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Gigha
Location
Gigha
Gigha shown within Scotland.
OS grid reference:	NR647498
Names
Gaelic name:	Giogha
Norse name:	Guðey
Meaning of name:	Old Norse for 'God's island' or 'good island'
Area and Summit
Area:	1,395 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands):	41
Highest elevation:	Creag Bhan 100 m
Population
Population (2001):	110
Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands):	43 out of 97
Main settlement:	Ardminish
Groupings
Island Group:	Islay
Local Authority:	Argyll and Bute
References:	[1][2][3][4]

The Isle of Gigha (pronounced gee'a; Scottish Gaelic: Giogha) is a small island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. The island forms part of Argyll and Bute and has a population of about 150 people. The name is derived from the Norse Gudey meaning 'Good Island' or 'God Island'.^[5] The island is 9.5 km (6 miles) long in a roughly north-south direction and a maximum of 2.5 km (1.5 miles) wide. The total area is 1,395 ha (3,447 acres).

Contents 1 History 2 Horticulture and attractions 3 Transport 4 Community buy-out 5 Wind turbines 6 References 7 External links

Gigha is the ancestral home of the Clan MacNeill, which possesses its own tartan and Clan badge, both distinctly different from the larger and better known Clan MacNeil of Barra (spelt with one L), but sharing the same Chief.^[6]

There is some evidence to show that the island might have been the seat of power for Conall mac Comgall, King of Dalriada, in the mid to late 6th century. The Annals of Tigernach refer to a Battle of Delgon (later Cindeglen) in 574, and this has been identified as taking place on Gigha, then referred to as Eilean da Ghallagan,^[7][8] although other sources believe the battle took place in Kintyre.^[9]

Gigha is known for its Ayrshire cattle and goat's cheese. Other attractions on the island are the Achamore Gardens, begun in 1945 by Sir James Horlick^[5] and known for its rhododendrons and azaleas, the many sandy beaches and the thirteenth century St Catan's Chapel ruins. Relative to its size it is the most fertile and productive island in Scotland.^[5]

There is an unmanned grass landing strip running east/west near the southern end of the island, requiring prior permission for landing. It is one of the closest airstrips to Glasgow International Airport at typically a twenty to thirty minute flight for small aircraft. A Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service links the island's only village, Ardminish, to Tayinloan on the Kintyre peninsula of the Scottish mainland.

In the eighteenth century the population of Gigha peaked at over 700, but by the 1960s it had fallen to 163 and by the beginning of the 21st century it was down to only 98.^[10] During the 20th century the island had numerous owners, which caused various problems in developing the area. This came to an end in March 2002 when the islanders managed, with help from grants from the National Lottery and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to purchase the island for £4 million and they now own it through a development trust called the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust. As a result March 15, the day when the purchase went through^[11], is celebrated as the island's independence day. £1 million of the grant money was in the form of a loan. The money to pay this loan back was largely raised by selling Achamore House (but not the gardens) to Don Dennis, a businessman from California. Dennis now operates a flower essences importing business and a boat tours company from the house, which is also rented out as a Bed and Breakfast business. An additional £200,000 was raised by the islanders through various fundraising ventures, allowing the loan to be paid back to the Scottish Land Fund on 15th March 2004.^[12]. Since the community buy out several other private businesses have sprung up on Gigha giving rise to a real boost in local economy, not least the multi-award winning Boathouse Café Bar run by two local entreprenuers, Joseph Teale and Lindsay Sheriff.

In October 2006 it was announced^[10] that the population had reached 150 - a rise of more than 50 per cent since the 2002 buy-out. Willie McSporran, chairman of the Heritage Trust, was quoted as saying: "The trust turned 300 years of population decline on its head by encouraging new development and the growth of the local economy. A sign of the surge of people wanting to relocate to Gigha is that we are struggling to meet the demand for housing despite building 18 new homes."

The issues of island ownership are not unique to Gigha and consequently the island has been highlighted in an edition of the BBC series, Countryfile, which is the principal television forum for countryside issues in the United Kingdom.

The Heritage Trust set up Gigha Renewable Energy Ltd. to buy and operate three Vestas V27 wind turbines, known locally as The Dancing Ladies or Creideas, Dòchas is Carthannas (Gaelic for Faith, Hope and Charity).^[13] Since they were commissioned on 21 January 2005, they are capable of generating up to 675 kW of power. Revenue is produced by selling the electricity to the grid via an intermediary called Green Energy UK. Gigha residents control the whole project and profits are reinvested in the community.^[14]

1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
2. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
3. ^ Ordnance Survey
4. ^ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
5. ^ ^{a b c} Murray, W.H. (1977) The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland. London. Collins.
6. ^ ScotClans MacNeill of Colonsay Retrieved 6 April 2007.
7. ^ Proceedings of the Society, December 1893 Retrieved 18 March 2007. Paper by John McLeod FSA. W.F. Skene, the famous Scottish antiquarian, originally identified this battle site as being in west Knapdale, he later revised his opinion on evidence presented to him by the archaeologist Hugh Maclean of Tarbet.
8. ^ Syllabus of Scottish Cartularies Retrieved 28 June 2007.
9. ^ Onomasticon Godelicum. CELT/Documents of Ireland
10. ^ ^{a b} Ross, J. "Island of opportunity welcomes a population explosion", The Scotsman newspaper, 2006-10-13. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. 
11. ^ Island officially changes hands, BBC News Online, 15 March 2002
12. ^ How Gigha was bought by the community
13. ^ HIE Renewables
14. ^ Green Energy press release Retrieved 2007-02-01.

• Isle of Gigha website
• New York Times article
• Award Winning Café Bar on Gigha

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Inner Hebrides	Ascrib Islands · Canna · Cara · Coll · Colonsay · Crowlin Islands · Eigg · Gigha · Iona · Isay · Islay · Jura · Kerrera · Lismore · Oronsay · Muck · Mull · Raasay · Rona · Rùm · Skye · Slate Islands · Soay · Staffa · Summer Isles · Tiree · Treshnish Isles · Ulva ·
Outer Hebrides	Barra (Isles) · Benbecula · Berneray · Eriskay · Flannan Isles · Great Bernera · Harris and Lewis · Monach Islands (Heisgeir)  · North Rona · North Uist · Rockall · Scalpay · Shiant Isles · South Uist · St Kilda

Coordinates: 55°41′N, 5°45′W