The Outer Hebrides, (officially known for local government Local government in Scotland is organised through 32 unitary authorities consisting of councillors elected every four years by registered voters in each of the council areas purposes by the Gaelic Scottish Gaelic is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. This branch also includes the Irish and Manx languages. It is distinct from the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages, which includes Welsh, Cornish and Breton. Scottish, Manx and Irish Gaelic are all descended from Old Irish name, Na h-Eileanan Siar) comprise an island chain An archipelago is a chain or cluster of islands that are formed tectonically. The word archipelago literally means "chief sea", from Italian arcipelago (artʃiˈpelaɡo), derived ultimately from Greek arkhon (arkhi-) ("leader") and pelagos ("sea"). In Italian, possibly following a tradition of antiquity, the off the west coast of Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland. The local government area is one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as "councils". They have the option under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1997 of being known (but not re-designated) as a "comhairle" when opting for a Gaelic.

The island chain forms part of the Hebrides The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive influences of Celtic, Norse and English speaking, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. They are part of the Hebrides. In classical sources, they are referred to as the Ebudae or the Ebudes. Traditionally, the Inner Hebrides have been subdivided into two groups (northern and southern) by the stormy waters of the Minch, the Little Minch and the Sea of the Hebrides. On the island chain Scottish Gaelic formerly was the dominant language, and remains widely spoken even though in some areas it has now been largely supplanted by English.

The name for the UK Parliament constituency covering this area is Na h-Eileanan an Iar, whilst the Scottish Parliament constituency for the area continues to be officially known as Western Isles although it is almost always written as Western Isles (Eilean Siar). The islands were known as Suðreyjar ("Southern Islands"; cf. Suðrland) under Norwegian Norway (pronounced /ˈnɔɹweɪ/ ; Norwegian: Norge (Bokmål), Noreg (Nynorsk)) or Norga (North Sami), officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Spitsbergen Treaty. The majority of the country rule for about 200 years until sovereignty was transferred to Scotland in the Treaty of Perth The Treaty of Perth, 1266, ended military conflict between Norway under Magnus the Law-mender and Scotland under Alexander III over the sovereignty of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man in 1266, which followed the Battle of Largs The Battle of Largs was an engagement fought between the armies of Norway and Scotland near the present-day town of Largs in North Ayrshire on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland on 2 October 1263. It was the most important military engagement of the Scottish-Norwegian War. The Norwegian forces were led by king Håkon Håkonsson and the Scottish forces three years earlier. Colloquially, they are sometimes referred to collectively as An t-Eilean Fada or "The Long Island"; Na h-Eileanan a-Muigh (the Outer Isles), Innse Gall is also heard occasionally in Scottish Gaelic.

Contents

Islands

The main islands form an archipelago An archipelago is a chain or cluster of islands that are formed tectonically. The word archipelago literally means "chief sea", from Italian arcipelago (artʃiˈpelaɡo), derived ultimately from Greek arkhon (arkhi-) ("leader") and pelagos ("sea"). In Italian, possibly following a tradition of antiquity, the. With their smaller surrounding islands these are sometimes known poetically as the Long Isle. The major islands include Lewis Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides (an archipelago) of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is 683 square miles (1,770 km2) and Harris Harris is the southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to as the Isle of Harris, North Uist North Uist is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Benbecula, South Uist South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The population is about 90% Roman Catholic. The island, in, and Barra The Isle of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar) in Scotland. Much of the western coastline of the islands is machair, a fertile low-lying dune pastureland.[1] Much of the archipelago is protected habitat, and this includes both the islands and the surrounding waters. There are numerous rare species, including the golden eagle The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas. Despite being locally extinct or uncommon, the species is still fairly ubiquitious, being present in, basking shark The basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus, is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark. It is a cosmopolitan species — it is found in all the world's temperate oceans. It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder, whale, dolphin, otter and corncrake. [2]

Populated islands

Island 2001 census population
Lewis and Harris Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides make up the largest island in Scotland. This is the largest single island of the British Isles after Great Britain and Ireland (Leòdhas agus na Hearadh) 19,918
South Uist South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The population is about 90% Roman Catholic. The island, in (Uibhist a Deas) 1,818
North Uist North Uist is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland (Uibhist a Tuath) 1,271
Benbecula (Beinn nam Fadhla) 1,219
Barra The Isle of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar) in Scotland (Barraigh) 1,078
Scalpay (Sgalpaigh) 322
Great Bernera (Bearnaraigh Mòr) 233
Grimsay (Griomasaigh) 201
Berneray, North Uist (Beàrnaraidh) 136
Eriskay (Eirisgeidh) 133
Vatersay (Bhatarsaigh) 94
Baleshare (Baile Sear) 49
Grimsay, South East Benbecula (Griomasaigh) 19
Flodaigh 11
TOTAL (2001) 26,502
The Hebrides (Outer Hebrides in orange)

