Mingulay
Mingulay (Scottish Gaelic: Miughalaigh) is the second largest of the Bishop's Isles in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Located 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) south of Barra, it is known for an extensive Gaelic oral tradition incorporating folklore, song and stories and its important seabird populations, including puffins, black-legged kittiwakes, and razorbills, which nest in the sea-cliffs, amongst the highest in the British Isles.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Miughalaigh |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | [ˈmjuː.əl̪ˠaj] ⓘ |
| Old Norse name | Mikil-ay |
| Meaning of name | Old Norse for 'Big island'. |
| Location | |
Mingulay Mingulay shown within the Outer Hebrides | |
| OS grid reference | NL560830 |
| Coordinates | 56.8115°N 7.6375°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Uists and Barra |
| Area | 640 ha (2+1⁄2 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 67 out of 162 |
| Highest elevation | Càrnan, 273 m (896 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited since 1912 |
| Largest settlement | The abandoned 'Village'. |
| References | |
There are Iron Age remains, and the culture of the island was influenced by early Christianity and the Vikings. Between the 15th and 19th centuries Mingulay was part of the lands of Clan MacNeil of Barra, but subsequently suffered at the hands of absentee landlords.
After two thousand years or more of continuous habitation, the island was abandoned by its Gaelic-speaking residents in 1912 and has remained uninhabited since. It is no longer used for grazing sheep. The island is also associated with the "Mingulay Boat Song", although that was composed in 1938. The National Trust for Scotland has owned Mingulay since 2000.