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Up Helly Aa party continues in Lerwick

The dancing and partying continued in Shetland today, long after last night's festivities (pictures by Kenny Elrick)
The dancing and partying continued in Shetland today, long after last night's festivities (pictures by Kenny Elrick)

Today may have been the morning after the festivities of the night before in Lerwick – but the spirit of Up Helly Aa was still burning bright for some.

Offices and shops remained closed on what was a local holiday, but little pockets of partying could still be found in the town as the new day dawned.

Down by the harbour, the shed for Squad 43 was still packed with folk drinking and singing.

It even had its own pie oven, stocked with warm treats fresh from the baker.

The squad members were still in their Lego men fancy dress costumes from Tuesday night, when they had toured the halls of Lerwick to put on their show.

One member, Nell, said: “It has been epic, just like every Up Helly Aa has been epic.

“It never changes and it is always the best it can be.”

Scott Anderson, 28, added: “I would give Up Helly Aa 10 out of 10 and I would give it that every year. There is no such thing as a bad one.”

Dale Williamson, 35, said: “It has been amazing and it is not over yet.”

This evening, the Guizer’s Hop got under way, with folk drawn out one last time for more music and dancing.

The hop will bring to a close Up Helly Aa 2015, which was led by Guizer Jarl Neil Robertson.

In the character of ancient Norwegian king Olav Haraldsson, the Guizer Jarl led 1,000 torch-bearing guizers through the streets of Lerwick before his galley boat was ceremonially burned.

The dancing and partying continued in Shetland today, long after last night's festivities (pictures by Kenny Elrick)
The dancing and partying continued in Shetland today, long after last night’s festivities (pictures by Kenny Elrick)

Thousands lined the streets for the Norse-style spectacle, which has been held in Lerwick for the past 140 years or so.

Other towns and villages host their own Up Helly Aas in the early part of the year.

In Lerwick , the event is mounted purely by volunteers and funded generously by local businesses.

Guizer Jarl Robertson said: “It has been the most amazing experience and I am very honoured to be Guizer Jarl and to see the people come out and support Up Helly Aa the way they have.”

Meanwhile, police in Shetland praised the organisers and public following the event.

Shetland area commander, Chief Inspector Lindsay Tulloch, said: “This year’s Up Helly Aa event has again gone very well.

“Several thousand people took part in the celebrations, which passed with no reports of crime or disorder being made to us.

“This is a unique event which is always a pleasure to police. I would like to thank the organisers and the general public who have again helped to ensure this was a safe event, free from any crime.”

And Steve Mathieson, Shetland Islands manager at VisitScotland, said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Neil and the entire Jarl Squad for another fantastic Up Helly Aa.

“Europe’s largest fire festival, which is months in the planning, is incredibly important to the tourist industry and local economy, not just in Lerwick but across Shetland.”