"fanks " Isabella ----- Original Message ----- From: Steven Heddle <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 4:15 pm Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay To: [email protected] > No, it's like 'broch', with the -och bit as in the Scottish > pronunciation of loch. > And Birsay is pronounced 'Birsee' > And 'of' is prounced 'oh'. So 'broch-o birsee' > > In general the '-ay' at the end of island names is pronounced '- > ee', and even Hoy is more like 'Ho-ee'. Also Harray is > pronounced the same as Harry. And Yesnaby is 'Yesnabee'. You get > the idea. > > Also Stromness is not 'Strohm-ness' but 'Strumnis!' > Finstown is 'Finstoon' > Dounby is 'Doonby' > Holm (the parish) is 'Ham' > Holm (as in small island) is 'home' > Deerness is 'Dernis' > KIrkwall is 'the Toon' > The rest of the UK (apart from Shetland) is 'Sooth' > The nearest part of which is 'Scotland', which we will only > grudgingly admit to be being part of after a major sporting > success for that country. > > So placenames are straightforward enough. Now lets move onto > common areas of confusion (may vary from parish to parish)... > > 'How' is 'hoo' > 'Who' is 'whar' e.g. 'Whar's that?'- 'Who are they?'' > 'Where' is also 'whar', but with an extra 'at' often added e.g. > 'Whar's that at?'- 'Where is that?' > 'How?' is also often 'Whut wiy?' e.g. 'Whut wiy hid?- 'How has > this come to pass?' > > This takes me back to Sigurd's Word of the Week, which stopped > before we got to T is for Trulls. > > Cheers > Steven > > > > > > > > >   ----- Original Message ----- >   From: Janice Langland >   To: [email protected] >   Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:54 PM >   Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay > > >   I've always heard it BRUFF, like the Three Billy Goats Gruff. > >   Janice > > >   On Sep 26, 2007, at 5:44 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: > >   > How is Brough pronounced, please ? >   > Isabella >   > >   > ----- Original Message ----- >   > From: [email protected] >   > Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:06 am >   > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay >   > To: [email protected] >   > >   >> >   >> >   >> >   >> >   >> Anyone trying to follow this conversation will think > you have to >   >> dance the >   >> way over!!  Well a few hops and skips were necessary >   >> anyway.  But  worth every >   >> step. Don't anyone who hasn't been get discouraged by all >   >> this.  It's an >   >> experience one shouldn't miss. >   >> >   >> Karen >   >> >   >> I >   >> >   >> in a message dated 9/26/2007 7:58:38 A.M. Central Daylight >   >> Time, >   >> [email protected] writes: >   >> >   >> >   >> Dear  me, Karen, you led me astray with your misleading >   >> subject line! OK, >   >> here's  how I responded: >   >> >   >> >   >> Well, as you may well recall, it's not always > such  a great >   >> way to get to >   >> the Brough,  Karen: >   >> >   >> http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2002/broughbirsay.htm >   >> >   >> Norman  Tulloch >   >> >   >> >   >> _______________________________________ >   >> Orcadia Group  Photo  Album >   >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >   >> ------------------------------- >   >> To  unsubscribe from the list, please send an email >   >> to >   >> [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without >   >> the quotes in  the subject and the >   >> body of the message >   >> >   >> >   >> >   >> >   >> >   >> >   >> >   >> ************************************** See what's new at >   >> http://www.aol.com_______________________________________ >   >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >   >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >   >> ------------------------------- >   >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ORCADIA- >   >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the >   >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >   >> >   > >   > Isabella >   > _______________________________________ >   > Orcadia Group Photo Album >   > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >   > ------------------------------- >   > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ORCADIA- >   > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes  >   > in the subject and the body of the message > >   _______________________________________ >   Orcadia Group Photo Album >   http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >   ------------------------------- >   To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Isabella

