Orkney Island Celebrates First Baby Born in Over 30 Years

The remote island of North Ronaldsay in Orkney is celebrating the arrival of its first baby in more than three decades. Duncan Wilder Thorstein Traill Suarez Ford was born last week to parents Jorge Suarez and Alice Traill Ford, marking a significant event for the island community.

Islanders marked the occasion with a traditional toast of whisky, celebrating the first newborn on the northernmost Orkney island since August 1992. The family, who divide their time between Costa Rica and Orkney, traveled over 5,000 miles for the birth, with Alice Traill Ford expressing a deep connection to the island.

"North Ronaldsay has always been a very special place for me and I felt alive and free here every summer when I came up as a little girl," Alice told BBC Scotland News. "My intuition was telling me this was the right place for us so we spoke to the NHS to see if it would be possible."

The family welcomed baby Duncan at Holland House, a property built by Alice's ancestors, the Traill family, who acquired the island in 1727. The house has been passed down through generations and remains in the family's ownership. Alice's grandfather, Duncan, formerly the Laird of North Ronaldsay, served as the inspiration for her son's middle name.

Following a local tradition, a flag was raised at Holland House at 4:05 AM on September 15, the time of Duncan's birth, to announce the news to the islanders. The family prepared bottles of whisky, adorned with a four-leaf clover and a Groatie Buckie shell—a local symbol of good luck—to share with the community.

"We raised the flag and everybody opened their whisky and shared a dram - a celebratory drink - together," Alice recounted.

The family is expected to return to Costa Rica, where they operate a school, in November. However, Alice emphasized her commitment to ensuring her children experience the same connection to North Ronaldsay that she cherishes.

"Duncan will absolutely be back every year," she stated. "One of the things I want to give my children is the gift my mother gave us, bringing us to this island every summer, letting us run wild, explore the island and feel the connection to the community."

North Ronaldsay is known for its unique seaweed-eating sheep, kept within the island's perimeter by a distinctive drystone wall stretching 13 miles. Access to the island is available via a 20-minute flight or a two-hour and 40-minute ferry journey from Kirkwall on the main Orkney island.