Unpopulated islands

Small islands and island groups pepper the North Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions; with a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres . It covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface. The first part of its name refers to the Atlas of Greek mythology, making the Atlantic the "Sea of Atlas". The oldest known mention of this name surrounding the main island group:

To the west lies St Kilda, and Rockall Rockall is a small, uninhabited, rocky islet in the north Atlantic Ocean. It gives its name to one of the sea areas named in the Shipping Forecast, provided by the British Meteorological Office. It could be, in James Fisher's words, "the most isolated small rock in the oceans of the world", in increasing order of distance. The status of Rockall as part of the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with remains a matter of international dispute. About halfway between St Kilda and Rockall is the Anton Dohrn Seamount, a large submerged volcano A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in a planet's surface or crust, which allows hot, molten rock, ash, and gases to escape from below the surface. Volcanic activity involving the extrusion of rock tends to form mountains or features like mountains over a period of time. The word volcano is derived from Italian vulcano, after Vulcan, the Roman.[3]

To the north lie North Rona and Sula Sgeir, two small and remote islands. Not often included as part of the Outer Hebrides, they nevertheless come under the administration of the Western Isles district.

Gaelic in the Outer Hebrides[4]

The Outer Hebrides have historically been a very strong Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. This branch also includes the Irish and Manx languages. It is distinct from the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages, which includes Welsh, Cornish and Breton. Scottish, Manx and Irish Gaelic are all descended from Old Irish (Gàidhlig) speaking area. Both in the 1901 and 1921 census, all parishes were reported to be over 75% Gaelic speaking, including areas of high population density such as Stornoway. By 1971 most areas were still more than 75% Gaelic speaking – with the exception of Stornoway Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh in Gaelic ) is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Benbecula and South Uist South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The population is about 90% Roman Catholic. The island, in at 50-74%.

It remains a relatively strong Gaelic speaking area in spite of a continued decline. In the 2001 census, each island overall was over 50% Gaelic speaking – South Uist South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The population is about 90% Roman Catholic. The island, in (71%), Harris Harris is the southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to as the Isle of Harris (69%), Barra The Isle of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar) in Scotland (68%), North Uist North Uist is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland (67%), Lewis Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides (an archipelago) of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is 683 square miles (1,770 km2) (56%) and Benbecula (56%). With 59.6% of Gaelic speakers or a total of 15,842 speakers, this made the Outer Hebrides the most strongly coherent Gaelic speaking area in the world.

Most areas are between 60-74% Gaelic speaking.

The areas with the highest density are:

The areas with the lowest density of speakers are:

The Hebrides under Norse control

Main article: History of the Outer Hebrides

The Outer and Inner Hebrides came under Norse control and settlement before the 9th century AD. The Norse control of the Hebrides was formalised in 1098 when Edgar of Scotland Edgar or Étgar mac Maíl Choluim , nicknamed Probus, "the Valiant" (c. 1074–8 January 1107), was king of Alba from 1097 to 1107. He was the son of Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) and Margaret of Wessex (later Saint Margaret) formally signed the islands over to Magnus III of Norway Magnus Barefoot son of Olaf Kyrre and grandson of Harald Hardrada, was King of Norway from 1093 until 1103 and King of Mann and the Isles from 1099 until 1102. The epithet berfœtt means barefoot or bareleg and is commonly understood to come from his habit of wearing Gaelic-style clothing, leaving lower legs bare. According to another theory, he. The Scottish acceptance of Magnus III as King of the Isles came after the Norwegian king had conquered the Orkney Islands, the Hebrides and the Isle of Man The Isle of Man , or Mann (Manx: Mannin, [ˈmanɪn]), is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical centre of the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Crown is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. The island is not part of the United Kingdom but in a swift campaign earlier the same year, directed against the local Norwegian leaders of the various islands. By capturing the islands Magnus III subdued the Norsemen, who had seized the islands centuries earlier, and imposed a more direct royal control.

Norse Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language control of both the Inner and Outer Hebrides would see almost constant warfare until being ultimately resolved by the partitioning of the Western Isles in 1156. The Outer Hebrides would remain under the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles The Kingdom of Mann and the Isles was a Norse kingdom that existed in the British Isles between 1079 and 1266 while the Inner Hebrides broke out under Somerled Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as ri Innse Gall ("King of the Hebrides"). His father was Gillebride of Clan Angus who had been exiled to Ireland. The name, a common one amongst the Vikings, means summer traveller and is a kenning for Viking, the Norse-Celtic kinsman of both Lulach Lulach mac Gille Coemgáin (Modern Gaelic: Lughlagh mac Gille Chomghain, known in English simply as Lulach, and nicknamed Tairbith, "the Unfortunate" and Fatuus, "the Simple-minded" or "the Foolish" , was King of Scots between 15 August 1057 and 17 March 1058 and the Manx royal house.

After his victory of 1156, Somerled went on two years later to seize control over the Isle of Man itself, and become the last King of Mann and the Isles to rule over all the islands the kingdom had once included. After Somerled's death in 1164 the rulers of Mann would only be in control of the Outer Hebrides.

