Pabaigh Mòr
Encyclopedia
Pabay Mòr or Pabaigh Mòr is an uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland
.
name meaning "Island of the papar
or culdee
s". The remains of St Peter's Church and burial ground are in the south east around Loch na Teampall ("temple loch"), and to the south east of the loch
itself is Cnoc na Cille ("hill of the monk's cell").
The island was connected to Clan MacLeod
throughout much of its history.
Sergeant Evander MacIver was given the island on retirement from the Seaforth Regiment in 1800, in lieu of a pension. However, twenty seven years later, his family became victims of the Highland Clearances
, and his descendants can be found in Valtos in neighbouring Lewis. It is said that the founder of Cunard
was related to this family.
In WWI, it is suspected that a German U-boat
landed here surreptitiously, and unloaded boxes of provisions, which were found later.
The current owner has restored a couple of black house
s on the island, but it is uninhabited most of the time. Valtos crofters retain grazing rights on the island.
in West Loch Roag, north of Vacsay
. The island is Lewisian gneiss
with a light soil. It has a number of caves, sea spouts, and natural arches. To the north, Pabay Beag is separated by a sheltered pool.
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
History
The island's name comes from papey, an Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
name meaning "Island of the papar
Papar
The Papar were, according to early Icelandic historical sources, a group of Irish or Scottish monks resident in parts of Iceland at the time of the arrival of the Norsemen...
or culdee
Culdee
Céli Dé or Culdees were originally members of ascetic Christian monastic and eremitical communities of Ireland, Scotland and England in the Middle Ages. The term is used of St. John the Apostle, of a missioner from abroad recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters at the year 806, and of Óengus...
s". The remains of St Peter's Church and burial ground are in the south east around Loch na Teampall ("temple loch"), and to the south east of the loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
itself is Cnoc na Cille ("hill of the monk's cell").
The island was connected to Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan, whose chief is Macleod of Macleod, are known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ; the Macleods of Lewis, whose chief is Macleod of The Lewes, are known in...
throughout much of its history.
Sergeant Evander MacIver was given the island on retirement from the Seaforth Regiment in 1800, in lieu of a pension. However, twenty seven years later, his family became victims of the Highland Clearances
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
, and his descendants can be found in Valtos in neighbouring Lewis. It is said that the founder of Cunard
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
was related to this family.
In WWI, it is suspected that a German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
landed here surreptitiously, and unloaded boxes of provisions, which were found later.
The current owner has restored a couple of black house
Black house
A blackhouse is a traditional type of house which used to be common in the Highlands of Scotland, the Hebrides, and Ireland.- Origin of the name :...
s on the island, but it is uninhabited most of the time. Valtos crofters retain grazing rights on the island.
Geography and geology
Pabaigh Mòr lies off the west coast of LewisLewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
in West Loch Roag, north of Vacsay
Vacsay
Vacsay is one of the Outer Hebrides. It is off the west coast of Lewis in West Loch Roag. It is in size, and 34 metres at its highest point.-History:...
. The island is Lewisian gneiss
Lewisian complex
The Lewisian complex or Lewisian Gneiss is a suite of Precambrian metamorphic rocks that outcrop in the northwestern part of Scotland, forming part of the Hebridean Terrane. These rocks are of Archaean and Paleoproterozoic age, ranging from 3.0–1.7 Ga. They form the basement on which the...
with a light soil. It has a number of caves, sea spouts, and natural arches. To the north, Pabay Beag is separated by a sheltered pool.