Disambiguation: "Ceann Iar" is a common Scottish placename meaning Western Headland

Ceann Iar
Location
Ceann Iar
Ceann Iar shown within Scotland.
OS grid reference:	NF616623
Names
Gaelic name:	Ceann Iar
Meaning of name:	Western Headland
Area and Summit
Area:	154 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands):	123
Highest elevation:	Cnoc Bharr 19 m
Population
Population (2001):	0
Groupings
Island Group:	Monach Islands
Local Authority:	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
References:	[1][2][3]

Ceann Iar (Gaelic "Western Headland") is one of the Monach Isles/Heisgeir, to the west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Scotland covers an area of 78782 km² or 30341 mi², giving it a Population density of. Not to be confused with Heysker/ Hyskeir (Small Isles or Haskeir The Monach Islands, also known as Heisker ( Scottish Gaelic: For local government purposes Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as Elections General elections to the council are held on a four year cycle Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Not to be confused with Heysker/ Hyskeir (Small Isles or Haskeir The Monach Islands, also known as Heisker ( Scottish Gaelic: North Uist ( Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Tuath) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The Outer Hebrides, ( officially known for local government purposes by the Gaelic name Na h-Eileanan Siar) comprise an island It is a slender island, approximately a mile, or two kilometres long.

Geography

Cnoc Bhàrr is the highest point of the Monach Islands, at a mere 19 metres. Siolaigh/Shillay can be seen in the distance

Ceann Iar is the second largest of the Monach Islands. Shillay ( Scottish Gaelic: Siolaigh or Seilaigh from the Norse selrey, meaning Seal island is the western-most of the Monach Islands It is connected at low tide to Ceann Ear via Sibhinis. Disambiguation "Ceann Ear" is a common Scottish placename meaning Eastern Headland Ceann Ear is the largest island in the Monach or Heisgeir group off Sibhinis, Siobhanais or Shivinish It is said that it was at one time possible to walk all the way to Baleshare, and on to North Uist, five miles away at low tide. Baleshare (Baile Sear is a flat Tidal island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. North Uist ( Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Tuath) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. In the 16th century, a large tidal wave was said to have washed this away. ^[2] Despite Ceann Iar's name, Shillay is in fact the westernmost of the group. Shillay ( Scottish Gaelic: Siolaigh or Seilaigh from the Norse selrey, meaning Seal island is the western-most of the Monach Islands

Like the other islands of the group, it is a low lying, sandy island, subject to intense coastal erosion. Not unlike the Isles of Scilly it is possible that Ceann Iar, Sibhinis and Ceann Ear formed a single body of land within historic times, and that their land area has greatly decreased due to overgrazing, and wind erosion as well.

On the east side is Baile Beag (wee town), the settlement of the island, which is in turn on the slopes of Cnoc Bhàrr (top hill), which at 19 metres in height is a mere metre higher than neighbouring Ceann Ear's hillocks. Disambiguation "Ceann Ear" is a common Scottish placename meaning Eastern Headland Ceann Ear is the largest island in the Monach or Heisgeir group off In the north, there is also Cnoc Mòr (big hill), which is the other "height" on the island. The west is formed by Rubha Shulabhaig (a headland), and the north east by Hearnish. Just to the north is the island of S(t)ròmaigh (from Old Norse meaning "storm island")

History

Ruins on Ceann Iar

A cairn on Ceann Iar marks the grave of Lieutenant RNR MacNeill of the HMA Laurentic. The ship hit a mine in 1917, during WWI, off Northern Ireland, and his body had drifted all the way to here. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Strangely, this accords with the old Hebridean tradition that the sea carries the drowned home - the Monachs are Clan MacNeil territory. Clan MacNeil, also known in Scotland as Clan Niall, is a highland Scottish clan, particularly associated with the Outer Hebridean

The island had been settled intermittently for over a thousand years, although the main settlement was on Ceann Ear. It was resettled in the wake of the Highland Clearances, but finally abandoned in 1942. The Highland Clearances ( Scottish Gaelic: Fuadaich nan Gàidheal the expulsion of the Gael were Forced displacements of the population of the Scottish

References

1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
2. ^ ^{a b} Haswell-Smith, Hamish. This is a list of the Islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain. (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
3. ^ Ordnance Survey

Coordinates: 57°31.5′N 7°39′W / 57.525, -7.65