Tory Island

'''Toraigh''' (anglicised as '''Tory''' and '''Tory Island''') is an inhabited island 14.5 km (9 mi) off the northwest coast of [[County Donegal]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is also known in [[Irish language|Irish]] as ''Oileán Thoraigh'', ''Oileán Thoraí'' or (historically) ''Oileán Thúr Rí''. ==Language== The main spoken language on the island is [[Irish language|Irish]], but [[English language|English]] is also understood. Tory is part of the Donegal [[Gaeltacht]] and [[Ulster Irish]] is the main Irish dialect in use. ==Geography and transport== [[Image:Tory_evening.jpg|thumb|right|Tory in the evening]] The island is approximately {{convert|5|km|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1|km|1|abbr=on}} wide. The 2002 census recorded a population of 133. The population is divided among four towns — ''An Baile Thoir'' (East Town), ''An Baile Thiar'' (West Town), ''An Lár'' (Middletown) and ''Úrbaile'' (Newtown). In August 2010, the King of Tory confirmed that there were 96 people living on the island.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} [[Petrol]] and [[Diesel fuel|diesel]] are available from Tory Oil at prices significantly higher than on the mainland.{{Failed verification|date=June 2011}} Tory has no airport, but has regular ferry connections from mainland [[County Donegal]]. The ferry travels daily from April to October and five times a week for the rest of the year. The ferry does not take cars, but holds up to 70 passengers. During the winter months sea crossings may not be possible due to rough seas - but from November to March a small 4-seater helicopter runs from [[Falcarragh]] to Tory every other Thursday. ===Ancient history=== In the [[apocryphal]] history of Ireland, [[Lebor Gabála Érenn]], Tory Island was the site of [[Conand (mythology)|Conand]]'s Tower, the stronghold of the [[Fomorians]], before they were defeated by the [[Nemedians]] in a great battle on the island. The later Fomorian king [[Balor]] of the evil eye also lived here. Balor would imprison [[Ethlinn]] in a tower built atop Tor Mór (or Túr Mór in [[Old Irish]], meaning The High Tower). ''Tor Mór'' is the island's highest point. A monastery was founded on Tory in the 6th century by [[Colmcille]]. The monastery dominated life on the island until 1595, when it was plundered and destroyed by English troops, waging a war of suppression against local chieftains. The monastery's bell tower is the largest structure to survive and was built in the 6th or 7th century.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} The [[Battle of Tory Island]], the last action in the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]], took place at sea nearby. [[Image:Kingoftory.jpg|thumb|The "King of Tory", Patsy Dan Rodgers, waiting near the harbour to welcome visitors to the island]] ===Recent history=== Since the 1950s, the island has been home to a small community of artists, and has its own [[art gallery]]. The English artist [[Derek Hill (painter)|Derek Hill]] was associated with the Tory artist community. Reflecting a long-standing tradition, a "king" is chosen by consensus of the islanders. This is a unique tradition that does not exist anywhere else in Ireland.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} The current ''Rí Thoraí'' ([[Irish language|Irish]] for ''King of Tory'') is painter Patsaí Dan Mac Ruaidhrí. The king has no formal powers; though duties include being a [[spokesperson]] for the island community and welcoming people to the island. Power is generated on the island today from three diesel electricity generators. These have a total capacity of 4 [[Megawatt|MW]] and burn through approximately 500 [[litres]] of fuel every day. Public attention was focused on the island in 2009, when a one-time resident was awarded a payout following a court case after his house was demolished and the grounds used as a car park. ==Tourism== Despite its small size, Tory Island has a number of historical and mythological sites: * ''Dún Bhaloir (Balor's fort)'' is located on the island's eastern side. This peninsula is surrounded on three sides by 90m-high cliffs. Balor's fort is only accessible by crossing a narrow isthmus, defended by four earthen embankments. [[Image:Tory Island Cliffs 2005 08 10.jpg|thumb|View from Dún Bhaloir]] * ''An Eochair Mhór (The big key)'' is a long, steep-sided spur jutting from the east side of the peninsula and ending in a crag called An Tor Mór (the big rock). The spur has prominent rocky pinnacles - these are known as "Balor's soldiers". (''Saighdiúirí Bhaloir'' ) They give the spur a 'toothed' appearance and contribute to the name, "The big key". [[File:View_of_An_Baile_Thoir_from_An_Loch_Thotr_-Tory_Island-Oilean_Thoraig_-_Co_Donegal_-_Ireland-Eire-.jpg|230px|thumb|A view of East Town (''An Baile Thoir''), Tory Island.]] * ''The Wishing Stone'' is a precipitous flat-topped rock beside the northern cliff-face of Balor's Fort. Traditionally, a wish is granted to anyone foolhardy enough to step onto the rock, or who succeeds in throwing three stones onto it. * ''An Cloigtheach (The Bell Tower)'' is the largest structure to have survived the destruction of the monastery (see history section above). The tower was built in the 6th or 7th century. * ''The Tau Cross'' (a t-shaped cross) is believed to date from the 12th century. It is one of only two [[Tau cross]]es in Ireland (the other in [[Kilnaboy]], [[County Clare]]). * ''Móirsheisear (Grave of the Seven):'' Móirsheisear, which actually translates as 'big six' — an archaic term for seven — is the tomb of seven people, six men and one woman, who drowned when their boat capsized off Scoilt an Mhóirsheisear (the cleft of the seven) on the island's northwest coast. According to local superstition, clay from the woman's grave has the power to ward off vermin. * ''The Lighthouse'', standing at the west end of the island, was built between 1828 and 1832 to a design by [[George Halpin]], a noted designer of Irish lighthouses. In April 1990 the lighthouse was automated. The lighthouse is one of three in Ireland in which a reference station for the [[Differential Global Positioning System]] (DGPS) is installed. The lighthouse is at coordinates {{Coord|55|16.357|N|8|14.964|W |region:IE_type:landmark |name=Tory Island Lighthouse}} * ''The Torpedo:'' A torpedo can be seen midway between An Baile Thiar and An Baile Thoir. It washed ashore during [[World War II]] and was defused and erected at its present location. ==Flora and fauna== The island is a breeding site for [[Corn Crake]]s (''Crex crex'') a globally threatened species whose numbers have fallen with the intensification of agriculture. In 2007 Tory Island recorded 18 calling males; down from a recent years maximum of 34 calling males in 2003. In addition to its indigenous bird life, the island records many vagrants. Ancient records of the flora and fauna of this island can be found in [[George Crawford Hyndman|Hyndman]]'s notes on the history of the island. Algae found locally includes: ''[[Fucus vesiculosus]]'', ''[[Fucus]] nodosus'', ''Himanthalia lorea'', ''[[Laminaria]] digitata'', ''Rhodomenia laciniata'', ''Plocamium coccineum'', ''Ptilota plumosa'', ''Conferva rupestrus'', ''Codium tomtntosum'', ''Codium adhaerens'' det Dr Harvey. ==See also== * [[List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland#County Donegal|List of abbeys and priories in County Donegal]]