{"id":1393,"date":"2012-02-05T13:47:13","date_gmt":"2012-02-05T13:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.spirit-of-orkney.com\/contents1a\/?p=1393"},"modified":"2012-02-06T20:31:46","modified_gmt":"2012-02-06T20:31:46","slug":"groundskeeper-willie-heritage-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spirit-of-orkney.com\/contents1a\/2012\/02\/groundskeeper-willie-heritage-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Groundskeeper Willie – Heritage trail"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the shock announcement<\/a> that Groundskeeper Willie, the fictional character from the hit tv series The Simpsons<\/a>, \u00a0has Orkney roots we wondered about his heritage.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Simpsons Heritage Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the episode entitled\u00a0The Daughter Also Rises<\/em>, to be broadcast in America on 12 February 2012, Groundskeeper Willie confides in Bart that his father was a \u2018doonie\u2019 and his mother was an \u2018uppie\u2019, in reference to the two teams in the world-famous Orkney \u2018Ba game\u2019.<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

To get the project underway here are a few suggestions.<\/p>\n

Let us know, via the comments area, places you think should be listed with\u00a0Groundskeeper Willie’s history and heritage.<\/p>\n

Where to start The Simpsons Heritage Trail?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For us, the start has to be on Broad Street, Kirkwall and the home of the Ba’ Game.<\/p>\n

From here any visitor can then explore either of\u00a0Groundskeeper Willie’s roots and get a flavour of the area.<\/p>\n

To follow his fathers roots, as a Doonie,\u00a0the explorer would travel north of St. Magnus Cathedral.<\/p>\n

Walking in the opposite direction\u00a0as an ‘Uppie’ the historian would re-trace his mothers family.<\/p>\n

Family History<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Orkney Family History Society<\/a>, based at Kirkwall Library, is a fantastic resource full of Viking and Norse genealogy.<\/p>\n

With his striking red eye brows and full beard, it is highly likely that\u00a0Groundskeeper Willie’ s ancestors are Viking, travelling over the water from Norway and Scandinavia .<\/p>\n

His temperament may also be an indicator to his past, \u00a0being unafraid to get stuck in to sort things out.<\/p>\n

Where next?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just for fun, what areas and places do you think are linked to Groundskeeper Willie’s history and heritage\u00a0? Add your comments below…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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