Tiree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Scottish Island of
Tiree |
|
|---|---|
| Location | |
| OS grid reference: | NL999458 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic or Celtic name: | Thiriodh |
| Norse name: | Unknown |
| Meaning of name: | Gaelic for 'land of corn' |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 7,834 ha |
| Area rank if >40 ha: | 17 |
| Highest elevation: | Ben Hynish 141 m |
| Population | |
| Population: | 770 |
| Population rank: | 17 out of 89 |
| Main settlement: | Scarinish |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Mull |
| Local Authority: | Argyll and Bute |
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| References: | [1][2][3] |
Tiree (Scottish Gaelic:Thiriodh) is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides southwest of Coll. It has an area of 30 square miles and a population of around 800 people. The low-lying island is highly fertile, and crofting, alongside tourism, are the main sources of employment for the islanders.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
The main village on Tiree is Scarinish, from which ferries sail to Arinagour on Coll and to Oban on the mainland. There is also a small airport near the village. The island's other settlements include Hynish and Sandaig, both of which boast small museums.
[edit] History
Tiree is known for the first century BC Dùn Mòr broch, for the prehistoric carved Ringing Stone and for the birds of the Ceann a' Mhara headland. Tiree is also popular for windsurfing and has a radar station which tracks civil aircraft.
In 1770, half of the island was held by fourteen farmers who had drained land for hay and pasture. Instead of exporting live cattle (which were often exhausted by the long journey to market and so fetched low prices), they began to export salt beef in barrels to get better prices. The rest of the island was let to forty-five groups of tenants on co-operative Joint Farms: agricultural organisations probably dating from clan times. Field strips were allocated by annual ballot. Sowing and harvesting dates were decided communally. It is reported that in 1774, Tiresians were 'well-clothed and well-fed, having an abundance of corn and cattle'.
Its name derives from Tir Iodh, 'land of the corn', from the days of the 6th-century Celtic missionary and abbot St Columba (d. 597). Tiree provided the monastic community on the island of Iona, south-east of the island, with grain. A number of early Christian monasteries once existed on Tiree itself, and several sites have stone cross-slabs from this period, e.g. St Patrick's Chapel, Ceann a' Mhara (NL 938 401) and Soroby (NL 984 416).
A large RAF airfield was built on Tiree during World War II; this became the civil airport after the war. There was also a RAF Chain Home radar station at Kilkenneth and a RAF Chain Home Low radar station at Beinn Hough. These were preceded by a temporary RAF Advanced Chain Home radar station at Port Mor and a RAF Chain Home Beam radar station at Barrapol. Post war there was RAF Scarinish ROTOR radar station at Beinn Ghott.
[edit] Culture
The island is known for its vernacular architecture, including 'blackhouses' and 'white houses', many retaining their traditional thatched roofs, as well as its unique 'pudding' or 'spotted houses' where only the mortar is painted white.
Tiree has a considerable percentage of Gaelic speakers (48.6% from the 2001 Census[4]) which is high for the Inner Hebrides.
[edit] References
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ 2001 Census
[edit] External links
- Summit of Tiree - a computer-generated panorama
- Gordon Scott's website keeps people up to date with Tiree events
- Tiree Images - large collection of photographs
| Islands of the Hebrides |
|---|
| Inner Hebrides |
| Ascrib Islands | Canna | Cara | Coll | Colonsay | Crowlin Islands | Easdale | Eigg | Gigha | Iona | Isay | Islay | Jura | Kerrera | Lismore | Luing | Lunga | Oronsay | Muck | Mull | Raasay | Rùm | Seil | Shuna | Skye | Soay | Staffa | Summer Isles | Tiree | Treshnish Isles |
| Outer Hebrides |
| Barra (Isles) | Benbecula | Berneray | Eriskay | Flannan Isles | Great Bernera | Harris and Lewis | North Uist | Rockall | Scalpay | South Uist | St Kilda |
