Orkney Photographs On-line

Many thanks Martin! I've just spent 45 minutes perusing these...I'll never get there, but you have provided a wonderful range of coastal & town views that give me an insight, an atmosphere. Interesting to see the dead oystercatcher - my Nana called these 'servant of Bridhe' (sp.?) - we call then torea, and -aside from the all-black ones - ours look a bit different (paticularly in bill colouration.) Anyway, great to see an ancestral place through someone else's eyes-

Keri, I'm assuming the phrase your Nana used was a reference to the Celtic Goddess known in Ireland as Brigit. Wikipedia gives the Scottish spelling as Brìghde. I found several references to the oystercatcher being sacred to Brigit, and to the saint who inherited her worship.

Thanks for sharing the photos, Martin.

Thanks OriGuy- it sounded a bit like 'Bridgey' but not quite...will check with wiki next time!
My Nana's Orkney family had strong links to Caithness, but was based in Kirkwall.
Torea are reckoned weather-callers/signifiers among South Island Maori- any refs to this
'ability' that you know of? Cheers n/n Keri

So Selkies, then.

Yes. No. What?