As a result of the 1266 Treaty of Perth The Treaty of Perth, 1266, ended military conflict between Norway under Magnus the Law-mender and Scotland under Alexander III over the sovereignty of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man the Outer Hebrides, along with the Isle of Man, were yielded to the Kingdom of Scotland.

Local government

Main article: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Eriskay, southern Outer Hebrides

The Western Isles have been a unitary council A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national government area since 1975. In most of the rest of Scotland similar unitary councils were not established until 1996. Since then the islands have formed one of the 32 unitary council areas For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as "councils". They have the option under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1997 of being known (but not re-designated) as a "comhairle" when opting for a Gaelic which now cover the whole country. The Western Isles council is officially known by its Gaelic name, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and known locally simply as "the Comhairle" or "a' Chomhairle", having changed its name under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997. The council has its base in Stornoway Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland on Lewis Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides (an archipelago) of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is 683 square miles (1,770 km2).

Prior to 1975 Lewis formed part of the county The counties of Scotland were the principal divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them of Ross-shire Ross-shire, or the County of Ross, is a former county of Scotland. The county bordered on Sutherland, Cromartyshire (of which it contained many exclaves), Inverness-shire and an exclave of Nairnshire. It included most of Ross as well as Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Dingwall was the traditional county town and the rest of the archipelago, including Harris Harris is the southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to as the Isle of Harris, was part of Inverness-shire.

The Western Isles is a member of the International Island Games Association.

Religion

Main article: Religion in the Outer Hebrides

Christianity has deep roots in the Western Isles, but owing mainly to the different allegiances of the clans in the past, the people in the northern islands (Lewis, Harris, North Uist) have historically been predominantly Protestant (Presbyterian), and those of the southern islands (Benbecula, South Uist, Barra) predominantly Roman Catholic. There are also small Episcopalian congregations in Lewis and Harris, though many of their members originate outside the islands.

Ferries

Uig - Tarbert ferry

Scheduled Ferry services between the Outer Hebrides and the Scottish Mainland and Inner Hebrides operate on the following routes:

Other ferries operate between some of the islands.

National Rail services are available for onward journeys, from stations at Oban, which has direct services to Glasgow, and Kyle of Lochalsh - the latter being the closest station to the Isle of Skye, and better positioned for journeys to Highland destinations via Dingwall and Inverness. Plans in the 1890s to lay a railway connection to Ullapool were unable to obtain sufficient funding, in spite of parliamentary approval.[5]

See also

References

Notations

Footnotes

  1. ^ Murray, W.H. (1966) The Hebrides. London. Heinemann. Pages 171 & 198
  2. ^ Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: Environment
  3. ^ WWF North-East Atlantic Programme - Seamounts report Retrieved 21 August 2007.
  4. ^ Dr Mac an Tàilleir 1901-2001 Gaelic in the Census, PowerPoint Presentation made available via Linguae Celticae Retrieved 01 June 2008
  5. ^ "Garve and Ullapool Railway Bill" Hansard. Retrieved 26 September 2008.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Outer Hebrides
Sites deriving partly from the original Virtual Hebrides

Historical footnote: Many websites of the Outer Hebrides derive content from the Eolas Virtual Hebrides, website. Eolas Media went into voluntary liquidation in 2000 and the Eolas TV company became MacTV. The web design team became Reefnet and the content has largely found a home on GlobalGuide.Org.

Inhabited islands of the Hebrides
Inner Hebrides Canna · Coll · Colonsay · Crowlin Islands · Danna · Eigg · Eilean Bàn · Eilean Ewe · Eilean Shona · Erraid · Gigha · Gometra · Iona · Islay · Jura · Kerrera · Lismore · Lunga · Oronsay · Muck · Mull · Raasay · Sanday · Scalpay · Rona · Rùm · Skye · Slate Islands · Soay · Summer Isles · Tiree · Treshnish Isles · Ulva
Outer Hebrides Barra · Baleshare · Benbecula · Berneray · Eriskay · Flodaigh · Great Bernera · Grimsay · Lewis and Harris · Monach Islands · North Rona · North Uist · Scalpay · South Uist · Vatersay
Council areas of Scotland

Aberdeen · Aberdeenshire · Angus · Argyll and Bute · Clackmannanshire · Dumfries and Galloway · Dundee · East Ayrshire · East Dunbartonshire · East Lothian · East Renfrewshire · Edinburgh · Falkirk · Fife · Glasgow · Highland · Inverclyde · Midlothian · Moray · Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) · North Ayrshire · North Lanarkshire · Orkney · Perth and Kinross · Renfrewshire · Scottish Borders · Shetland · South Ayrshire · South Lanarkshire · Stirling · West Dunbartonshire · West Lothian

Categories: Former Norwegian colonies | Outer Hebrides | Regions of Scotland | Unitary authorities of Scotland | Islands of Scotland | Celtic culture | Lieutenancy areas of Scotland

 

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