been a strategic Naval base since 1905, protecting Britain from German invasion via the eastern island inlets from the North Sea.  With an area of about 156 square kilometres, it is a bay sheltered by the mainland to the north, south Ronaldsay and Burray to the east and Flotta to the south.

Following an earlier attempt to penetrate Hoxa Sound by a German U Boat in 1914, 21 block ships had been sunk on the Eastern approaches and anti-subamarine nets, boom defences and controlled minefields were added to secure Scapa Flow.

World WarII
During the first few weeks of World War II, nearly 50 British warships were in Scapa Flow including the cruiser HMS Belfast.

The western side of the flow near Lyness was their mooring, all except HMS Royal Oak and HMS Pegasus which were moored in Scapa Bay below Gaitnip.

The Royal Oak sank not far from where this tanker is moored

On a moonless night, lit only by the Northern Lights, a German U-47 entered at high tide under the cover of darkness, managed to navigate it’s way around the block ships and enter Scapa Flow via Holm Sound.  3,000m from the two ships, her Captain, Gunther Prien launched a devastating tripple torpedo attack on the Royal Navy battleship HMS Royal Oak.

One of the torpedos hit the bow causing little damage, in fact it is reported that the crew thought the explosion to be onboard in the paint store.

Three more torpedos were fired from the U-47, all reacing their target.

Royal Oak took only 15 minutes to sink at her moorings, taking with her 833 members of her nearly 1200 strong crew.

In Memory
The shipwreck site is now an official wartime grave and a memorial to those lost at sea, resides in St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

Memorial gardens were created at Scapa Beach.

Her resting position is marked by a green buoy and sometimes by small oil slicks as the last vestiges of fuel leaks from her bunkers.

An annual ceremony is held by the Admiralty, with divers placing the Ensign over the wreck site.  Many of those present are survivors and relatives of the crew.

70th Anniversary.
On Wednesday 14th October 2009,the 70th anniversary of the tragedy.  HMS Penzance will sail to the site of the wreck, where

Memorial in St Magnus Cathedral

HRH The Princess Royal is expected to lay a wreath on the water during a rememberence ceremony.

A parade featuring the Royal British Legion, youth organisations and local dignitaries, will take place on Sunday 18th October 2009 at St. Magnus Cathedral.

New book
David Turner, a nephew of  Commander Ralph Lennox Woodrow-Clark, who died in the torpedo attack, is publishing a new book about the sinking.

Titled “Last Dawn”, it is hoped that the book will help keep alive the memory of those who died.

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