Inishail
Inishail (otherwise known as Inchald)[1] is an island and former parish,[2] lying in Loch Awe in Argyllshire, at the bifurcation of the loch's two northern arms.
Geography
The island lies at the north end of Loch Awe, between Cladich and Kilchurn. Among the group of islets near the head of Loch Awe, Inishail is conspicuous by its grassy surface, giving it the nickname "Green Isle", as the others are more densely wooded. Here the Pass of Brander meets the main cut of the loch, creating its north-west arm (down which drains the River Awe). On the other side of the loch is the village of Cladich.
The parish is now part of the parish of 'Glenorchy and Inishail', having been united to Glenorchy in 1618.
History
On a slight eminence are the fragments of the walls of a small building, enclosing a space choked up with stones and a growth of nettles and other weeds; a larger space is protected from the intrusion of cattle by an iron fence. This was the Chapel of St Fyndoca, and, perhaps, the remains of an ancient small convent or nunnery, though there is some dispute about its existence.[3]
The convent was said to be occupied by Cistercian nuns, and the property belonging to it was erected after the Reformation into a temporal lordship in favour of Hay, who had been Abbot of Inchaffray, but who embraced the Reformation to become Protestant.[4]
A burying ground has several ancient, carved tombstones, with sculptures and devices appropriate to ecclesiastics, warriors, knights, and a peer. Some grave slabs, those having figures of armed warriors and emblematical devices, may have been taken to the burial ground of Glenorchy Parish Church in Dalmally.[5]
References
- ↑ Scottish Mountaineering Club (1913). Scottish Mountaineering club journal (Public domain ed.). The Scottish mountaineering club.. pp. 72–. http://books.google.com/books?id=ytqy0r4SV3gC&pg=PA72. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ↑ Wilson, Rev. John The Gazetteer of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1882) Published by W. & A.K. Johnstone
- ↑ Douglas, William (May 13, 1912). "NOTES ON THE CHURCH OF ST FYNDOCA AND ITS MONUMENTS, ON THE ISLAND OF INISHAIL, LOCH AWE.". Proceedings of the Society (Public domain): 424-. http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:CqxpC0yIEIUJ:ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_046/46_424_435.pdf+chapel+of+Saint+Fyndoc&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgI-6bXGgkraIEyHLR2UygEhvltixSjHOCzp9GVSOsFMjRs5NUbxSH8o5rBLAvFIm-UjEoA0WoLWuMl0QWrdKnZuJN9p_vhyfY7ar9xatXxN6zFp55IM1eGlUEjOdkqkHAb05lA&sig=AHIEtbQX7wlVyu9fJHvgNbw3JLX92l4Wgw.
- ↑ Wilson, John Marius (1860). Nelsons' hand-book to Scotland: for tourists (Public domain ed.). T. Nelson. pp. 272–. http://books.google.com/books?id=SKMHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA272. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ↑ Stark, John (1831). The Scottish tourist and itinerary; or, A guide to the scenery and antiquities of Scotland and the western islands: with a description of the principal steam-boat tours (Public domain ed.). Stirling & Kenney. pp. 273–. http://books.google.com/books?id=-lcPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA273. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
Outside links
- Location map: 56°22’29"N, 5°4’33"W