ABSTRACT
The Kirkwall ba’ game is a form of mass folk football which is played annually on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands.
The ba’ is a cork ball covered in handstitched leather about 28 inches in diameter. A new one is handmade for each game by local craftsmen. The ba’ itself is also the trophy and is presented at the end of each game to a player on the winning side who has been a notable and respected contestant at that and previous matches.