I've always heard it BRUFF, like the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Janice On Sep 26, 2007, at 5:44 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: > How is Brough pronounced, please ? > Isabella > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:06 am > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay > To: [email protected] > >> >> >> >> >> Anyone trying to follow this conversation will think you have to >> dance the >> way over!! Well a few hops and skips were necessary >> anyway. But worth every >> step. Don't anyone who hasn't been get discouraged by all >> this. It's an >> experience one shouldn't miss. >> >> Karen >> >> I >> >> in a message dated 9/26/2007 7:58:38 A.M. Central Daylight >> Time, >> [email protected] writes: >> >> >> Dear me, Karen, you led me astray with your misleading >> subject line! OK, >> here's how I responded: >> >> >> Well, as you may well recall, it's not always such a great >> way to get to >> the Brough, Karen: >> >> http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2002/broughbirsay.htm >> >> Norman Tulloch >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email >> to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the quotes in the subject and the >> body of the message >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ************************************** See what's new at >> http://www.aol.com_______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > Isabella > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you, Steven for the pronunciations! Peggy Steven Heddle <[email protected]> wrote: No, it's like 'broch', with the -och bit as in the Scottish pronunciation of loch. And Birsay is pronounced 'Birsee' And 'of' is prounced 'oh'. So 'broch-o birsee' In general the '-ay' at the end of island names is pronounced '-ee', and even Hoy is more like 'Ho-ee'. Also Harray is pronounced the same as Harry. And Yesnaby is 'Yesnabee'. You get the idea. Also Stromness is not 'Strohm-ness' but 'Strumnis!' Finstown is 'Finstoon' Dounby is 'Doonby' Holm (the parish) is 'Ham' Holm (as in small island) is 'home' Deerness is 'Dernis' KIrkwall is 'the Toon' The rest of the UK (apart from Shetland) is 'Sooth' The nearest part of which is 'Scotland', which we will only grudgingly admit to be being part of after a major sporting success for that country. So placenames are straightforward enough. Now lets move onto common areas of confusion (may vary from parish to parish)... 'How' is 'hoo' 'Who' is 'whar' e.g. 'Whar's that?'- 'Who are they?'' 'Where' is also 'whar', but with an extra 'at' often added e.g. 'Whar's that at?'- 'Where is that?' 'How?' is also often 'Whut wiy?' e.g. 'Whut wiy hid?- 'How has this come to pass?' This takes me back to Sigurd's Word of the Week, which stopped before we got to T is for Trulls. Cheers Steven ----- Original Message ----- From: Janice Langland To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:54 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay I've always heard it BRUFF, like the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Janice On Sep 26, 2007, at 5:44 PM, Isabella Moreland wrote: > How is Brough pronounced, please ? > Isabella > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:06 am > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay > To: [email protected] > >> >> >> >> >> Anyone trying to follow this conversation will think you have to >> dance the >> way over!! Well a few hops and skips were necessary >> anyway. But worth every >> step. Don't anyone who hasn't been get discouraged by all >> this. It's an >> experience one shouldn't miss. >> >> Karen >> >> I >> >> in a message dated 9/26/2007 7:58:38 A.M. Central Daylight >> Time, >> [email protected] writes: >> >> >> Dear me, Karen, you led me astray with your misleading >> subject line! OK, >> here's how I responded: >> >> >> Well, as you may well recall, it's not always such a great >> way to get to >> the Brough, Karen: >> >> http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2002/broughbirsay.htm >> >> Norman Tulloch >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email >> to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the quotes in the subject and the >> body of the message >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ************************************** See what's new at >> http://www.aol.com_______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > Isabella > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more.

I wonder if access to the Brough by sea might have been easier in Viking times because of higher sea levels? Less danger of grounding on the rocks? "Significant fluctuations in sea level have occurred around Orkney in the recent past. This is inferred from features observed near Stromness and many other parts of Orkney. There is compelling evidence from widespread raised beach features for an approximately 1m - 2m higher relative sea-level in the past, while the large number of oyces backed by grass-covered cliffs, and raised beaches around Orkney's coastline confirm a similar story. Although not dated, it is inferred that this particular high stand occurred about 1000 years ago in the Viking Period. It is postulated that as sea level dropped ayres* grew across the mouths of small bays enclosing the oyce and developing the new equilibrium coast line. This relationship between raised beach, ayre and oyce is well demonstrated at Rothiesholm Head on Stronsay." http://www.fettes.com/Orkney/sea%20level%20change.htm Now — and here's a bit of pure speculation — maybe the Brough became less attractive as a place of safety, a "fort island" (which is what Birsay/Byrgisey means) when the sea level fell once again? It seems odd that nothing much appears to have happened on the Brough from about the late twelfth century right down to the present day. Norman Tulloch *Air, aire, ayre, a gravelly beach; spec. of a spit of gravelly beach separating the outer sea from a lagoon behind. Usually there is an opening at one end of the air through which the sea ebbs and flows. Oyce, n. Also oyse. An inlet of the sea, esp. one which is almost cut off by a bar of shingle. (From our old chum at http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/)

