NEW! Limited edition print/Christmas Ba 2025

A limited edition print from a mixed media painting by Orkney artist Jane Glue.

Orkneys unique Ba game consists of a Boys and a Mens Ba game both played twice a year on Christmas day and New Years day throughout the streets of Orkneys main town, Kirkwall. There are two teams, the Uppies and the Doonies. The game is sort of like a rough game of rugby with relatively little rules. All shop and house windows and doors which are likely to be on the route are barricaded ahead of the game as there can be many hundred participants  and the weight of bodies can easily do some damage. The Ba itself is a round handmade leather ball stuffed with cork(as you can see in my picture) the winner of each game gets to keep the Ba itself although the winner is only chosen once the Doonies reach the pier head or alternatively the Uppies touch the wall above the Catholic church in Junction rd. The game can last as long as 6-8 hrs and is not for the faint hearted! Most people who live in Orkney think they are either a Doonie or an Uppie whether they play or not and allegiance often depends on how a previous family played although it can be how you entered Orkney for the first time, either by plane(Uppie) or by boat(Doonie).

 This painting was created with a mixture of collage(made from our local Orcadian newspaper) and watercolours. This view of the game is in Broad st outside The Virgin bank and shows the 'pack' consisting of both sides struggling to grab the Ba in the hope of smuggling it away in either direction. 

All prints are presented on Fuji Matt C-type paper.

Sizes available:

30×21cm, 12×8", fine art print, edition of 100
42×30cm, 17×12", fine art print, edition of 50
59×42cm, 23×17", fine art print, edition of 25
84×59cm, 33×23", fine art print, edition of 10

Each print is digitally signed by the artist. Each artwork comes with an exclusive Certificate of Authenticity (COA), containing signature and edition number. Safe, tracked delivery guaranteed worldwide, with sustainable packaging.