Tahay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tahay (Scottish Gaelic: Taghaigh) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, located at grid reference NF965755. The name originates from the Old Norse tagg-øy meanng island with a prominent hill. At 530,000 square metres in area and with a central peak of 65 metres (215 ft), it is the largest of the group of uninhabited islands off the north east coast of North Uist.

The island is used for sheep grazing and peat cutting.

[edit] History

In 1846, six families who had been evicted from their homes on Pabbay to make way for sheep, moved to the previously uninhabited island of Tahay. Although the island has no arable land, they hoped to make a living from fishing. However this proved too hard and they gave up the struggle in the 1850s and emigrated to Australia.^[1]

Tahay is now owned by the Scottish Office.