Finlaggan Castle
| Finlaggan Castle | |
|
Argyllshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type: | Fortified house |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NR38826810 |
| Location: | 55°50’7"N, 6°10’22"W |
| History | |
| Built 13th century | |
| Information | |
| Condition: | Ruined |
Finlaggan Castle, also known as Eilean Mòr Castle is a ruined fortified house standing on an island known as Eilean Mòr at the north end of Loch Finlaggan, a freshwater loch on the Isle of Islay in Argyllshire. This castle was once a residence and stronghold of the Lord of the Isles and of the Clan Donald.
In the first half of the 7th century, a monastic community was established on Eilean Mòr, the larger of the islands in the loch. This was either dedicated to or possibly founded by St Findlugan, an Irish monk and a contemporary of St Columba.
The ruins seen today are from a castle built in the 13th century, with masonry walls. An earlier construction, likely timber, was erected in 1138 by Somerled, Lord of Argyll, Kintyre, and Lorne, the first 'Lord of the Isles'. The 12th century building might have been constructed on the remains of an earlier Iron Age fort.
The Lords of the Isles used the fortress as a principal court and meeting place of their clan chiefs. Iain Mor MacDonald, 3rd of Dunnyveg and his son Iain Cathanach MacDonald were taken prisoner at Finlaggan Castle, through the deception of MacIain of Ardnamurchan for the hanging and execution of the governor of Dunaverty Castle and were later tried and hanged on the Burgh Muir in Edinburgh.
In 1541 Finlaggan was held from the Crown by Donald MacGilleasbuig. The castle appears to have been demolished in the 15th–16th century.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Finlaggan Castle) |
References
- "Lord of the Isles' medieval home in Islay recreated". BBC News. 23 May 2019. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48383144.
- Interview of Donald Bell from Finlaggan Trust: ScotlandOnTV
- Time Team: Lord of the Isles - YouTube (Channel 4, 1995)
