Orkney will be celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day on Thursday May 17th with various events happening in and around Kirkwall.

Norway celebrates this day as a public holiday for it was on the 17th of May 1814 that it declared its independence. It formalised this with its constitution which is one of the oldest written constitutions in the world.

Timetable of events

• 10.30am Remembrance service at the Norwegian war graves in St Olaf’s Cemetery. Transport will be provided from Kirkwall Pierhead to the cemetery at 10.00 am.
• 12.00 pm the Tog will set off from the Kirkwall Pierhead to the Market Green, led by members of the Kirkwall City Pipe Band, Norwegian visitors, school children and any members of the public who would like to join in.
• Outside the St Magnus Cathedral the Norwegian National Anthem will be played followed by a speech from Orkney Islands Council’s Convener Harvey Johnston and a reply by the Norwegian Guest of Honour Beate Husa.
• Kirkwall City Pipe Band will then perform
• 2.45 pm the Orkney Norway Friendship Association Concert in the Cathedral, featuring local school children – donations  welcome at the door.
• 7.00pm Orkney Norway Friendship Association Dinner Dance at the Commodore at 7.00 pm. Tickets cost £22.50 for adults (children go free) and are available from The Orcadian Bookshop in Kirkwall or Wisharts in Stromness.