How is Brough pronounced, please ? Isabella ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:06 am Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay To: [email protected] >   > >   >   > Anyone trying to follow this conversation will think you have to > dance the  > way over!!  Well a few hops and skips were necessary > anyway.  But  worth every > step. Don't anyone who hasn't been get discouraged by all > this.  It's an > experience one shouldn't miss. >   > Karen > > I >   > in a message dated 9/26/2007 7:58:38 A.M. Central Daylight > Time,  > [email protected] writes: > > > Dear  me, Karen, you led me astray with your misleading > subject line! OK, > here's  how I responded: > > > Well, as you may well recall, it's not always such  a great > way to get to > the Brough,  Karen: > > http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2002/broughbirsay.htm > > Norman  Tulloch > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group  Photo  Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To  unsubscribe from the list, please send an email > to  > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in  the subject and the > body of the message > > > > > > > > ************************************** See what's new at > http://www.aol.com_______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Isabella

[email protected] wrote: > > Resent to correct the subject line. That was after I resent it to correct > the address. I'll try and be quiet until I wake up. Sorry about all of that > > Karen Dear me, Karen, you led me astray with your misleading subject line! OK, here's how I responded: Well, as you may well recall, it's not always such a great way to get to the Brough, Karen: http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2002/broughbirsay.htm Norman Tulloch

[email protected] wrote: > > > Helicopter seems to be the preferred means of travel for those who really > know how rocky the footpath is, let alone how treacherous the rocks might be to > a boat. After arriving early one morning to make it along the path, which > stops and turns to piles of rocks half way there, a helicopter kept flying > around and seemed to come down to land but went right back up. The early > visitors were curious. When the man from Historic Scotland arrived to open up > their area he told us that they were flying in the person(s) to do the lighthouse > inspection. I assume they thought it the only sensible way to get there. > > Karen > Well, as you may well recall, it's not always such a great way to get to the Brough, Karen: http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2002/broughbirsay.htm Norman Tulloch

Freida, I don't think there is any "beach" to land a small boat on the Brough of Birsay! You're better off to time your visit when the tide's out as it is a very short walk across... Peggy Frieda Knezek <[email protected]> wrote: I certainly enjoy all of the discussions on this loop. I have absolutely no useful knowledge to contribute, but a plethora of questions, if ya'll will indulge me a few... ;) The Brough of Birsay fascinates me. Can one only visit by walking the causeway at low tide, or does anyone ever take a boat from Birsay across? (I'm guessing maybe the water is too choppy or something there?) As I understand it, Picts, Christians, Vikings and I'm sure many others used the island as a sort of hub at various times. Seems like a wonderful spot for pirates (any caves for stashing loot?), or is that my forever childish imagination running away again... Planning on using all my new vocabulary on my young boys tomorrow. I love it when they look at me like I've absolutely lost it. Who knows...I might even try out a few new dances, too! I can hear my nine year old's groans already. Warm howdies from Texas, Frieda --------------------------------- Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.

Of course you can get there by boat at high tide, but beware the rocks. There is a Pictish well and many Pictish artefacts were found. Not to mention the symbol stone. Also there are older buildings under the norse ones. The original excavations were not properly written up and published but this is not unusual. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

