Oronsay, Inner Hebrides 472313 215869879 2008-05-30T01:35:09Z Pigman 285310 clean up using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{for|islands with similar names|Oronsay}} {{Infobox Scottish island | |latitude=56.02 |longitude=-6.24 |GridReference=NR351892 |celtic name=Orasaigh |norse name= possibly "Örfirirsey" |meaning of name= "Tidal Island" or "Oran's Isle" |area=543 ha |area rank= 71 |highest elevation=Beinn Orasaigh 93&nbsp;m |Population=5 |population rank= 80= |main settlement= Oronsay Farm |island group=[[Inner Hebrides]] |local authority=[[Argyll and Bute]] |references=<ref>2001 UK Census per [[List of islands of Scotland]]</ref><ref name=Smith>Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.</ref><ref>[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey]</ref> }} '''Oronsay''' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: '''Orasaigh'''), also sometimes spelt and pronounced '''''Oransay''''' by the local community, is a small [[tidal island]] south of [[Colonsay]] in the [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[Inner Hebrides]] with an area of just over two square miles. [[Image:Oronsay - Hebrides.jpg|thumb|250px|left|From one of the small beaches on the east coast of Oronsay, looking towards the Paps of [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]] in the distance.]] It <!--has an area of around 4,600 hectares (11,400 acres), and -->rises to a height of 93m (305 feet) at Beinn Orasaigh (Beinn Oronsay) and is linked to Colonsay by a tidal [[causeway]] (called An Traigh ('The Strand')) consisting of sands and [[Mudflat|mud flats]]. In the 2001 census Oronsay was recorded as having a population of five people, who live at the farm adjacent to [[Oronsay Priory]]. The island has no facilities of its own, and is entirely dependent upon its tidal access to and from Colonsay. The rocks and skerries of Eilean nan Ròn (Seal Island), to the south-west, are an important [[Grey Seal]] breeding colony. In order to conserve the population of resident [[Chough]]s and breeding [[Corncrake]]s Oronsay and southern Colonsay became a [[Special Protection Area]] in December 2007.<ref>Smith, Claire ([[17 December]] [[2007]]) "Special protection zones take flight to protect three rare bird species". Edinburgh. ''The Scotsman''.</ref> There are two theories for the origin of the name from [[Old Norse]]. Either it is ''Oran's Isle'': St Oran was the founder of the island's monastery in [[563]] or it may mean ''island of the ebb tide''.<br clear=left/> {{coord|56|0|56|N|6|14|37|W|display=title}} == Archaeology == The island is best known for [[Oronsay Priory]], a [[14th century]] ruined [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] [[priory]], probably on the same site as the original 563 building, and the [[Oronsay Cross]], originally carved on [[Iona]]. The Priory was modest in scale, but has one of the most complete (though somewhat restored) cloister garths of any Scottish medieval religious house. In the late Middle Ages a distinct 'school' of monumental sculpture flourished on Oronsay, leaving many slabs with effigies or other carvings at the Priory itself, or at other religious sites throuighout the Hebrides to which they were exported.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} See examples pictured below. The production of sculpture ceased at the Scottish [[Reformation]].{{Fact|date=August 2007}} Oronsay is one of several Hebridean islands that have furnished [[archaeology|archaeologists]] with invaluable information about the [[Mesolithic]] period of [[prehistory]], particularly about the diet of human beings. [[Image:Oransay Priory.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Oronsay Priory was recently 'improved' in anticipation of [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth]]'s visit.]] [[Image:Oransay Tombs.jpg|thumb|center|300px|Tombs on Oransay]] <br clear=all/> == References == <references/> * On the Monastic Trail: Oronsay in [http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk hidden europe magazine], Issue 4 (September 2005), pp.16-18. (Explores Columba's possible landing on Oronsay, the [[priory]] and aspects of Oronsay life today) * A further useful note on Oronsay appears in {{cite book| title=The Scottish Islands| author=Haswell-Smith, Hamish| date=1996| publisher=[[Canongate Books]]| location=Edinburgh| isbn=0-86241-579-9| pages=46-48}} == See also == * [[Oronsay Priory]] * [[Prior of Oronsay]] {{Hebrides}} [[Category:Argyll and Bute]] [[Category:Islands of the Inner Hebrides]] [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Islay and Jura]] [[Category:Tidal islands in Scotland]] {{Argyll-geo-stub}} [[de:Oronsay]] [[fr:Oronsay (Hébrides intérieures)]] [[nds:Oronsay]] [[ru:Оронсей]]