Oronsay

For other islands of the same name see Oronsay (disambiguation)

Oronsay Gaelic: Orasaigh
Inner Hebrides (Argyllshire)
View from Oronsay towards Jura
Main settlement:	Oronsay Farm
Location
Location:	56°1’12"N, 6°14’24"W
Grid reference:	NR351892
Area:	1,282 acres
Highest point:	Beinn Orasaigh, 305 feet
Data
Population:	8

Oronsay is a small tidal island south of Colonsay in Inner Hebrides, both belonging to Argyllshire. It has an area of 1,282 acres.

Colonsay and Oronsay are alone in the sea in no wider cluster, and clasped together like the two ends of a broken stone. They are parted by a tortuous, narrow straight at high tide but joined at low tide across a tidal causeway (called An Traigh ('The Strand')) consisting of sands and mud flats.

Oronsay itself rises to a height of 305 feet at Beinn Oronsay. In the 2001 census Oronsay was recorded as having a population of five people, all of whom live at the farm adjacent to Oronsay Priory. The island has no facilities of its own, and is entirely dependent upon its tidal access to and from Colonsay.

The rocks and skerries of Eilean nan Ròn (Seal Island), to the southwest, are an important grey seal breeding colony. In order to conserve the population of resident choughs and breeding corncrakes, Oronsay and southern Colonsay became a 'Special Protection Area' in December 2007.

Name

There are two theories for the origin of the name, though all agrtee that it is Old Norse. Either it is Oran's Isle, after St Odran of Iona, the founder of the island's priory in 563, or it may be from the Old Norse Örfirisey meaning "island of the ebb tide".

History

On a visit to Colonsay in the 18th century, Sir Joseph Banks was informed that, "Macdufie was a factor or manager for Macdonald King of the Isles upon these islands of Oransay and Colonsay & that for his mismanagement & tyranny he was executed by order of that prince". It is now owned by the Colburn family.

Archaeology

The island is best known for Oronsay Priory, a 14th-century ruined Augustinian priory, probably on the same site as the original 563 building, and the Oronsay Cross, originally carved on Iona. The Priory was modest in scale, but has one of the most complete (though somewhat restored) cloister garths of any religious house of mediæval Scotland. In the late Middle Ages a distinct 'school' of monumental sculpture flourished on Oronsay, leaving many slabs with effigies or other carvings at the Priory itself, or at other religious sites throughout the Hebrides to which they were exported. The production of sculpture ceased at the Reformation.

Oronsay is one of several Hebridean islands that have furnished archaeologists with invaluable information about the Mesolithic period of prehistory, particularly about the diet of the people of that age.

Oronsay Priory, recently 'improved' in anticipation of The Queen's visit

Tombs on Oronsay

Wildlife

Colonsay and Oronsay are home to about 50 colonies of the only native species of honeybee in Britain–Apis mellifera mellifera. In 2013 the Bee Keeping (Colonsay and Oronsay) Order to protect the species, which has suffered serious declines on the mainland, from cross-breeding and disease.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Oronsay)

• "On the Monastic Trail: Oronsay". Hidden Europe Magazine. http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/article_info.php?articles_id=97.  2005 article that explores Columba's possible landing on Oronsay, the Priory and aspects of Oronsay life today.

References

• Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1841954543. 
• Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain (1967). The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rocklif. 
• Watson, W J (2004) The History of the Celtic Place-names of Scotland. Reprinted with an introduction by Simon Taylor. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-323-5