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 ~ 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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Orkneyology Podcast - Ower wi' the moon

Orkneyology-Podcast

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."

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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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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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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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Orkneyology Podcast Show Notes

Orkneyology-Podcast

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.

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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

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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.)

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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!

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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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The Great Wall of Buddos ~ Orkneyology patrons & friends

Buddo-thank-you

Tom and Rhonda Muir of Orkneyology.com, Orkneyology Press and the Orkneyology Podcast acknowledge our gratitude to friends who support our preservation work.

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Gregor Lamb's A-Z of Orkney Placenames ~ Orkneyology Press

Gregor-Lamb-A-Z-OrkneyologyPress

Gregor Lamb has spent a lifetime keeping Orkney's history alive. His latest book is a fascinating reference for Orkney Islands placenames and their origins.

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Tom Muir's new Scottish Folk Tales of Coast and Sea!

Tom is very proud (though he won't admit it, being Orcadian) of his newest collection of Scottish folk tales, published by History Press. Read more here.

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Test your knowledge of Scotland!

One minute of Scotland quiz fun on Orkneyology Youtube.

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Scottish Trivia Quiz

Take one minute and test your knowledge of Scottish culture.

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Scottish Culture Quiz - one minute to test your knowledge!

Enjoy this bit of Scottish trivia.

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Buddos preview of Scott Gardiner on Orkneyology Podcast

As a wee thank you exclusively for our buddos and occasional supporters, the long version, early-release March episode of the Orkneyology Podcast is ready for your enjoyment. This month, we're having a blether with a very dear friend of ours, Scott Gardiner, a weel-kent face in Orkney. You'll enjoy this laughter-filled blether between Tom and Scott.For everyone else, look for this episode on Monday, March 25th, wi' the full moon.

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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!