| Scottish Gaelic name | Ìle |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | [ˈiːlə] |
| Scots name | Ila[1] |
| Old Norse name | Íl[2] |
| Meaning of name | Unknown |
 Port Ellen | |
| Location | |
  Islay Islay shown within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NR370598 |
| Coordinates | 55°46′N 6°09′W / 55.77°N 6.15°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Islay |
| Area | 61,956 ha (239+1⁄4 sq mi)[3] |
| Area rank | 5 [5] |
| Highest elevation | Beinn Bheigeir, 491 m (1,611 ft)[4] |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 3,228[6] |
| Population rank | 7[6] [5] |
| Population density | 5.2/km2 (13/sq mi)[3][6] |
| Largest settlement | Port Ellen[7] |
 | |
Islay (/ˈaɪlə/ EYE-lə; Scottish Gaelic: Ìle, Scots: Ila) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides",[8] it lies in Argyll and Bute just south west of Jura and around 40 kilometres (22 nautical miles) north of the Northern Irish coast. The island's capital is Bowmore where the distinctive round Kilarrow Parish Church and a distillery are located.[9] Port Ellen is the main port.[10]
Islay is the fifth-largest Scottish island and the eighth-largest island of the British Isles, with a total area of almost 620 square kilometres (240 sq mi).[Note 1] There is ample evidence of the prehistoric settlement of Islay and the first written reference may have come in the first century AD. The island had become part of the Gaelic Kingdom of Dál Riata during the Early Middle Ages before being absorbed into the Norse Kingdom of the Isles.
The later medieval period marked a "cultural high point" with the transfer of the Hebrides to the Kingdom of Scotland and the emergence of the Clan Donald Lordship of the Isles, originally centred at Finlaggan.[13] During the 17th century the power of Clan Donald waned, but improvements to agriculture and transport led to a rising population, which peaked in the mid-19th century.[3] This was followed by substantial forced displacements and declining resident numbers.
Today, Islay has over 3,000 inhabitants, and the main commercial activities are agriculture, malt whisky distillation and tourism. The island has a long history of religious observance, and Scottish Gaelic is spoken by about a quarter of the population.[14] Its landscapes have been celebrated through various art forms, and there is a growing interest in renewable energy in the form of wave power. Islay is home to many bird species such as the wintering populations of Greenland white-fronted and barnacle goose, and is a popular destination throughout the year for birdwatchers. The climate is mild and ameliorated by the Gulf Stream.
- ^ "Map of Scotland in Scots - Guide and gazetteer" (PDF).
- ^ Gammeltoft 2007, p. 487
- ^ a b c Haswell-Smith 2004, p. 41
- ^ Haswell-Smith 2004, p. 42
- ^ a b Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ a b c National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ National Records of Scotland. "Table KS101SC – Usual Resident Population, all people; Settlement/Locality 2010; Port Ellen". Scotland's Census 2011. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. From the main page select Results, Standard Outputs, year 2011, table KS101SC,area type locality 2010. On the map click Bowmore and Port Ellen for comparison.
- ^ Newton 1995, p. 11
- ^ Newton 1995, p. 20
- ^ Newton 1995, p. 31
- ^ Haswell-Smith 2004, p. 502
- ^ Rick Livingstone’s Tables of the Islands of Scotland (pdf) Argyll Yacht Charters. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ Caldwell 2011, p. 58
- ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2004) 1901–2001 Gaelic in the Census[usurped] (PowerPoint) Linguae Celticae. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
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