Eynhallow

Eynhallow

Eynhallow

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Eynhallow is a small, presently uninhabited island in Eynhallow Sound, between Rousay and the Mainland of Orkney, off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is 75 hectares (0.29 square miles) in area. There is an unnamed skerry about 100 metres (330 feet) to the north-east of the island, separated by Fint Sound. Sheep Skerry adjoins the southern end of the island.

Quick Facts Old Norse name, Meaning of name ...

There is no ferry to the island, although Orkney Heritage Society organises a trip each July.[8] Otherwise, visitors have to arrange their own transport to the island by private local boat hire. Access can be problematic, as there are strong tidal surges in the surrounding strait, funnelled between Mainland and Rousay.[9]

Etymology

The Norse named the island Eyinhelga,[1] meaning "holy island".[6] Johan Blaeu's 17th century Atlas Novus records the name as Alhallow.[10] Skene's 19th century translation of John of Fordun's 14th century Chronica Gentis Scotorum records the name as Enhallow.[11]

History

The ruined chapel on Eynhallow

The island's main attraction is Eynhallow Church, dating from the 12th century or earlier, and perhaps originally part of a monastery.[12] The site is maintained by Historic Scotland.

In 1841 the island had a population of 26.[12] It has been uninhabited since the landowner cleared crofters away in 1851. The clearing led to the discovery of the church ruins, forgotten until then.[13] The island is now a bird sanctuary.

Described as "perhaps the most mystical of the Orkney isles",[14] it has its own folklore concerning the initial finding of the island. Eynhallow was believed to be the summer residence of the shape-shifting mer-people the Finfolk before they were driven away by a farmer from Evie, the Guidman o' Thorodale.[15][16]

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Anderson (1873) p. 176
  2. [2]
    Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  3. [3]
    National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. [4]
    Haswell-Smith 2004, pp. 381–383.
  5. [5]
    Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 6 Orkney (Mainland) (Map). Ordnance Survey. 2014. ISBN 9780319228128.
  6. [6]
    Orkney Placenames. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  7. [7]
    Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
  8. [8]
    Orkney Heritage Society website
  9. [9]
    "Eynhallow". Around Rousay. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  10. [10]
    Irvine 2006, p. 30.
  11. [11]
    John of Fordun 1872, p. 41.
  12. [12]
    "Overview of Eynhallow". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  13. [13]
    "Eynhallow Church". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  14. [14]
    Hewitson 2003, p. 187.
  15. [15]
    "Folklore". orkneyjar.com. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  16. [16]
    Turnbull, Catherine (29 July 2010) "Exploring the Mysteries of Eynhallow". Kirkwall: Orkney News.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eynhallow.

59°8′41″N 3°7′11″W


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