geo.wikisort.org - Island

Egilsay (/ˈɛɡɪlsiː/, Scots: Egilsay) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, lying east of Rousay. The island is largely farmland and is known for its corncrakes and St Magnus Church, dedicated or re-dedicated to Saint Magnus, who was killed on the island in 1117 by an axe blow to the head. For hundreds of years the story of St. Magnus, part of the Orkneyinga saga, was considered just a legend until a skull with a large crack in it, such as it had been stricken by an axe, was found in the walls of St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

Egilsay

Scottish Gaelic name	?Eaglais (see meaning)
Scots name	Egilsay
Old Norse name	Egilsey[1]
Meaning of name	Disputed – either Norse "Egil's island" or Norse "ey" + Celtic "eaglais" – "Church island"
Egilsay from Rousay with St Magnus Church on the skyline
Location
Egilsay Egilsay shown within Orkney
OS grid reference	HY470301
Coordinates	59.15°N 2.916°W / 59.15; -2.916
Physical geography
Island group	Orkney Islands
Area	650 hectares (1,600 acres)
Area rank	67 [2]
Highest elevation	35 m (115 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Orkney
Demographics
Population	26[3]
Population rank	62 [2]
Population density	4/km2
Largest settlement	Skaill
References	[4] www.aroundrousay.co.uk/egilsay.shtml

Etymology

Unusually for the Northern Isles, it has been suggested that Egilsay may have a partly Gaelic name.[1][4] While at first sight, it appears to be Egil's island, "Egil" being a Norse personal name, the Gaelic eaglais (Celtic "eccles") meaning church, may be part of the root, as the island is dominated by a church of pre-Norse foundation. The island of Kili Holm just to the north, may represent cille, a monastic cell.

Present day

The island's population was 26 as recorded by the 2011 census[5] a drop of almost a third since 2001 when there were 37 usual residents.[6] During the same period, Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.[7]

Orkney Ferries sail from the island to Tingwall on the Orkney Mainland via Wyre and Rousay.

See also

• Sir Alexander Douglas of Eagleshay

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Egilsay.

• Information on the island of Egilsay

На других языках

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[de] Egilsay

Die zu Schottlands Orkney gehörende Insel Egilsay liegt etwa 15 km nördlich von Kirkwall und gut einen Kilometer östlich der Insel Rousay zu beiden Inseln besteht eine regelmäßige Fährverbindung. Nördlich liegt die unbewohnte Gezeiteninsel Kili Holm, nordwestlich liegt der Holm of Scockness.

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- [en] Egilsay

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[es] Egilsay

Egilsay es una isla localizada en el archipiélago de las islas Orcadas, en Escocia. Se encuentra ubicada al este de Rousay. Se trata de una amplia zona de cultivos, y es conocida por la población de guion de codornices (Crex crex) que habitan en ella (aves zancudas que habitan los maizales). No se encuentra conectada directamente con Mainland.

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[fr] Egilsay

Egilsay est une île du Royaume-Uni située en Écosse, dans l'archipel des Orcades. On y trouve une importante population de râles des genêts.

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[it] Egilsay

Egilsay è una delle isole Orcadi, un arcipelago che si trova a nord della Scozia, nel Mare del Nord. L'isola, situata ad est di Rousay, è principalmente costituita da terra coltivabile ed è conosciuta soprattutto per le popolazioni di re di quaglie.

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