Shillay, Monach Islands

Shillay (Scottish Gaelic: Siolaigh or Seilaigh from the Norse selrey, meaning Seal island) is the westernmost of the Monach Islands (Heisgeir), off North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

A ruined cottage, now replaced with a Portakabin, used until recently as a fisherman's shelter
Shillay
Scottish Gaelic nameSiolaigh/Seilaigh
Old Norse nameSelrey
Meaning of nameSeal Island
or "Herring island", from Norse
Location
Shillay is located in Outer Hebrides
Shillay
Shillay
Shillay shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid referenceNF593628
Coordinates57°32′N 7°41′W / 57.53°N 7.69°W / 57.53; -7.69
Physical geography
Island groupMonach Islands
Area7.4 ha
Highest elevation10 m (33 ft)
Administration
Council areaComhairle nan Eilean Siar
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad
References[1][2][3][4]
Shillay Lighthouse
Siolaigh
Monach Isles
The old lighthouse was not used between 1942 and 2008
Map
LocationShillay Isle
Monach Islands
Outer Hebrides
Scotland
United Kingdom
OS gridNF5928262723
Coordinates57°31′33″N 7°41′42″W / 57.525894°N 7.695055°W / 57.525894; -7.695055
Tower
Constructed1864
Designed byThomas Stevenson, David Stevenson Edit this on Wikidata
Constructionbrick tower
Automated2008 Edit this on Wikidata
Height41 metres (135 ft)
Shapetapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to a 2-storey keeper’s house
Markingsunpainted tower
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board [5][6]
Heritagecategory B listed building Edit this on Wikidata
Light
Deactivated1942-2008
Focal height47 metres (154 ft)
Range18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)
CharacteristicFl (2) W 15s.

Geology and geography

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Like most of the other Monach Islands, Shillay has a thin, sandy soil, which has been much troubled by erosion, and which was badly eroded by a huge wave in the 16th century.

Despite Ceann Iar's name, meaning "western headland", Shillay is the westernmost island of the group.

There are several small islets around Shillay, including Eilean Siorraidh, Odarum (to the north) and Raisgeir.

Lighthouses

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The lighthouse at Shillay has an uneven history. The red brick lighthouse was built in 1864 by David & Thomas Stevenson, and was in use until it was closed during the war in 1942 and not lit again in 1948 after hostilities ceased. After the Braer disaster in 1993 in Shetland, a new light was recommended to mark the deep water route west of the Hebrides. A new automated aluminium light was installed in 1997. However it proved inadequate and in 2005 it was decided that it was cheaper to reuse the original lighthouse than to increase the height of the new light. In 2008 the old lighthouse was refurbished and put back into use.[7][8][citation needed]

A stone from the lighthouse has been removed into the church wall at Paible; a keeper had carved into it "Eternity Oh Eternity".[2] Just to the south of Shillay, there is an Eilean Siorraidh ("Island of Eternity"; formerly Eilean Siorruidh) - whether this carving is a reference to this or the solitude of the island is unrecorded.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  2. ^ a b Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey
  4. ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
  5. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Western Isles". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  6. ^ Monach Archived 20 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 19 May 2016
  7. ^ "Monach Light". Northern Lighthouse Board. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  8. ^ "BBC iPlayer - the Lighthouse Stevensons". Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
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57°31′39″N 7°41′34″W / 57.52750°N 7.69278°W / 57.52750; -7.69278