The Sound of Islay (Scottish Gaelic: Caol Ìle) is a narrow strait between the islands of Islay and Jura off the west coast of Scotland. It is about 30 kilometres (20 miles) in extent from north to south and lies between Rubh' a' Mhàil on Islay and Rubh' Aird na Sgitheich on Jura to the north and Macarthur's Head and Rubha na Tràille to the south. The islands in the Sound are Am Fraoch Eilean, Brosdale Island and Glas Eilean, all of which are off the south east coast of Jura. These islands, Jura south of Loch Tarbert and the eastern part of the Sound are one of 40 National Scenic Areas in Scotland.[1]
Islay and south Jura. The Sound of Islay lies between them at top right.
Am Fraoch Eilean (meaning "heather isle") contains the ruins of the medieval stronghold Claig Castle. It was built by Somerled in 1154 to defend the Sound and later used as a prison. Unusually for the Argyll islands the design, which is a Norman square tower with 3-metre-thick (10-foot) walls, is similar in style to mainland castles of the period.[2][3] The Sound has been suggested as the location of the 1156 Battle of Epiphany.[4]
In 1549 Dean Monro wrote: "At the mouth of Kyle Ila, betwixt it and Duray, lyes ane ile, callit in Erische Leid Ellan Charne, in English the iyle of Earne".[5] This may refer to Eilean a' Chùirn at NR472489.[6]
In March 2011, the Scottish Government approved the largest tidal array in the world for the Sound of Islay, with 10 planned tidal turbines predicted to generate enough power for over 5,000 homes. The site offers both high currents and shelter from storms.[7]
Notesedit
^"National Scenic Areas" 2017-03-11 at the Wayback Machine. SNH. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011.
^In Scottish Gaeliccùirn is the genitive of càrn. Translation from Scots: "At the mouth of the Straits of Islay, between it and Jura, lies an island, called in the Gaelic language Ellan Charne, which is in English the Isle of Earne".
^"Islay to get major tidal power scheme" (March 17, 2011) BBC Scotland. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
Referencesedit
Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN978-1-84195-454-7.
Marsden, John (2008) Somerled and the Emergence of Gaelic Scotland. Birlinn. East Linton. First published, 2000.
sound, islay, confused, with, caol, scottish, gaelic, caol, Ìle, narrow, strait, between, islands, islay, jura, west, coast, scotland, about, kilometres, miles, extent, from, north, south, lies, between, rubh, mhàil, islay, rubh, aird, sgitheich, jura, north, . Not to be confused with Caol Ila The Sound of Islay Scottish Gaelic Caol Ile is a narrow strait between the islands of Islay and Jura off the west coast of Scotland It is about 30 kilometres 20 miles in extent from north to south and lies between Rubh a Mhail on Islay and Rubh Aird na Sgitheich on Jura to the north and Macarthur s Head and Rubha na Traille to the south The islands in the Sound are Am Fraoch Eilean Brosdale Island and Glas Eilean all of which are off the south east coast of Jura These islands Jura south of Loch Tarbert and the eastern part of the Sound are one of 40 National Scenic Areas in Scotland 1 Islay and south Jura The Sound of Islay lies between them at top right Contents 1 History 2 Ferry 3 Renewable energy 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory editAm Fraoch Eilean meaning heather isle contains the ruins of the medieval stronghold Claig Castle It was built by Somerled in 1154 to defend the Sound and later used as a prison Unusually for the Argyll islands the design which is a Norman square tower with 3 metre thick 10 foot walls is similar in style to mainland castles of the period 2 3 The Sound has been suggested as the location of the 1156 Battle of Epiphany 4 In 1549 Dean Monro wrote At the mouth of Kyle Ila betwixt it and Duray lyes ane ile callit in Erische Leid Ellan Charne in English the iyle of Earne 5 This may refer to Eilean a Chuirn at NR472489 6 Ferry editArgyll and Bute Council operate a vehicle and passenger ferry service across the Sound from Feolin slipway on the west coast of Jura to Port Askaig on Islay and Caledonian MacBrayne operate a vehicle and passenger ferry between Port Askaig and Kennacraig on the mainland in West Loch Tarbert Renewable energy edit nbsp Looking across the Sound from Bunnahabhain on Islay towards the Paps of Jura In March 2011 the Scottish Government approved the largest tidal array in the world for the Sound of Islay with 10 planned tidal turbines predicted to generate enough power for over 5 000 homes The site offers both high currents and shelter from storms 7 Notes edit National Scenic Areas Archived 2017 03 11 at the Wayback Machine SNH Retrieved 30 Mar 2011 Haswell Smith 2004 pp 50 51 RCAHMS 1984 p 36 Marsden 2008 p 84 Monro 1549 Earne Isle No 56 In Scottish Gaelic cuirn is the genitive of carn Translation from Scots At the mouth of the Straits of Islay between it and Jura lies an island called in the Gaelic language Ellan Charne which is in English the Isle of Earne Islay to get major tidal power scheme March 17 2011 BBC Scotland Retrieved 17 March 2011 References editHaswell Smith Hamish 2004 The Scottish Islands Edinburgh Canongate ISBN 978 1 84195 454 7 Marsden John 2008 Somerled and the Emergence of Gaelic Scotland Birlinn East Linton First published 2000 Monro Sir Donald 1549 Description of the Western Isles of Scotland William Auld Edinburgh 1774 edition RCAHMS 1984 Argyll Islay Jura Colonsay amp Oronsay External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sound of Islay 55 51 N 6 06 W 55 85 N 6 10 W 55 85 6 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sound of Islay amp oldid 1082177942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
