Flannan Isles
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Scottish island
The Flannan Isles (Template:Langx)<ref>Template:Gaelic Placenames</ref> or the Seven Hunters are a small island group in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, approximately Template:Convert west of the Isle of Lewis. They may take their name from Saint Flannan, the 7th century Irish preacher and abbot.<ref name=Smith>Template:Haswell-Smith</ref>
The islands have been devoid of permanent residents since the automation of Flannan Isles Lighthouse in 1971.<ref name=Nicholson>Nicholson (1995) pp. 168–79.</ref>
GeographyEdit
The islands are split into three groups: the main cluster of rocks that lie to the northeast include the two principal islands of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Big Isle), which is approximately Template:Convert in extent,<ref name=Smith/> and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (House Isle). To the south lie Soray/Soraigh (Old Norse Suðurey, south island or Sauðurey, sheep's island) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (probably from Old Norse sker, skerry, shallow rock in sea, and Gaelic tuaman, grave or mound);<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while the main western outcrops are {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Isle of the Blacksmith), Roaireim (which has a natural rock arch), and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Sad Sunk Rock). The total land area amounts to approximately Template:Convert and the highest point is Template:Convert above sea level on Eilean Mòr.<ref name=Smith/>
The geology consists of a dark breccia of gabbros and dolerites intruding Archaean gneiss.<ref name=Smith/> In prehistoric times, the area was covered by ice sheets that spread from Scotland out into the Atlantic Ocean. After the last retreat of the ice circa 20,000 years BP, sea levels were as much as Template:Convert lower than at present and it is likely that the existing islands were part of a much larger land mass, although still separated from the Outer Hebrides by many miles of open water. Steadily rising sea levels thereafter would have reduced the land remaining above sea level to its present extent.<ref>Murray (1973) pp. 68–69.</ref>
There are two possible landing places for boats visiting {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} to the east and west, although this may be hazardous given the regular heavy swells.<ref name=Smith/> Template:Clear left
HistoryEdit
As the name implies, Eilean Taighe hosts a ruined stone shelter. Eilean Mòr is home to the lighthouse and a ruined chapel dedicated to Saint Flannán, which the lighthouse keepers referred to as the "dog kennel" because of its small size. These ruined bothies were described collectively by the Ancient Monuments Commission as The Bothies of the Clan McPhail,<ref name="NLB1">"Flannan Isles Lighthouse" Template:Webarchive, Northern Lighthouse Board website; retrieved 23 March 2008.</ref> or Bothain Chlann ‘ic Phaill.<ref name="Tait">Template:Usurped. Charles Tait photographic Ltd. Retrieved 23 March 2008.</ref>
It is not entirely clear to which St Flannan the chapel pays honours. It is likely that the honoree was either the 7th-century Abbot of Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland, or alternatively, the half brother of the eighth century St Ronan, who gave his name to the nearby island of North Rona. There was also a certain Flann, son of an Abbot of Iona, called Maol-duine, who died in 890 and may also have lent his name to these isolated isles.<ref name="Smith" />
The archipelago is also known as The Seven Hunters. During the Middle Ages, they also may have been called the Seven Haley (Holy) Isles.<ref>Munro, Sir Donald (1594) Description of the Western Isles of Scotland.</ref> Martin Martin (1703) lists a number of unusual customs associated with regular pilgrimages to Eilean Mòr, such as removing one's hat and making a sunwise turn when reaching the plateau.<ref>Martin (1703) pp. 97-98.</ref>
WildlifeEdit
Template:Further The isles provide nesting for a population of seabirds, including Atlantic puffins, northern fulmars, European storm-petrels, Leach's petrels, common shag, and black-legged kittiwakes. There is a gannetry on Roaireim.<ref name=Tait/> From the late Middle Ages on, Lewismen regularly raided these nests for eggs, birds, and feathers. There is a population of rabbits, brought to the islands by the lighthouse keepers,<ref>Murray (1973) p. 108.</ref> and crofters from Bernera graze sheep on the most fertile islands.<ref name=Smith/> Minke and pilot whales, as well as Risso's and other species of dolphin, are commonly observed in the vicinity.<ref name=Tait/>
The islands became a Site of Special Scientific Interest in December 1983.<ref>Scottish Natural Heritage list of SSSIs. Template:Webarchive (pdf) SNH. Retrieved 28 December 2006.</ref>
The archipelago has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports breeding populations of several species of seabirds.<ref name=bli>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lighthouse crew disappearanceEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In December 1900, all three lighthouse keepers vanished in mysterious circumstances. An official inquiry concluded that the three men had probably been swept away and lost at sea in rough weather while attending some equipment near the cliff edge.<ref>Munro, R.W. (1979), pages 170–71</ref>
In fictionEdit
The Flannan Isles are the main setting in Robert W. Sneddons's short story On the Isle of Blue Men which was first published in Ghost Stories magazine in April 1927. The Scottish-American author's "atmospheric, Lovecraftian thriller" was reissued by Charles G. Waugh with an alternate ending based on an older story by Sneddon in the Lighthouse Horrors anthology in 1993. Neil Gunn's epic novel The Silver Darlings published in 1941 describes a visit to the islands.<ref>Gunn, Neil (1945) The Silver Darlings George W. Stewart. New York. Chapter 15.</ref> Eilean Mòr in particular also features prominently as the location of a murder central to the plot of Coffin Road, a 2016 novel by Peter May.
The Vanishing, a 2019 film starring Gerard Butler and Peter Mullan, is set on the isles and inspired by the infamous disappearances.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- McCloskey, Keith. (1 July 2014) "The Lighthouse: The Mystery of the Eilean Mor Lighthouse Keepers", Stroud, the History Press.Template:ISBN
- Elliott, Angela J (1 April 2005)"Some Strange Scent of Death", Dunbeath, Whittles Publishing. Template:ISBN
- Bathhurst, Bella. (2000) The Lighthouse Stevensons. London. Flamingo. Template:ISBN
- Template:Haswell-Smith
- Harvie-Brown, J. A. & Buckley, T. E. (1889), A Vertebrate Fauna of the Outer Hebrides. Edinburgh. David Douglas.
- Martin, Martin (1703) A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland including A Voyage to St. Kilda Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- Murray, W.H. (1973) The Islands of Western Scotland. London. Eyre Methuen. SBN 413303802
- Munro, R.W. (1979) Scottish Lighthouses. Stornoway. Thule Press. Template:ISBN
- Nicholson, Christopher. (1995) Rock Lighthouses of Britain: The End of an Era? Caithness. Whittles. Template:ISBN
- Perrot, D. et al. (1995) The Outer Hebrides Handbook and Guide. Machynlleth. Kittiwake. Template:ISBN
NotesEdit
External linksEdit
- Northern Lighthouse Board information about Flannan Isles lighthouse
- Northern Lighthouse Board information about the disappearance of the keepers
- The Vanishing Lighthousemen of Eilean Mór Template:Webarchive Investigative paper based on primary sources
Template:Hebrides Template:Islands of Scotland Template:Coord