Tuesday 1 July 2025

13.9°C WSW Gentle Breeze

In Pictures / Crowds gather for spectacular burning of SMUHA galley

Shetland News @shetnews

9 March 2024 10:10

Person dressed as a viking holding an axe with a burning boat in the background.

2024 SMUHA jarl Leigh Smith aka Thorfinn ‘The Mighty’ Sigurdsson. Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media

SHETLAND News shares a selection of photos from last night’s procession of 450 torchbearers and the spectacular burning of Jarl Thorfinn the Mighty’s galley at Scousburgh Sands.

All photos by Malcolm Younger of Millgaet Media.

Full story of Friday’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa can be found here:

Long weekend ahead for Jarl Thorfinn the Mighty and his hardy Vikings

People attending a fire-lighting ceremony with a person dressed in historical armor.

People participating in a torchlight procession at night.

People participate in a torchlight procession at night during a festival.

Three people in traditional attire with joyful expressions.

Participants in historical reenactment dressed as viking warriors march with torches at night.

People dressed in various costumes carrying torches at a nighttime outdoor event.

Participants dressed in costumes carrying torches during a nighttime procession.

Participants in historical costumes holding flaming torches at a nighttime event.

Individuals dressed in viking attire pushing a burning boat during a nighttime ceremony.

A boat engulfed in flames at night on a body of water.

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Ignore for now

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Audience Survey for Shetland News

Tell us what you think and win £100!

This survey is run by a UK charity, the Public Interest News Foundation. We exist to support independent news providers.

Your answers will power important research. We will share aggregated and anonymous answers with your news provider. And we will produce an overarching UK-wide report, which will be available on our website.

To enter the £100 prize draw, complete the survey and enter your email at the end.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please consider paying for membership and get the following features and services: -

Remove non-local ads;
Bookmark posts to read later;
Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
Hide membership messages;
Comments open for discussion.

Billing: Your monthly subscription of £10 will be billed on or shortly after the 1st of each month. You can change how much you pay or cancel at any time.