Copinsay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Copinsay | |
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| Location | |
  Copinsay
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| Copinsay shown within Scotland. | |
| OS grid reference: | HY607015 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: | |
| Norse name: | Kolbeinsey |
| Meaning of name: | "Kobeinn's Island" |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 73 ha |
| Area rank (Scottish islands): | 168 |
| Highest elevation: | 64 m |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 0
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| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | Orkney |
| Local Authority: | Orkney Islands |
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| References: | [1][2][3][4][5] |
Copinsay (Old Norse: Kolbeinsey) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, lying off the east coast of the Orkney Mainland. The smaller companion island to Copinsay is called the Horse of Copinsay and lies to the north east to the main island. The uninhabited island is an RSPB reserve, purchased in 1972 for the remaining deer who grazed the land, Copinsay is also home to a lighthouse now automated.
There is a large colony of grey seals on the island. They usually pup in November each year. Puffins can be seen during July on the adjacent holms.
Myths about the island include the story of the Copinsay Brownie.[6]
Although Copinsay today is uninhabited, some fields are still ploughed at the behest of the RSPB, to try to encourage farmers to the island, so the patch work of yesteryear is returning to the island, even though the people have not. For many generations, prior to the final inhabitants moving to the Mainland in 1958, Copinsay was full of life; the large, double storey farm house and behind it the Steading (or farm buildings) form the farm tenants, a school with a school teacher and up to 3 lighthouse keepers' families.
There is also an ancient burial site on the island.
In the earlier part of the century a weekly postal service provided contact with the Mainland and fortnightly shopping trips to Deerness, allowing for weather. The farm boasted working horses, cattle and sheep - all of which had to be transported on the "coo" or "cow" boat. Birds' eggs provided a good supplement to the islanders diet, and men were lowered over the cliffs and a special rope, or rowed out to the Horse to bring back this addition.
Pigs were loosed in the spring on the Horse for many years - feeding on the bird eggs - transported across the sound by boat.
Many interesting facts and accounts of life on Copinsay are still retold in the Deerness Community, with many members still remembering when the island was still home to loved ones.
[edit] References
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543.
- ^ Ordnance Survey. Get-a-map [map].
- ^ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
- ^ Pedersen, Roy (January 1992) Orkneyjar ok Katanes (map, Inverness, Nevis Print)
- ^ Copinsay Brownie. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.
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