Eileach an Naoimh

Infobox Scottish island |
latitude=56.21
longitude=-5.8


GridReference=NM645095
celtic name=Eileach an Naoimh
norse name=
meaning of name=rocky place of the saint
area=convert|56|ha|acre|0|abbr=on
area rank= 183
highest elevation= convert|80|m|ft|0|abbr=on
Population=0
population rank=
main settlement=
island group=Garvellachs
local authority=Argyll and Bute
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] cite book| author=Haswell-Smith, Hamish| date=2004| title=The Scottish Islands| location=Edinburgh| publisher=Canongate| isbn=] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ]

Eileach an Naoimh is an uninhabited island in the Inner Hebrides of the west coast of Scotland. It is the southernmost of the Garvellachs archipelago and lies in Firth of Lorne between Mull and Argyll. The name is Gaelic for 'rocky place of the saint'.

About 542, St. Brendan the Navigator founded a monastery on "Eilach", presumed to be the island, possibly because of the combination of its isolation and good grazing. This may make the remains the oldest extant church buildings in Britain, although the earliest written record of its existence dates from the late 9th century. Columba is believed to have visited the island and it is one of the proposed locations of the Columban retreat isle of Hinba. Eileach an Naoimh may be the burial site of Columba's mother Eithne. [Pallister, Marian (2005) "Lost Argyll: Argyll's Lost Heritage". Edinburgh. Birlinn. Pages 120 and 133.] [Marsden, John (1995) "The Illustrated Life of Columba". Edinburgh. Floris Books page 110.] The monastery was destroyed by - or, at least, may have become excessively vulnerable to - Viking raiders, from about 800. The island has probably seen only intermittent occupation since, which has contributed to the survival of the ruins of many of the monastic buildings, including two chapels, beehive cells, and a graveyard with three crosses and another circular grave. The cells are contained in a pentagonal enclosure overlooking the rocky landing place on the south, which is guarded by various skerries. Beyond the enclosure there is another cell with two rooms. The oldest chapel is rectangular and may date from the 11th or 12th centuries. [Pallister (2005) "op cit" pages 133-4.] These sites are now in the care of Historic Scotland. [ [http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/textonly/index/properties/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_130 Eileach an Naoimh] Historic Scotland. Retrieved 8 December 2007.]

There is no ferry service, and transport to the island and its neighbours must be arranged privately.

Footnotes