Orkney Islands History, Heritage and Lore
Welcome ~ we hope you enjoy discovering all about Orkney.
Exploring Orkneyology.com is like time-travelling through Scotland's fascinating Orkney Islands. Co-hosted by Orcadian storyteller, folklorist, historian and writer Tom Muir and Rhonda Muir, Orkneyology.com and Orkneyology Press books contain more than you could imagine in Orkney heritage, stories and lore.
If these things interest you, please also see our Orkneyology Press titles and join us for a blether in the Orkneyology Podcast, Ower wi' the Moon.
Orkneyology Podcast - Ower wi' the moon
In Orkney, we used to have an expression: "I'll be ower wi' the moon," meaning, "I will come and visit you when the moon is full, to light my way."
Tom Muir's Tales in the Landscape ~ a Story-Guide Through Orkney
Tales in the Landscape - a story-guide of Orkney Islands histories and lore by location, as told by Orcadian historian and traditional storyteller Tom Muir.
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Orkneyology Press Crowdfunding Campaign
Tom and I are running a crowdfunding campaign for a very special book project. We've got matched funding in place from Creative Scotland if we reach our target, potentially doubling the amount we can raise. The number of donors also matters to unlock that extra pot of money, so even a small donation helps greatly. If you enjoy what we're doing with Orkneyology, could you consider taking a minute to look at our project page and maybe donate a small amount? We'd be so grateful. Sharing this post would help too! Thank you so much. Here's our page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/tales-in-the-landscape
Ower wi' the Moon and Welsh Stories with Ffion Phillips
Find out why King Arthur is Welsh, and enjoy a few Welsh stories with Ffion Phillips.
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Tom Muir's Orkney Folktales on Youtube!
This ultimate compilation of Orkney stories is told by native Orcadian storyteller and historian Tom Muir, MBE, awarded for his lifelong work recovering, restoring and promoting Orkney Islands folk tales, heritage and lore. These Orkney tales are curated from Tom Muir's "Tales for Troubled Times", as archived on our Orkneyology.com website. Enjoy!
Gerald Dickens talks about his grandfather's "ghostly little book"
On this midwinter full moon we're joined on the Orkneyology Podcast from across the sea by Gerald Dickens, who talks with us about our favorite story - his great-great grandfather's classic Christmas ghost story, A Christmas Carol.
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Christmas Book Sale - Orkneyology Press Books!
Now's your chance to send a Christmas book to a friend! Shop Orkneyology Press online and get 20% off! Order before Dec. 1st for Christmas deivery. https://rebrand.ly/15bgz
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Orkneyology Press - Indie Publishers in Scotland's Orkney Islands
Orkneyology Press is an indie press based in Scotland's inspiring Orkney Islands. Tom and Rhonda Muir (Orkneyology.com) promise exciting, unusual niche titles.
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Orkneyology Podcast ~ A Halloween Visit with Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson
For our October Orkneyology Podcast, we have a Halloween-appropriate visit with our dear friend (and Tom's pet Viking) Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson - traditional Icelandic storyteller and author of Icelandic Folk Tales. (Although the subject matter gets a wee bit dark at times, we assure you that no Picts were harmed during the making of this podcast.)Listen on the website: https://www.orkneyology.com/orkneyology-podcast.html ; Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4p2lqHrENg Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0CuYpxinhjuFxHkDRMwafl
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Early and Raw Orkneyology Podcast for Buddos
A special treat for our dear Buddos and one-time supporters: an unedited version of the upcoming Ower wi' the Moon podcast, where Tom speaks with Hjörleifur Helgi Stefánsson , Icelander, author of Icelandic Folk Tales, fabulous traditional storyteller ... and Tom Muir's pet Viking.
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Frontier magazine highlights Ian Scott's A Letter from North Ronaldsay
An excerpt from Ian Scott's new book of Orkney Islands - and specifically North Ronaldsay - heritage, is in the Orkne International Science Festival's online magazine, Frontiers.
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Review for Ian Scott's A Letter from North Ronaldsay
A wonderful review for Ian Scott's new book of Orkney Islands - and specifically North Ronaldsay - heritage, is in the Orkne International Science Festival's online magazine, Frontiers.
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Orkneyology Podcast Show Notes
In the Orkneyology Podcast, we talk with fascinating and creative folk - some people living here in Orkney and some further afield who love our islands.
Further Inganess Memories - from the Other Side of the Bay
Further to the interesting article about Inganess Bay by my cousin, Jim Muir, being a few years older and from the other side of The Bay, a few memories
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Early Buddos' Orkneyology Podcast, episode 8 available now!
Find our supporters'-only link on our Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/orkneyology
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Orkneyology Press Ebooks
Our books are now available in ebook format @ £7.99 through our online shop. Your direct-from-publisher purchase is a lovely way to give extra support to our indie press and authors. Thank you!https://shop.orkneyology.com/collections/ebooks
Orkneyology Podcast - Ower wi' the Moon and Ian o' Antabreck
On this full moon night, Tom speaks with one of our authors, Ian Scott - otherwise known as Ian o' Antabreck - lifelong resident of Orkney's most northerly island, North Ronaldsay. Ian has recently gathered together for publication his first decade of A Letter from North Ronaldsay, which he's written for The Orcadian newspaper for over thirty years. Tom and Rhonda have very proudly produced this first volume of Ian's Letters through our Orkneyology Press, which is now available for purchase through our website. We hope you enjoy this blether among friends.
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Orkneyology Press - The Madman's Window
In his new book Irish singer/songwriter/storyteller Colin Urwin shares re-imagined and original stories based on local legend, folklore and history. You support the author and our small press best by buying direct from us: shop.orkneyology.com/products/the-madmans-window-other-tales-of-the-antrim-coast-1 Enjoy! (Ko-fi Buddos see our Ko-fi post for your 15% off code for all our books.)
A Letter from North Ronaldsay
Exciting news! Ian Scott's A Letter from North Ronaldsay 1990-1999 is here! Please consider ordering it from our online shop, as it helps both us and our authors to get the best income for our efforts. Shop here: https://rebrand.ly/5o6tb (For those who like to support our local bookshops, as we also do, they will be carrying the book shortly too.)And to show our gratitude to our Ko-fi family of encouragers, our Buddos and one-time supporters can use the 15% off code for all Orkneyology Press books, which I've posted on our Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/orkneyology Thank you!
Orkneyology Podcast, episode 5 ~ Angus Folk Tales and Big Big Worms!
Tonight, Tom and Rhonda Muir of Scotland's Orkney Islands talk with a favorite moonlight visitor - our very dear friend, author, researcher and storyteller Dr Erin Farley of Dundee.
Join us for "Angus Folk Tales and Big Big Worms!"
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Mermaid image (Rhonda's pages) and storyteller image (Tom's pages), and all other illustrations except where noted are here by the courtesy of our dear friend - Stromness author, artist and historian, Bryce Wilson MBE, who owns all copyrights. Thanks, Bryce!
Please join our Crowdfunder campaign ~ click image below
If you enjoy what we do please consider a small gift through our Ko-fi page. It's a simple, safe way to support our work of preserving Orkney's stories and lore.
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~ Next issue:
Summer 2025
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Buying Orkneyology Press books directly through our website is the best way to support our authors and the publishers.
We appreciate your enthusiasm and support. Thank you.