Information Bulletin
23 January 2006
Johnsmas Foy 'Bigger and Better' in 2006
This year’s Johnsmas Foy is now beginning to take shape and it will be ‘much bigger and better’ than the trial event run in June 2005. That was the message today from Councillor Eddie Knight, who chairs the Steering Group set up to run the event. ‘I’m pleased at the way it’s developing’, he said. ‘It looks as though we’ll have events all over Shetland during the Foy and there really will be something to interest everyone.’
The Johnsmas Foy 2006 will begin on Friday 16 June and end on Monday 26 June. Councillor Knight explained that the Steering Group has decided that each annual Foy should have a distinctive theme. This year, there will be a celebration of sail, which is particularly appropriate, as Shetland will be hosting both the Round Britain and Ireland Race and the Shetland Races over the second weekend of the Foy. The theme for 2007 is likely to be fishing heritage
Although the annual Foy is always likely to have a scent of the sea about it, it’s also a wider celebration of midsummer and of all that is best in Shetland. Thus there will be a very strong musical presence and a range of other arts and craft events. There will be opportunities to explore the islands and their heritage. The best of Shetland food and drink will be on show, too, with the return of Flavour of Shetland which proved so successful at last year’s Island Games. Andy Steven of VisitShetland sees the event as ‘very helpful’ in strengthening Shetland’s growing tourist industry. ‘“There will be a lot that appeals to local folk but I’ve no doubt that, as it grows and becomes better known, the Foy will attract more visitors to Shetland’.
According to Alastair Hamilton, the Council’s Head of Planning, the Foy should make a big contribution, in two main ways, to better marketing of Shetland and its products. ‘In the first place, I often hear folk saying that we’re not as good as we need to be at putting Shetland forward. So, we need to build more confidence in what we have and what we can do. Secondly, we need to establish a reputation for products that are distinctive and of the finest quality, that folk associate with Shetland; and our service needs to be first class, so good that folk tell their friends about it. We have some good products and services, of course, but they’re not as well known as they need to be, and we need to develop more. It will take a while to achieve all this, but I really believe that the Johnsmas Foy can help us focus all these things, and its impact certainly won’t be restricted to a week or so in June.’
More details of the 2006 Foy will be available soon; the Foy website at www.johnsmasfoy.com will carry regular updates. The Steering Group is already in touch with a number of local organisations and will be contacting others in order to develop Foy events. The Group is also anxious to involve the private sector, for example in food, drink, knitwear and crafts. ‘I think it will be a really positive experience for the community’, said Eddie Knight. ‘We hope to spring some nice surprises and, though there’s an important purpose behind it, the Foy should be great fun.’
Ends
Note to Editors: The most recent Council report on the Johnsmas Foy was approved at the Council meeting on 14 September 2005. It contains more background information.
Further Information: Douglas Irvine, Economic Development Unit, Lerwick 744932