Clairinsh

Clairinsh
Location
Clairinsh
Clairinsh shown within Scotland
OS grid reference NS413898
Names
Gaelic name Clàr-Innis
Meaning of name flat island
Area and summit
Area ha
Highest elevation 13 m
Population
Population 0
Groupings
Island group Loch Lomond
Local Authority Stirling
References [1][2][3]
If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census.

Clairinsh or Clairinch (Scottish Gaelic: Clàr-Innis) is an island in Loch Lomond, central Scotland.

Just east of Inchcailloch, Clairinsh is flat: just 13 m at its highest point, and 0.45 km long.[4] The word clàr refers to a flat surface, such as a board or table.[5] From above, the outline of the island bears a remarkable resemblance to a fish.[6]

History

In 1225, the Third Earl of Lennox gave Clairinch to Absolon/Anselan of Buchanan, the son of the King of Ulster. The island became associated with that family.[7] It was a meeting place of Clan Buchanan, and "Clàr-Innis!" was their slogan or battle cry.[7] His yearly rent was one pound of wax.[8]

Clairinsh was purchased in 1682 by the Third Duke of Montrose, and it remained the property of this family for the next two hundred and fifty years.[8] In 1934 the Clan Buchanan acquired it for the Buchanan Society. In 1958 Clairinsh was declared as the first part of a National Nature Reserve under an agreement with the Buchanan Society/landowner.[9][10]

There is a crannog off Clairinch, called "Keppinch" or "The Kitchen", where Roman pottery has been found.[7]

References

  1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland.
  2. ^ Ordnance Survey
  3. ^ "Detail of Clairinsh". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featuredetails15080.html. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 
  4. ^ "Clairinsh". Loch Lomond net. http://www.loch-lomond.net/islands/clairinsh.html. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 
  5. ^ Dwelly, Edward (1911). Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan/The Illustrated [Scottish] Gaelic - English Dictionary (10th ed. ed.). Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited. ISBN 1874744041. 
  6. ^ "Above Scotland", p. 23 (18 October 2009) Scotland on Sunday/RCAHMS.
  7. ^ a b c Worsley, Harry (1988). Loch Lomond: The Loch, the Lairds and the Legends. Glasgow: Lindsay Publications. ISBN 978-1-898169-34-5. 
  8. ^ a b "Introduction to Loch Lomond Islands". Callander, Trossachs and Loch Lomond. http://www.incallander.co.uk/islands.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 
  9. ^ "Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve" (pdf). Scottish Natural Heritage. http://www.snh.org.uk/nnr-scotland/downloads/publications/loch_lomond_nnr.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 
  10. ^ "Story of Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve" (pdf). Scottish Natural Heritage. http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/downloads/publications/The_Story_of_Loch_Lomond_National_Nature_Reserve.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 

External links