Covers of the three booklets in the Ragna's Island series including Viking Fair Isle (with a colour photograph of a decaying clinker boat in front of a bay), Viking North Ronaldsay (with a colour aerial photograph showing an impressive archaeological feature) and Viking Papay (with a colour aerial photograph showing a field system with a lake and the sea and an islet beyond). All three have the subtitle 'Saga-stories, poetry and place-names'.

25/07/2025, by aezcr

Farewell from the Ragna’s Islands project team… and some exciting news!

The Ragna's Islands logo which is a black circle with the project name, and an in inner circle with the outlines of the three project islands, Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay and Fair Isle.The Ragna’s Islands project has now come to an end. The project was made possible by funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and administrative support from the School of English, University of Nottingham.

We have many people to thank for their contributions over the last year and a half. A special thank you must go to all those who have volunteered on the project and to all those people that attended our online and in-person talks, events and work with schools over the course of the project.

 

Montage of photos of project activities.

Activities carried out during the project including oral history interviews, ‘lost places’ walks, Saga readings, and community and school activities.

We have received useful advice and helpful pointers from many archaeologists, archivists, historians, museum curators, name-specialists and residents, too many to name here.

Finally, we are very grateful for the warm welcome extended to us by the people of Fair Isle, North Ronaldsay and Papa Westray, and for their support and kindness in helping us with the project.

The new translation of The Saga of the Earls of Orkney by Judith Jesch is now available for pre-order!

Cover of the new translation of The Saga of the Earls of Orkney by Judith Jesch. The cover is an orangey-red colour with white text and features the Lewis Chessmen.

The Ragna’s Island’s blog is moving – find us at our new location… where we hope to entertain you further!

Screenshot of the new location for the Ragan's Islands blog on the University of Nottingham's School of English site.

Keep an eye on our new Place-Names of Northern Scotland webpage (under construction) where we will be placing our Ragna’s Island Project Papers (RIPP) and links to our forthcoming interactive maps for exploring the place-names of the Saga of the Earls of Orkney and the three islands of Fair Isle, North Ronaldsay and Papa Westray.

And, if you’re visiting Papay, North Ronaldsay or Fair Isle, look out for the new publications that will be available in the respective islands soon!

Covers of the three booklets in the Ragna's Island series including Viking Fair Isle (with a colour photograph of a decaying clinker boat in front of a bay), Viking North Ronaldsay (with a colour aerial photograph showing an impressive archaeological feature) and Viking Papay (with a colour aerial photograph showing a field system with a lake and the sea and an islet beyond). All three have the subtitle 'Saga-stories, poetry and place-names'.

Thanks everyone – it’s been a hoot!

The Ragna’s Islands Team

 

Posted in About the projectActivitiesFair IsleIslandsNorth RonaldsayPapa WestrayPlace-NamesSaga of the Earls of OrkneySaga place-namesSchoolsTalks and events

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