LEWIS AND THE FLANNANS - The Lighthouse - page 2

the local traditions states that the giants who lived on Lewis refused to be converted
to Christianity by Saint Kieran, an Irish Monk, and were therefore turned into stone
as a punishment. Another legend states that at sunrise on midsummer morning, a deity
known as the 'Shining One' walks along the stone avenue, its arrival heralded 'by
the Cuckoo's call'. The origin of this particular legend probably has its roots in some
memory of the astronomical significance of the stones. Local folklore also relates the
history of a race of 'small people' who were described as pigmies. 2
AnativeofLewisnamedJohnMorisonmadethefirstwrittenreferencestothestones
in around 1680. He wrote, 'great stones standing up in ranks … were sett up in place
for devotione.' 3 The religious significance of the stones was apparent from the earliest
observations after they had fallen into disuse.
Although the islands have been uninhabited for the most part through the centuries,
there have been two previous habitations (besides the lighthouse keepers) on Eilean
Mor.Thefirstwerethereligiousmen(StFlannanandassociatedmonkswhosoughtthe
islandforspiritualretreat),fromwherethesanctityoftheislandsgainedtheirreputation
and much later, sheep were often taken to graze out on Eilean Mor with their attendant
shepherds;althoughthiswouldbeforrelativelyshortperiodsratherthanextendedstays
on the island.
The main island of the group of seven largest rocks, Eilean Mor covers an area of 40
acresandatitshighestpointis285ft.TheFlannanIsles(ScottishGaelic:Na-h-Eileanan
Flannach) are known as the Seven Hunters. The islands are named after the seventh-
century Irish preacher and Abbot, St Flannan. They were possibly known during the
middle ages as the Seven Holy Isles. Despite being only just under 20 miles west of the
Isle of Lewis, the islands are as lonely and isolated as can be found anywhere as they
border the vastness of the North Atlantic.
The islands are split into three groups. There are two main islands: Eilean Mor
(meaning Big Isle) and Eilean Taighe (meaning House Isle) and these lie to the north-
east of the group. The main western islands (smaller than Eilean Mor) are Eilean a
Gobha (meaning Isle of the Blacksmith), Roaireim and Brona Cleit (meaning Sad Sunk
Rock). Lying to the south are the islands, or outcrops of rock, which perhaps would be
a better description, of Soray (meaning Eastward Isle) and Sgeir Tomain. Roaireim is
slightly different to the other islands by virtue of having a natural rock arch. There is a
smallruinedstonechapelonEileanMorandtwostonestructures,plusonEileanTaighe
thereisaruinedstoneshelter.AlloftheseruinsaredescribedbytheRoyalCommission
of the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) as 'The Bothies of
the Clan MacPhail' or 'Bothain Chlann 'Ic Phail.' The origins of the name of Flannan
are uncertain. It might refer to the seventh-century Abbot of Killaloe in County Clare,
or to the half-brother of the eighth-century St Ronan, for whom the nearby island of