Davaar Island

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Davaar Island
Location
Davaar Island
Davaar Island shown within Scotland.
OS grid reference:	NR760200
Names
Gaelic name:	Eilean Dà Bhàrr
Meaning of name:	"Barr's island"
Area and Summit
Area:	52 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands):	186
Highest elevation:	115 m
Population
Population (2001):	2
Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands):	88= out of 97
Groupings
Island Group:	Firth of Clyde
Local Authority:	Argyll and Bute
References:	[1][2][3]

Davaar Island is located at the mouth of Campbeltown Loch off the east coast of Kintyre, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is a tidal island, linked to the mainland by a natural shingle causeway called the Dhorlin near Campbeltown at low tide. The crossing can be made in around 40 minutes.

Davaar was known as the island of Sanct Barre, 1449 -1508. The modern form Davaar is from older Do Bharre - thy St Barre. Dr Gillies in his "Place Names of Argyll" appears to accept the popular derivation, Double-pointed (Da-Bharr) Island.

In 1854, a Lighthouse was built on the north of the island by the lighthouse engineers David and Thomas Stevenson. The lighthouse was automated in 1983, and today, Davaar is only inhabited by caretakers, sheep and mink.

The island is also known for its seven caves, one of which contains a life size cave painting depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, painted in 1887 by local artist Archibald MacKinnon after he had a vision in a dream he would do so. The painting caused uproar in the area as it was seen as a sign from God. It is said when the townsfolk discovered it was MacKinnon, and not God, he was exiled from the town indefinitely. Restored several times since, including twice by the original artist, the painting was vandalised in July 2006, having a red and black depiction of Che Guevera painted over the original.^[4]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland.
2. ^ Ordnance Survey
3. ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. Placenames. Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
4. ^ Che vandal attacks Christ image. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.

[edit] External links

• Davaar Lighthouse

v • d • e Islands of the Clyde Ailsa Craig · Arran · Burnt Islands · Bute · Castle Island · Davaar Island · Eilean Dearg · Eilean Dubh · The Eileans · Glunimore Island · Holy Isle · Horse Isle · Inchmarnock · Lady Isle · Pladda · Sanda · Sgat Mòr is Sgat Beag · Sheep Island · The Cumbraes · Great Cumbrae · Little Cumbrae

Coordinates: 55°25′22″N 5°32′28″W / 55.42278, -5.54111