Egilsay
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Scottish island
Egilsay (Template:IPAc-en, Template:Langx) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, lying east of Rousay. The anglicized name of Eagleshay was used in past centuries. The island is largely farmland and is known for St Magnus Church, dedicated or re-dedicated to Saint Magnus, who was killed on the island in 1117 by an axe blow to the head. For hundreds of years the story of St Magnus, part of the Orkneyinga saga, was considered just a legend until a skull with a large crack in it, such as it had been stricken by an axe, was found in the walls of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.
EtymologyEdit
Unusually for the Northern Isles, it has been suggested that Egilsay may have a partly Gaelic name.<ref name="Anderson, Joseph 1893" /><ref name="Smith" /> While at first sight, it appears to be Egil's island, "Egil" being a Norse personal name, the Gaelic eaglais (Celtic "eccles") meaning church, may be part of the root, as the island is dominated by a church of pre-Norse foundation. The island of Kili Holm just to the north, may represent cille, a monastic cell.
Present dayEdit
The island's population was 26 as recorded by the 2011 census<ref name="NRS">Template:NRS1C</ref> a drop of almost a third since 2001 when there were 37 usual residents.<ref>Template:GRO10</ref> During the same period, Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.<ref>"Scotland's 2011 census: Island living on the rise". BBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2013.</ref>
Orkney Ferries sail from the island to Tingwall on the Orkney Mainland via Wyre and Rousay.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:North West Orkney Template:Orkney Islands Template:Islands of Scotland Template:Authority control Template:Coord