Kirkwall
Kirkjuvagr Church Bay
Kirkwall on the Orkney isles which lie off the north coast of Great Britain is the largest town and capital of the Orkney Islands and is situated on the north coast of Mainland Orkney. The name Kirkwall derives from the Norse name Kirkjuvagr that later became Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and then Kirkwall. Kirkjuvagr or the 'Kirk' of Kirkwall was not the Cathedral refers to the old church at Birsay
The town is first mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the kingdom of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney. , who was eventually killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty in a struggle for rights to the kingdom.
In 1486, King James III of Scotland proclaimed Kirkwall a royal burgh today the modern road signs still indicate this, The City and Royal Burgh of Kirkwall.
These days The Place is a bustling market town with is long Main Street and winding lanes or wynds the place has a lovely atmospheric feel about it. The old town is a particularly fine example of an ancient Norse town. There are also
The town has some fine architecturally interesting buildings including many fine 17th and 18th century houses as well as other buildings built in the local style. The most outstanding however is the Impressive St Magnus Cathedral this was founded in memory of the saint Magnus Erlendsson Earl of Orkney 1108–1117 by Earl Rögnvald Kali who was later canonized. Kirkwall also once had a medieval castle, which was destroyed in the 17th century.
The Tankerness House Museum contains items of local historical interest within one of Scotland's best-preserved sixteenth century town houses. The prehistoric, Pictish and Viking collections are of international importance and well worth taking the time to see.
Kirkwall also has the most northerly of the world's Carnegie libraries, which was opened by Andrew Carnegie and his wife in 1909, although the building survives the library itself has since moved to a larger building.
One of the major annual events in the town is the Ba Game, held each Christmas Day and New Year's Day between the Uppies and the Doonies, each team representing one half of the town.
Activities in Kirkwall
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