If the geologists are right, the whole area from the Doggerbank on out past Orkney and Shetland is slowly rising. The earth's crust was deformed downward during the last great ice age and is still rebounding. So what you see may not be a fall in sea level, but actually a rise in "shore" level. So,,you folks may get a break from the projected rise in sea levels due to climate change.,,,,hummm how many of us can you take in when the water gets too high? <g> R -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Norman Tulloch Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:11 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay I wonder if access to the Brough by sea might have been easier in Viking times because of higher sea levels? Less danger of grounding on the rocks? "Significant fluctuations in sea level have occurred around Orkney in the recent past. This is inferred from features observed near Stromness and many other parts of Orkney. There is compelling evidence from widespread raised beach features for an approximately 1m - 2m higher relative sea-level in the past, while the large number of oyces backed by grass-covered cliffs, and raised beaches around Orkney's coastline confirm a similar story. Although not dated, it is inferred that this particular high stand occurred about 1000 years ago in the Viking Period. It is postulated that as sea level dropped ayres* grew across the mouths of small bays enclosing the oyce and developing the new equilibrium coast line. This relationship between raised beach, ayre and oyce is well demonstrated at Rothiesholm Head on Stronsay." http://www.fettes.com/Orkney/sea%20level%20change.htm Now - and here's a bit of pure speculation - maybe the Brough became less attractive as a place of safety, a "fort island" (which is what Birsay/Byrgisey means) when the sea level fell once again? It seems odd that nothing much appears to have happened on the Brough from about the late twelfth century right down to the present day. Norman Tulloch *Air, aire, ayre, a gravelly beach; spec. of a spit of gravelly beach separating the outer sea from a lagoon behind. Usually there is an opening at one end of the air through which the sea ebbs and flows. Oyce, n. Also oyse. An inlet of the sea, esp. one which is almost cut off by a bar of shingle. (From our old chum at http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/) _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Knowing the way that dances travel, I wonder if the marazula -or a variation thereof -is danced in Orkney? Peerie Willie Johnson (a great Shetland musician who died recently) mentioned it to me a few years back. It's obviously travelled across The Pond -Mexico / Shetland - and I'm wondering if it's also part of the Orcadian dance repertoire ( minus the toorie). In Willie's own words; “We played Scottish music, reels and that, an occasional waltz, maybe, or a foxtrot. I’ll tell ye a little story. There was a dance they called the marazula, y’know – this was before the war. It’s only a few years back I was listening to a thing about Mexico and they’re playing this dance and it’s exactly the same, dancing over a hat – they didnae do that, here in Whiteness, but it was step for step exactly the same except for the hat. The Mexican Hat Dance - how it came to be here in Whiteness before the war I’ll never know. It was somebody before the war had probably heard it." Cheers, Jan At 09:04 AM 26/09/2007 Wednesday, you wrote: >George Gray wrote: > I am surprised that we have not had a comment from Peggy Bainton as I > am sure she can dance "The Pride of Erin" >It was only a few weeks ago that Peggy tried to do "The Postie's Jig" > with us at a ceilidh in Finstown. > > "The Postie's Jig" was such fun! I love going to ceilidhs! Other > popular dances are: Dashing White Sergeant, Britannia Two Step, and the > Quickstep. I would love to learn to dance the Quickstep! Maybe George > would be so kind as to teach me that one next summer! I also love the > Polyglide! And, what's the name of that polka we do at the end of most > dances? Is it Jacob's Polka? I learned how to dance the Mississippi Dip > this summer and thought that was fun. Many of the four-couple dances > tell a story and are pretty to watch. Dancing is a big part of my > summers in Orkney. All this talk about Orkney dancing makes me feel > nostalgic. > > By the way, The Pride of Erin is the correct spelling. > > Peggy in West Va > > >--------------------------------- >Building a website is a piece of cake. >Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online. >_______________________________________ >Orcadia Group Photo Album >http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >[email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message Jan Nary 31 Leybourne St, Chelmer Queensland 4068 Publicist & Journalist Publicist National Folk Festival Exhibition Park in Canberra 5 - 9 April 2007 <http://www.folkfestival.asn.au/>http://www.folkfestival.asn.au Acoustic Harvest 4EB 98.1 FM www.4eb.org.au & Acoustic Harvest, Planet Radio 88 FM www.planetradio.com.au. tel. +61 7 3379 4178 fax +61 7 3278 2360 mob. 0429 898 328 UK 07905 976 173

Walking on the causeway to the Brough is a piece of cake, at low tide. Just time it so you're not stuck there, though I have seen people wading back in a few inches of water after the walk is covered. No big deal. They kind of looked like Jesus. The ruins on the Brough are wonderful, but to me I like best to walk up the hill, over to the right, and peer over the edges at the birds. One time we were there with a group of about five or six. My daughter, laid down on her belly and crept to the edge, which is very tricky as the ground slopes down towards the cliff edge. The cliffs are very high at this point. Everyone else shouted for her to get back, she might fall, but she stuck her head over the edge and shouted "Puffins" and there was a mad rush of the others to see. I thought the whole lot might go over. It is one of my favorite places on Orkney - that and Yesnaby. Tuck On Sep 26, 2007, at 4:18 AM, Norman Tulloch wrote: > Frieda, > > Sigurd Towrie has several pages on the Brough: > http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/broughofbirsay/index.html > > I don't think anyone normally uses a boat to visit it. After all, it's > easy enough for an able-bodied person to walk across the causeway at > some point during the day, so why pay a boatman? In any case I think > that, because of the cliffs around the island, there's really only one > point at which one could get onto it, and that's more or less at > the end > of the causeway. I suspect that even at high tide there wouldn't be a > great depth of water there and that it would be very easy to damage a > boat on the rocks. > > You mention Picts, Christians and Vikings. There is certainly > archaeological evidence of the Pictish occupation of the island, and a > lot more of the Viking presence. I'm not sure if the Picts were > Christian (though they probably were, as far as I can gather) but the > Vikings most certainly were. > > Sigurd Towrie says, "The earliest settlement on the Brough is > thought to > date from the fifth century AD, perhaps Christian missionaries." I > don't > know what evidence there is for that. I can't see any mention of it in > Anna Ritchie's "Historic Scotland" booklet on the Brough, but the > copy I > have dates from 1988 and there may have been more recent > archaeological > evidence of a pre-Pictish settlement. > > I'm not aware of any caves on the Brough, or of pirates using it. > Neither was there any building on it after Viking times, apart from > the > lighthouse (built in 1925). > > Norman Tulloch > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

