A widely held belief was/is that the majority of Orkney's tinklers were dispossessed people from Ireland - something George Mackay Brown remarked upon a few times in various articles. Whether this is true or not it explains the distinctive names of a number of tinkler families - the descendants of which have long since "settled" and can still be found in the islands. It also explains their distinct accents, traces of which can still be heard today. One family in particular had a nickname (which is still common today) which may hark back to a habit of taking shelter in howes/knowes. We know they did this and these people may well explain some of the folklore of mound dwellers that remains today. -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk