Jákup Andreasen reflects on Klaksvík’s past in Facebook group

Seventy-year-old Jákup Andreasen, originally from Klaksvík and now living in Vestmanna, regularly shares reflections on old photographs from Klaksvík and the Northern Isles, Kringvarp Føroya reports.

Andreasen developed an interest in learning more about his family and ancestors when he was around 50. In 2009, he published a book about his mother’s family from Trøllanes, titled “Wollesfólkini og Trøllanes”. Two years ago, he also published a photo book with comments and reflections called “Afturbrá – gamlar myndir úr Norðoyggjum”, or “Afterglow – old photographs from the Northern Isles”.

In recent years, however, he has been most active in the Facebook group “Gamlar myndir úr Klaksvík/Norðoyggjum”, where he often posts old photographs and writes reflections about them.

Andreasen grew up in Klaksvík, while both of his parents came from Kalsoy, an island. This has given him a particular interest in Klaksvík and especially Kalsoy, even though he has lived in Vestmanna for many years and still lives there. In his early years in Vestmanna, he was director of the Fisheries School, now called Miðnám í Vestmanna.

He owned many old photographs and also received others from people in connection with his book publications. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, he started posting the photographs in the Facebook group about Klaksvík and the Northern Isles, along with his comments.

“I got great pleasure from the platform tidarrit.fo, where the old newspapers were available, but it is now inactive. I think that is a great shame. There is an urgent need to find the technology that will be used in the future,” Andreasen said.

He also discussed the subject in an interview with Kringvarp Føroya.