[email protected] wrote: > Yes, you can only visit the Brough at low tide, I don't > know of any one going over by boat, but I think its a case > of too many rocks rather than too many waves. The times at which the Brough is accesible are given on the Orcadian website <www.orcadian.co.uk> - look at the foot of the right hand column, just below the tide times. Today's is: Stromness/Barriers high tide (west): 1013, 2213 Barriers high tide (east): 1233 Brough of Birsay accessible from around 1420 until around 1820 (All times BST) -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"

Frieda, Sigurd Towrie has several pages on the Brough: http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/broughofbirsay/index.html I don't think anyone normally uses a boat to visit it. After all, it's easy enough for an able-bodied person to walk across the causeway at some point during the day, so why pay a boatman? In any case I think that, because of the cliffs around the island, there's really only one point at which one could get onto it, and that's more or less at the end of the causeway. I suspect that even at high tide there wouldn't be a great depth of water there and that it would be very easy to damage a boat on the rocks. You mention Picts, Christians and Vikings. There is certainly archaeological evidence of the Pictish occupation of the island, and a lot more of the Viking presence. I'm not sure if the Picts were Christian (though they probably were, as far as I can gather) but the Vikings most certainly were. Sigurd Towrie says, "The earliest settlement on the Brough is thought to date from the fifth century AD, perhaps Christian missionaries." I don't know what evidence there is for that. I can't see any mention of it in Anna Ritchie's "Historic Scotland" booklet on the Brough, but the copy I have dates from 1988 and there may have been more recent archaeological evidence of a pre-Pictish settlement. I'm not aware of any caves on the Brough, or of pirates using it. Neither was there any building on it after Viking times, apart from the lighthouse (built in 1925). Norman Tulloch

Anyone trying to follow this conversation will think you have to dance the way over!! Well a few hops and skips were necessary anyway. But worth every step. Don't anyone who hasn't been get discouraged by all this. It's an experience one shouldn't miss. Karen I in a message dated 9/26/2007 7:58:38 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Dear me, Karen, you led me astray with your misleading subject line! OK, here's how I responded: Well, as you may well recall, it's not always such a great way to get to the Brough, Karen: http://www.orcadian.co.uk/archive/2002/broughbirsay.htm Norman Tulloch _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Resent to correct the subject line. That was after I resent it to correct the address. I'll try and be quiet until I wake up. Sorry about all of that Karen In a message dated 9/26/2007 7:47:54 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Helicopter seems to be the preferred means of travel for those who really know how rocky the footpath is, let alone how treacherous the rocks might be to a boat. After arriving early one morning to make it along the path, which stops and turns to piles of rocks half way there, a helicopter kept flying around and seemed to come down to land but went right back up. The early visitors were curious. When the man from Historic Scotland arrived to open up their area he told us that they were flying in the person(s) to do the lighthouse inspection. I assume they thought it the only sensible way to get there. Karen ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Helicopter seems to be the preferred means of travel for those who really know how rocky the footpath is, let alone how treacherous the rocks might be to a boat. After arriving early one morning to make it along the path, which stops and turns to piles of rocks half way there, a helicopter kept flying around and seemed to come down to land but went right back up. The early visitors were curious. When the man from Historic Scotland arrived to open up their area he told us that they were flying in the person(s) to do the lighthouse inspection. I assume they thought it the only sensible way to get there. Karen ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Yes, you can only visit the Brough at low tide, I don't know of any one going over by boat, but I think its a case of too many rocks rather than too many waves. Robert On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:12:48 -0700 (PDT) Frieda Knezek <[email protected]> wrote: > > The Brough of Birsay fascinates me. Can one only visit >by walking the causeway at low tide, or does anyone ever >take a boat from Birsay across? (I'm guessing maybe the >water is too choppy or something there?) > > As I understand it, Picts, Christians, Vikings and I'm >sure many others used the island as a sort of hub at >various times. Seems like a wonderful spot for pirates >(any caves for stashing loot?), or is that my forever >childish imagination running away again... > > > Warm howdies from Texas, > Frieda > >

