Isle Of Lewis

Before you add/This myspace site is a tribute site. I am not in Lewis,I live in Maryland, but I love Lewis and have ancient roots from there. Some folks aren't reading this, as I posted this at the bottom. I changed the location so as to not confuse anyone. About this space: I started up this space because I love Lewis/Harris. I am not from Lewis or Scotland. So, please keep sending the photos, info, and whatever to keep this space updated. Tha beagan Gàdhlig agam cuideachd! mar sin leibh! MáirínThe Isle of LewisLewis (Leòdhas in Scottish Gaelic) or The Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais), is the northern part of the largest island of the Western Isles of Scotland or Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar). The southern part of the island is called Harris (Na Hearadh). The two names however refer to the two parts of the same island despite the use of the terms 'Isle of Lewis' and 'Isle of Harris'.Lewis' main settlement, the only burgh on the Outer Hebrides, is Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh), from which ferries sail to Ullapool on the Scottish mainland. In the 2001 census Lewis had a usually resident population of 16,872. In Scotland's former counties, Lewis was part of Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty).Historically the island has been a stronghold for the preservation of the Scottish Gaelic language, although the language recently has been dying out, with very, very few of the islands younger generation being fluent speakers. The main language on the island is English; in 1988 approximately 1/6 of the students at the secondary school who studied Gaelic were native speakers, the other 5/6 were classed as learners.The island's accent and patter is a direct result of hybridisation incorporating the 2 languages. The Lewis accent is indeed not typical of a Scottish accent. Indeed, when native Gaelic speakers speak English, they are often mistaken for being Irish, Welsh and even American by anyone not familiar with the Highland twang.The island's settlements are on or near the coasts or sea lochs, being particularly concentrated on the north east coast. The interior of the island is a large area of moorland from which peat was traditionally cut as fuel, although this practice has become rarer. The southern part of the island, adjoining Harris, is more mountainous with inland lochs. The island of Bernera (Great Bernera) in the district of Uig is linked to the mainland of Lewis by a bridge opened in 1953.The main industries are fishing, tourism, crafts (including the manufacture of Harris tweed), and crofting. Religion is important in Lewis, with much of the population belonging to the Free Church and Church of Scotland (both Presbyterian in tradition). The Sabbath (i.e., Sunday) is generally observed with most shops and licensed premises closed on that day, although there is a scheduled air service to mainland Scotland.Attractions on the island include the Callanish standing stones, the Clach an Truiseil monolith, the thirteenth century Teampull Mholuaidh church, the Butt of Lewis cliffs and lighthouse and the broch at Dun Carloway. The Lewis chessmen were found on the island in 1831.Most of the place names in Lewis and Harris come from Old Norse. The name Lewis is the English spelling of the Gaelic Leòdhas which comes from the Old Norse Ljóðhús, as Lewis is named in medieval Norwegian maps of the island. Ljóðhús translates from Old Norse to English as Home of the Poet (Ljóð = Poet, hús = house). The 12th century ruler of the Island, Leod, taking his name from the Norse word for Poet.In 1919 the Isle of Lewis suffered a terrible blow with the sinking of the Iolaire, when at the close of the First World War the Admiralty yacht HMY Iolaire, sank within sight of Stornoway's harbour, killing over 200 naval reservists from the island who were returning home after the war.There are four parishes: Barvas (Barabhas), Lochs (Na Lochan), Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh), and Uig on which the original civil registration districts were based. The district of Carloway (after the village of that name) which hitherto had fallen partly within the parishes of Lochs and Uig, became a separate civil registration district in 1859. The districts of Lewis are Ness (Nis), Carloway (Càrlabhagh), Back (Am Bac), Lochs (Na Lochan), Park (A' Phàirc), Point (An Rubha), Stornoway itself, and Uig. These designations are traditional and in use by the entire population. The West Side is a generic designation for the area covering the villages from Arnol to Shawbost (Siabost). For civil registration purposes Lochs (Na Lochan) is nowadays split into North Lochs (Na Lochan a Tuath) and South Lochs (Na Lochan a Deas).