On Friday , 28^th June, Orkney College UHI welcomed the NYE Children (and other) Literature group who were on a tour of the Islands of Scotland.

Before arriving in Orkney on Monday 24^th June, the group had visited Shetland and toured several sites including Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Jarlshof and the Shetland Museum & Archives.

Ahead of their visit to Orkney College UHI the group had the chance to visit sites and organisations that make Orkney a unique place for those interested in literature to visit;

• St Magnus Cathedral
• Bishop and Earls Palaces
• “The Day the Fleet went Down” at Stromness Town Hall
• Visit to Rousay – At Westness, viewed the remains of  Viking houses and boathouses mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga. Midhowe Cairn, a 3-millennium BC, stone burial long barrow and the burial place of 25 prehistoric people. Then on to Midhowe Broch
• Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe, Standing Stones and Skara Brae

During their visit to Orkney College UHI the group were treated to a presentation from the Director of the Institute for Northern Studies, Professor Donna Heddle – “Sagas and Stories: the literature and history of Orkney”

It covered an overview of Orkney’s history and how our literature has also developed throughout the years, looking at Orkneyinga saga, folklore and ballads, and the work of Edwin Muir, Eric Linklater, George Mackay Brown, and Robert Rendall.

Speaking afterwards Professor Heddle said;

“It was a pleasure to be part of the Ferries and Folklore itinerary and to welcome the group to Orkney. It is great to be able to share my passion for Orkney’s amazing and influential history and literature with people from all over the world and I never tire of it!”

 Orkney College UHI Principal, Professor Eddie Abbot-Halpin said;

“We very much enjoyed hosting this group of colleagues from America, and I know that they both enjoyed their time with and were enthralled by the lecture from Professor Heddle”.