- Oronsay, Inner Hebrides
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For islands with similar names, see Oronsay.
Oronsay Location 
OronsayOronsay shown within Scotland OS grid reference NR351892 Names Gaelic name 
Orasaigh (help·info)Norse name possibly Örfirise Meaning of name "tidal island" or "Oran's isle" Area and summit Area 543 hectares (2.10 sq mi) Area rank 71 Highest elevation Beinn Orasaigh 93 m (305 ft) Population Population 5 Population rank 80= out of 97 Main settlement Oronsay Farm Groupings Island group Inner Hebrides Local Authority Argyll and Bute 
References [1][2][3] If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census. Oronsay (Scottish Gaelic: Orasaigh, pronounced [ˈɔɾəs̪a]), also sometimes spelt and pronounced Oransay by the local community, is a small tidal island south of Colonsay in the Scottish Inner Hebrides with an area of just over two square miles.
From one of the small beaches on the east coast of Oronsay, looking towards the Paps of Jura in the distance.
It rises to a height of 93m (305 feet) at Beinn Orasaigh (Beinn Oronsay) and is linked to Colonsay by a tidal causeway (called An Traigh ('The Strand')) consisting of sands and mud flats. In the 2001 census Oronsay was recorded as having a population of five people, who live at the farm adjacent to Oronsay Priory. The island has no facilities of its own, and is entirely dependent upon its tidal access to and from Colonsay. The rocks and skerries of Eilean nan Ròn (Seal Island), to the south-west, are an important Grey Seal breeding colony. In order to conserve the population of resident Choughs and breeding Corncrakes Oronsay and southern Colonsay became a Special Protection Area in December 2007.[4]
There are two theories for the origin of the name from Old Norse. Either it is Oran's Isle, St Oran being the founder of the island's monastery in 563, or it may be from the Old Norse Örfirisey meaning "island of the ebb tide".[5][6]
Contents
History
On a visit to Colonsay in the 18th century, Sir Joseph Banks was informed that, "Macdufie was a factor or manager for Macdonald King of the Isles upon these islands of Oransay and Colonsay & that for his mismanagement & tyranny he was executed by order of that prince".[7] It is now owned by the Colburn family.
Archaeology
The island is best known for Oronsay Priory, a 14th century ruined Augustinian priory, probably on the same site as the original 563 building, and the Oronsay Cross, originally carved on Iona. The Priory was modest in scale, but has one of the most complete (though somewhat restored) cloister garths of any Scottish medieval religious house. In the late Middle Ages a distinct 'school' of monumental sculpture flourished on Oronsay, leaving many slabs with effigies or other carvings at the Priory itself, or at other religious sites throughout the Hebrides to which they were exported.[citation needed] See examples pictured below. The production of sculpture ceased at the Scottish Reformation.[citation needed]
Oronsay is one of several Hebridean islands that have furnished archaeologists with invaluable information about the Mesolithic period of prehistory, particularly about the diet of human beings.
Oronsay Priory was recently 'improved' in anticipation of Queen Elizabeth's visit.
Tombs on OransaySee also
References and footnotes
- General references
- Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
- Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain (1967). The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rocklif.
- Watson, W.J. (2004) The History of the Celtic Place-names of Scotland. Reprinted with an introduction by Simon Taylor. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-323-5
- "On the Monastic Trail: Oronsay". Hidden Europe Magazine (4): pp. 16–18. September 2005. http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/article_info.php?articles_id=97. Retrieved 2008-12-13. - explores Columba's possible landing on Oronsay, the priory and aspects of Oronsay life today.
- Notes
- ^ This image was drawn by John Cleveley, junior, from a sketch taken on 8 August 1772. On the back of the drawing is the quotation given above, presumably made by Sir Joseph Banks who travelled to the Western Isles around 1772.[7]
- Footnotes
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 52-56.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Smith, Claire (17 December 2007). "Special protection zones take flight to protect three rare bird species". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Special-protection-zones-take-flight.3595338.jp. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 52.
- ^ Watson (2004) p. 505.
- ^ a b "A tomb in MacDufie's Chapel, Oronsay, 1772". The British Library. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/topdrawings/a/005add000015509u00049000.html. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ Moncreiffe of that Ilk 1967: 79-80.
Coordinates: 56°0′56″N 6°14′37″W / 56.01556°N 6.24361°W
Inhabited islands of the Hebrides Inner Hebrides 
Outer Hebrides Baleshare · Barra · Benbecula · Berneray · Eriskay · Flodaigh · Fraoch-eilean · Great Bernera · Grimsay (North) · Grimsay (South) · Lewis and Harris · North Uist · Scalpay · South Uist · VatersayIslands of Scotland Northern Isles 
Hebrides Other Categories:- Argyll and Bute
- Islands of the Inner Hebrides
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Islay and Jura
- Tidal islands of Scotland
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