Reliving Up-Helly-A’ moments
Adam Guest
After 15 years of waiting, Lerwick Guizer Jarl Ivor Cluness has experienced a week he will never forget.
From the hundreds of burning torches encircling the galley, to the overwhelming receptions in the halls, Ivor said he has been “very humbled” by the whole experience.
On Friday he donned his impressive Viking attire again and visited nursery children at Islesburgh, Bell’s Brae and Sound to give them a chance to have a taste of Up-Helly-A’.
The youngsters, he said are the tradition’s future.
Sitting down for a quick cuppa at lunch, he spoke to The Shetland Times about the events of the past week, before preparing to be out with his squad again for the squad’s dance at Lerwick Town Hall.
Hop Night was the squad’s day he said, and their chance to “let their hair down” after all the hard work the day before.
“It was good to get everyone together and have a right good knees-up,” said Ivor.
“It was tremendous – it was a tremendous feeling and a tremendous atmosphere.”
But Ivor will be swapping his axe for a paintbrush on Monday, when he returns to work.
And before then there is still work to do – this includes cleaning up and making sure the squad suits are repaired for future outings.
After Up-Helly-A’ Ivor thanked all his squad for their involvement which was “a very emotional” experience.
“All the boys gelled so well together,” he said.
“I can’t believe how good it’s been.”
As Ivor reflects on the biggest week of his life, The Shetland Times has compiled a gallery and video montage of some of the best moments of this year’s festival.
• Free in today’s paper – 16-page supplement with the best words and pictures of Up-Helly-A’ and a double-sided souvenir glossy poster.
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- A cup in the hand for Flash in the Pan squad members Lewis Fraser and Adrian Morrison in the Sound School. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- Laura Hughson and Sarah Thomson burling in the Sound School. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- Horsing About with some impressive moves, Squad 24 perform in the Sound School. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- Squad 14, IVor Does Ibiza, bring that holiday feeling into the Clickimin. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- Has Gemma Donald picked up a Bad Habit, Davey Boof of squad 47, in the Gilbertson Park Hall. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- Just about to barge into the Gilbertson Park Hall are squad 21 members (back, from left): Jordan Hunter, Connall Thomson and Bradley Wood, and, front, junior jarl Travis Morgan. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- Leprechaun Mark Moncrieff from Squad 28 meets up with his wife Gillian and daughter Kimberley at the Sound School. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- Jim McLeod and Liam Davie are still Plucking Around (Squad 46) at Bells Brae School. Photo: Garry Sandison
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- The delighted look on Bell’s Brae Primary School Katie Hunter is delighted by the visit of the Jarl’s Squad. Photo: Dave Donaldson
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- Even the youngest Jarl’s Squad members Christy Johnston and Anthony Cluness looked the part with their impressive helmets when they joined the squad on the afternoon visits. Photo: Dave Donaldson
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- Pupils at Bell’s Brae Primary School, including Zahrick Johnson, Connor More, Anya Nicol and Cameron Middleton. Photo: Dave Donaldson
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- Former Jarl William “Feejur” Tait gets his hands on the coveted shield and axe again during a visit to the Gilbert Bain Hospital. Photo: Dave Donaldson
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- Junior Jarl Travis Morgan roars as his galley, Rhonda, named after his mother burns behind him. Photo: Dave Donaldson
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- The light-up worked much better than last year as the rain held off. Photo: Dave Donaldson
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- The jarl with his family as the galley burns. From left: John-Scott, Cheryl, Ivor, Louise, Fiona and Russell Cluness. Photo: Dave Donaldson
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