Ten-mile galley pull for new SMUHA shed

A TEN-mile galley pull between Gulberwick to Sandwick kicked off this afternoon (Saturday) to raise money for a new South Mainland Up Helly Aa galley shed.

The team left the Gulberwick Hall at around 2pm and they are expected to arrive at the Sandwick Social Club at about 6pm.

The committee is aiming to raise £3,000 to put towards building its own galley shed.

Fundraising efforts for the shed have been going on for a number of years.

At the moment the popular fire festival rents a storage shed from the Cunningsburgh Show committee.

“There is a big push to try and raise additional finance to build something similar, which will avoid the need to empty all the contents come show-time,” 2018 jarl Ian Bray said.

They are pulling the presentation galley Mirrie Dancer, which was a commission build for the Ediburgh Tattoo last year. The team are due to take the reins in stints, with former jarls involved.

When the crew arrive at the Sandwick Social Club they are set to burn the remnants of this year’s galley, Spindrift.

To donate to the cause, visit here.