* Back (Am Bac, Sgìre a' Bhac)including North Tolsta, Coll (Col)* Ness (Nis)including Habost (Tàbost), Port of Ness (Port Nis)* North Lochsincluding Balallan (Baile Ailein), Crossbost (Crosabost), Leurbost (Liùrbost)* Park also known as South Lochsincluding Gravir (Grabhair)* Point (An Rubha)including Aignish (Aiginis), Lower Bayble (Pabail Iarach), Portnaguran (Port nan Giùran), Upper Bayble (Pabail Uarach), Portvoller (Port Mholair), Aird* South Lochs also known as Park * Stornoway * Uigincluding Cliff (Cliobh), Kneep (Cnìb), Timsgarry (Timsgearraidh)* West Sideincluding Arnol, Ballantrushal (Baile an Truiseil), Barvas (Barbhas), Bragar (Bràgar), Breasclete (Brèascleit), Brue (Brù), Callanish (Calanais), Carloway (Càrlabhagh), Garenin (Na Gearannan), Garynahine (Gearraidh na h-aibhne), Shawbost (Siabost)It is claimed that you can see all the areas of Lewis from the top of Stornoway War Memorial!Sites of Historical InterestThe Isle of Lewis is a place where you can breathe history. From the ancient site of Callanish with its standing stones to the Dun Carloway Broch, from the Iron Age houses near Bostadh (Great Bernera) to the Black House village at Garenin (Na Gearannan), near Carloway, from St. Columba's church in Aignish to the Teampull Mholuaidh in Ness, history is to be found all over the island. This section of the article needs expanding ----------------------------------------------------------The Isle of HarrisHarris (Na Hearadh in Scottish Gaelic) is the southern part of the largest island of the Western Isles of Scotland or Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar). The northern part of the island is called Lewis (Leòdhas). The two names 'Harris' and 'Lewis' however refer to the two parts of the same island despite the use of the terms 'Isle of Lewis' and 'Isle of Harris'.Harris divides naturally into northern and southern parts, joined by a narrow isthmus at the main settlement of Tarbert (An Tairbeart or Tairbeart na Hearadh), from which ferries sail to Uig in Skye. Harris is traditionally part of Inverness-shire. In the 2001 census Harris had a usually resident population of 3,601.Harris has been desribed as the last bastion of fundamentalist Calvinism (see Religion in the Outer Hebrides).Harris is also known for Harris tweed, although it is mostly now made in Lewis.Harris is notable for its single-track roads with passing lanes at intervals.Most of the place names of Lewis and Harris come from Old Norse. Lewis and Harris came via Old Norse Ljóðhús = "people-house" and Herað = "a type of administrative district" from alterations of unknown Pictish originals.North HarrisNorth Harris, adjoining Lewis, contains the Clisham (An Cliseam), the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides at 799 metres. The area is sparsely populated. Beyond Tarbert, the furthest settlement is Hushinish (Hùisinis) on the west coast. A bridge from the east coast links Harris to the island of Scalpay (Scalpaigh na Hearadh).The North Harris Estate was bought by the community in March 2003 and is now run by the community through the North Harris Trust.South HarrisThe southern part of Harris is less mountainous, with numerous unspoilt, white sandy beaches on the west coast. Its main settlements are Rodel (Roghadal), known for its medieval kirk St. Clement's Church (Eaglais Chliamhain) decorated with a sheila-na-gig, and Leverburgh (An Tòb na Hearadh or An t-Òb na Hearadh) from which a ferry sails to Berneray (Beàrnaraigh na Hearadh), an island off the coast of North Uist (Uibhist a Tuath).The road which runs along the east coats of Harris (from south of Tarbert to Rodel) is known colloquially as the "Golden Road" as it cost so much money to build, when it was built in 1897 by Jamie Harris. It runs through the area of Harris known as Bays through the coastal townships Lickisto (Liceasto), Geocrab (Geòcrab), Manish (Mànais), Flodabay (Fleòideabhagh), Ardvay (Àird Mhighe), Finsbay (Fionnsbhagh) and Lingerbay (Lingreabhagh).Of all the beaches on South Harris Luskentyre and Scarista are considered, by many to be the most spectacular. From Luskentyre the island of Taransay, where the BBC Television series Castaway was recorded, is seen most clearly. At Scarista the scene is much more sporting as it is often the venue for surfing and kite buggying. Nearby the Harris Golf Club offers well kept greens and astounding views but no play on Sundays! Scarista is the birthplace of the author Finlay J. MacDonald. Finlay wrote about growing up on Harris in the 1930s in his books; Crowdie and Cream, The Corncrake and the Lysander and Crotal and White and paints a very vivid and humorous picture of Hebridean life.======================================================= ===About this space: I started up this space because I love Lewis/Harris. I am not from Lewis or Scotland. So, please keep sending the photos, info, and whatever to keep this space updated. Tha beagan Gàdhlig agam cuideachd! mar sin leibh! