Community / Uyeasound Up Helly Aa underway as the ‘clueless jarl’ leads festivities
FIRE festival fever has reached Unst as the Uyeasound Up Helly Aa gets underway.
This year’s guizer jarl is Duncan Scott, who has dipped into his knowledge of Gaelic for the rather self-deprecating name of the character he is representing.
For this weekend the 60-year-old joiner, who grew up in Inverurie, is going by the name Jarl Gun Sgot.
“I’m an incomer into Unst, so I really felt I have no clue how I’m going to do this,” he laughed as he spoke prior to the big day.
“When I first came here, I was a fluent Gaelic speaker. I’m getting a bit rusty now, but I’ve called myself Jarl Gun Sgot which kind of translates as a clueless jarl, as I felt utterly clueless at the start of the process!”
The galley also veers away from the Viking heritage a little too, with its name a Gaelic term for “the rascal”.
His squad features 17 folk, including his two sons and a brother in law who has travelled all the way from Indonesia for the festivities.
Scott was due to lead the Uyeasound Up Helly Aa last year but sadly the event was postponed to 2025 due to bereavements in the community.
When it comes to the suits, he explained that the teal-coloured cloaks were made by his partner Lisa and her friend Lyla.
“The kirtles are a dark, almost black navy blue with a gold trim on them,” he added. “The shields match the cloaks – there a teal sort of colour, with some Celtic knotwork on them.”
Speaking as his big day loomed, Scott said he was “looking forward to it tremendously”.
“I think I’ve needed the whole two years to get ready, but yeah, it’s still a slightly mad dash at the end – I think it always is when it comes to Up Helly Aa,” he added.
“It feels great to be at this stage, and I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s a huge part of the Unst community – both the Up Helly Aas [in Unst]. They’re great events all round.”
His squad’s day kicked off with a hearty breakfast, with visits planned to the Baltasound Junior High School and local care facilities.
Folk are also invited to mingle with the squad at the Uyeasound hall between 2.30pm and 4pm, where there will be tea, homebakes and bar facilities.
The procession will kick off at 7.30pm before a night of revelry in the community, with the hop festivities taking place at the Uyeasound hall on Saturday night.
Meanwhile Unst’s other fire festival, the Norik Up Helly Aa, is taking place on next Saturday (22 February).
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