Shillay (Scottish Gaelic: Siolaigh or Seilaigh from the Norse selrey, meaning Seal island) is the westernmost of the Monach Islands (Heisgeir), off North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

Shillay

Scottish Gaelic name	Siolaigh/Seilaigh
Old Norse name	Selrey
Meaning of name	Seal Island or "Herring island", from Norse
Location
Shillay Shillay shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference	NF593628
Coordinates	57.53°N 7.69°W / 57.53; -7.69
Physical geography
Island group	Monach Islands
Area	7.4 ha
Highest elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Demographics
Population	0
References	[1][2][3][4]

Shillay Lighthouse
Siolaigh
Monach Isles

The old lighthouse was not used between 1942 and 2008
Location	Shillay Isle Monach Islands Outer Hebrides Scotland United Kingdom
OS grid	NF5928262723
Coordinates	57.525894°N 7.695055°W / 57.525894; -7.695055
Tower
Constructed	1864
Designed by	Thomas Stevenson, David Stevenson
Construction	brick tower
Automated	2008
Height	41 metres (135 ft)
Shape	tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern attached to a 2-storey keeper’s house
Markings	unpainted tower
Operator	Northern Lighthouse Board [5][6]
Heritage	category B listed building
Light
Deactivated	1942-2008
Focal height	47 metres (154 ft)
Range	18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)
Characteristic	Fl (2) W 15s.

Geology and geography

Like most of the other Monach Islands, Shillay has a thin, sandy soil, which has been much troubled by erosion, and which was badly eroded by a huge wave in the 16th century.

Despite Ceann Iar's name, meaning "western headland", Shillay is the westernmost island of the group.

There are several small islets around Shillay, including Eilean Siorraidh, Odarum (to the north) and Raisgeir.

Lighthouses

The lighthouse at Shillay has an uneven history. The red brick lighthouse was built in 1864 by David & Thomas Stevenson, and was in use until it was closed during the war in 1942 and not lit again in 1948 after hostilities ceased. After the Braer disaster in 1993 in Shetland, a new light was recommended to mark the deep water route west of the Hebrides. A new automated aluminium light was installed in 1997. However it proved inadequate and in 2005 it was decided that it was cheaper to reuse the original lighthouse than to increase the height of the new light. In 2008 the old lighthouse was refurbished and put back into use.[7][8]^{[citation needed]}

A stone from the lighthouse has been removed into the church wall at Paible; a keeper had carved into it "Eternity Oh Eternity".[2] Just to the south of Shillay, there is an Eilean Siorraidh ("Island of Eternity"; formerly Eilean Siorruidh) - whether this carving is a reference to this or the solitude of the island is unrecorded.

See also

• List of lighthouses in Scotland
• List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses

References

External links

• Northern Lighthouse Board

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shillay, Monach Islands.

На других языках

[fr] Shillay (îles Monach)

[ru] Шиллай (острова Монах)