Magnus 900 programme launched with Easter weekend of events

Relive the martyrdom of St Magnus this Easter on the isle of Egilsay – 900 years after the legendary event took place.

The dramatic scene will be replayed on Saturday 15 April as part of a packed weekend of free activities to formally launch the Magnus 900 programme, a year of commemoration of Orkney’s patron saint.

Everyone present at the live roleplay of St Magnus’ death will be a medieval person from 1117, with a name and life story - experiencing everything as one of Haakon's or Magnus's crew - alongside volunteers from across Orkney under the guidance of Ragnhild Ljosland from the Centre of Nordic Studies. Anyone who would like to take part on the day should contact Dr Ljosland by email as soon as possible to discuss a part.

The action will be interwoven with songs performed by the Mayfield singers. Alongside the roleplay there will be opportunities to participate in Viking inspired games and to explore the island, with light refreshments provided by the Egilsay Community.

Later in the day, events will move to Birsay. 7 Waves, a new artwork by Erlend Brown and Dave Jackson which takes as its inspiration George Mackay Browns’s Tryst on Egilsay, will be opened at St Magnus Church before a newly commissioned St Magnus Foy, written by Pam Beasant is performed at the Birsay Hall - accompanied by a traditional Orkney supper and music by members of the Orkney Song Shop Choir.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Harvey Johnston, said: “The story of St Magnus is full of drama and certainly captured my imagination as a youngster. It permeates so much of Orkney’s culture, heritage and folklore.
 
“So it’s pleasing to see the community pulling out all the stops to help create a fitting celebration of this legendary figure, starting with this Easter launch.
 
“We’d urge the Orkney public to get involved in the events, and help celebrate and promote the story of our very own saint.”

Sunday 16 April sees the official launch of the St Magnus Way – a new 51 mile pilgrimage route through the West Mainland. A 4 mile ‘taster’ route departing the Broch of Gurness will give folk a chance to experience the route for the first time and a stop at Evie kirk for refreshments will be an opportunity to hear more about the development of the way. Sunday will conclude with the 21st annual St Magnus Day service.

Monday 17 April gives the option of walking, in full, the first leg of the St Magnus Way – from the Broch of Gurness to Birsay. The 12.5 mile route takes in some of Orkney’s most spectacular coastline and walkers will arrive in Birsay  in time for a very special visual arts, music and literature programme The Inspiration of Magnus hosted at the St Magnus Church, with performances by Shona McInnes, Alison Gray, Gaby Barnby and many more.

All events are free. However ferry tickets for Saturday’s trip to Egilsay must be booked and paid for in advance by contacting the Orkney Ferries office in Kirkwall on 872044. Saturday evening’s supper is ticketed for catering purposes, and tickets are available from the 27 March from the Palace Stores, Birsay as well as Orkney Islands Council customer services in Kirkwall and the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness.

Other programme highlights from the Easter weekend include:

• Sunday 16 April - Easter Sunday Service: St Magnus Cathedral, 11.15am
• Sails of St Magnus: St Magnus Cathedral – free to view from Easter Sunday onwards
• Monday 17 April – For The Journey & Return - Artist Beatrice Searle will join us on the first leg of the St Magnus Way as she begins her epic pilgrimage with The Orkney Boat. The Walk departs the Broch of Gurness at 10.00am

Magnus 900 is an Orkney wide cultural programme of events, activities, performances, education and research to commemorate St Magnus and explore the contemporary relevance of the Magnus story today. It is coordinated by Orkney Islands Council with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery.  The project will see a range of special events held throughout 2017 at several of Orkney’s regular festivals including the Orkney Folk Festival, the St Magnus International Festival, the Orkney International Science Festival and the Orkney Storytelling Festival.