Well, actually Stephen, I have photos of Orkney kids and others dancing just such dances at the Annual Orkney International Science Festival with Cree students and dancers from Saskatchewan First Nations University who were presenting there. A good time was had by all. And on a traditional music and dance note, I don't know where every one on this site is ceilidh dancing and not seeing a mixture of age groups in Scotland. Every ceilidh I have been to here in Scotland including Orkney and Shetland has been well attended by all age groups including wee ones and uni students and those in between whether they are huge extraviganzas or litle community center Saturday night get togethers or weddings. In small towns it is often the only thing to do on a week-end and you can see goth kids and children, middle age couples and singles your adults university student and the elderly dancing. I regularly see 4-10 year olds being spun up the strip the willow line or doing a 2 step or the Gay Gordon or virginia Reel with any number of guys or gals of various ages from 6-96 and doing a pretty good job of holding their wn through the confusion of group dancing and waltzes. Some of the best ceilidh bands are a fantastic mixture of young and old and many are groups of young people, too. Part of my job at Uni was to book the musicians (both for the traditional Gaelic (quiet) Ceilidh and the full blown no room foot stomping partner spinning ones that go till three a.m) for The Highland Annual of a Comann Ceilteach Oilthigh Dhun Èideann (The Highland Society of Edinburgh University). With bands and individua musicians like Fergie MacDonald, Skipinnish, Deoch 'n' Dorus, Gary Innes, Skerrryvore, Croft Number 5, Brian Oh Eadhra, Nuala Kennedy, Blazing Fiddles and others, no one feels like cutting the rug just isn't cool enough. They just go and they dance and have a good time whether they are all thumbs (or big toes) at it or fleet of foot and whether they like heavy metal or classical or R and B or Zydeco. There is the Orkney Fiddle and Accordion Club and Orkney Traditional Music Project, both having member musicians of all ages. Hadhirgaan which began life as a Kirkwall Grammar School group 20 members strong are fantastic young Orcadian musicians as are Skalder, Quarterdeck, and Shoramere, too. The OIC has several after school clubs scattered across the islands that include fiddle, box and traditional music as well as combinations there of. My suggestion is to book your visit to Orkney in May and take in the Orkney Folk Festival if you are up for some good craic day and night for an extended period of time. The sessions at the Hotel are worth while especially. For the sessions bring your fiddle, your box or other instrument if you play, and your ears and tapping hands and feet and voices if you don't, and enjoy yourself. The concerts are also brilliant. All of the groups I mentioned above have websites or Bebo or MYSpace sites. Go visit them on line as they need our support. And for every group or individual that I have mentioned there are as many or more that I haven't for lack of time and space. Go on a google treasure hunt and see what you can find. it loads of good craic. Cheers, Nan On 25/09/2007, Marion <[email protected]> wrote: > I'll take the waltz - dance closer that way (grin) > Marion > > > > > > Note from me: For those that may not be familiar, there are about four > > "traditional" types of Scottish dance. The Scottish Country Dances are > > very > > formalized and patterned. Much like ball room dance only more free > > spirited > > and energetic. The north American Square dances are direct decedents of > > SCD. > > The ceilidh dances are the same type of group dances but less ridge and as > > Eliz says below, subject to a multitude of local variation. There is also > > a > > Scottish Step Dance that has died out in Scotland, but still survives on > > Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. It's very similar to the Irish Step dance you > > see in Riverdance. It's an individual dance, although there may be several > > people dancing at the same time. Highland Dance, see below, is also a solo > > dance. Originally war dances or victory dances. > > > > R > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- Nan Fowler 19/11 Bristo Place Edinburgh EH1 1EZ 'If I can't dance I don't want to be in your revolution'

Private message with a tune got sent to the site by mistake. Please forgive. SORREEE! Was intended for a person who sent me a cd. Cheers....Redfaced