Tahay
Encyclopedia
Tahay is an island in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland
. The name originates from the Old Norse
tagg-øy meaning island with a prominent hill. At 53 ha in area and with a central peak of 65 metres, it is the largest of the group of uninhabited islands off the north east coast of North Uist
.
The island is used for sheep grazing and peat
cutting.
on Pabbay to make way for sheep, moved to the previously uninhabited island of Tahay. Although the island has no arable land
, they hoped to make a living from fishing. However this proved too hard and they gave up the struggle in the 1850s and emigrated to Australia.
Tahay is owned by the Scottish Government.
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...
. The name originates from the Old Norse
Old 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....
tagg-øy meaning island with a prominent hill. At 53 ha in area and with a central peak of 65 metres, it is the largest of the group of uninhabited islands off the north east coast of North Uist
North Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
.
The island is used for sheep grazing and peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
cutting.
History
In 1846, six families who had been evicted from their homesHighland 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...
on Pabbay to make way for sheep, moved to the previously uninhabited island of Tahay. Although the island has no arable land
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
, they hoped to make a living from fishing. However this proved too hard and they gave up the struggle in the 1850s and emigrated to Australia.
Tahay is owned by the Scottish Government.