Lerwick Up Helly-Aa 2009

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

Up Helly-Aa Fact File
Date:	27th January
Jarl: Portraying:	Stephen Mouat Othere Fra Hålogaland
Galley Name:	Is Bjørn
Jarl's Squad Members:	57
Number of Squads:	46
Total Guizers:	970
Number carrying torches:	886

2009 Bill.
The Bill Head Painting is by Rosalind Thompson.
Picture courtesy of Jeannie

Jarl's Squad banner,
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

The Jarl's Squad

Jarl, Stephen Mouat, representing 'Othere Fra Hålogaland',

Jarl's Squad and galley.
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

A hug from wife Morag before the procession.

Jarl's Name - "Othere Fra Hålogaland" aka Stephen Mouat

Facts about the Jarl's Guizer name :

"Othere" is the Anglo-Saxon translation of the Norwegian name "Ottar".

Ottar fra Hålogaland, also Ottar the Explorer, was a famous Norwegian merchant and explorer who lived in the 9th century. He had previously been portrayed in the 1965 Up Helly Aa by Jarl Tom Moncrieff.

Ottar told stories about his voyages to the English King Alfred the Great and brought back polar bear skins from the arctic. The King was translating the 5th century Spanish historian Orosius's Compendious History of the World from Latin to Anglo-Saxon, and he added Ottar's story as an appendix.
Ottar told the King that he was a very wealthy man, and he lived northernmost of all Norwegians. (We believe now that he lived in the area where Tromsø is today - so "Isbjørn" could be a suitable name for his ship !)

There were 57 members in this years Jarl's Squad.

The Galley

The Galley, 'Is Bjørn',

Galley Head,

Rear view of Galley head.
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

Galley name plate and raven.
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

Interior of Galley looking forad.

Interior of Galley looking aft.

Jarl's Squad & Galley Picture Gallery

Jarl's Squad members heading for Town Hall.

More Jarl's Squad members.

Galley shield, painted by Smirk.

Playgroup bairns at the galley.

Jarl's Squad members at Toll Clock Shopping Centre
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

Jarl's Squad members leaving the Town Hall.

Jarl and Squad on Commercial Road
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

Jarl on Galley
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

Bright red cloaks
Picture courtesy of Jim Work

Procession and burning of the Galley

Jarls Squad torches.

Lighting the torches.

The Galley in the procession.

Burning galley with Jarl.

Burning galley.

The Squads

Squad Number, Squad Name, Number of Guizers	Video	Squad Number, Squad Name, Number of Guizers	Video
1. Othere Fra Hålogaland (57) 2. Trucking Great Nights (25) 3. The Navy Lark (15) 4. Shetland Hoodies (18) 5. Going Bananas (23) 6. Running Bear (18) 7. Mexican Folk(ing) Dancers Me Amigos (25) 8. The Devil Went Down To Georgia (21) 9. We Have A Dream (18) 10. A Sheik Up At Sullom (24) 11. Scouting For Girls (17) 12. P-P-Pick Up A Medal (22) 13. She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (23) 14. Here Come Da Lasses (20) 15. Battle Of The Bands (22) 16. Men In Tights (17) 17. Men In Black II (19) 18. Strictly Non-Dancing (19) 19. Thriller (23) 20. Wrath Of Paddy D'Wall (20) 21. ABBA Mamma-Mia (20) 22. The Banana Splits (21) 23. 250 Years o' Irish Genius (20)	- - - - - - YouTube - - - - YouTube - - - - - - YouTube - - - -	24. Cut Hair's Kirkwall Carnage (20) 25. Alien Windfarm (21) 26. Da Reggae Boyz (22) 27. Jordan's Olympic Dressage Bid (16) 28. For-Viks Sake (21) 29. Clever Counts (23) 30. Black & Gold (23) 31. Hells Bells (16) 32. Tap Dancers (13) 33. When Harry Met Sally Archie (21) 34. Bwand And Woss For Da Chop ! (18) 35. A T 100 (22) 36. Big Spender (18) 37. Duckery Quackery (22) 38. Guess Who's 70 (24) 39. FYC (24) 40. Joost A Load O' Rubbish (18) 41. Kung Fu Panda(monium) (23) 42. U-HA Saints (Running Man) (22) 43. Vikings a ' la Mouat (16) 44. Fly Be Wis (20) 45. SheTland Crowncil Affair (20) 46. Aland On Hooves (18)	YouTube - YouTube - YouTube - YouTube - - - YouTube - - - - - YouTube - YouTube - - - -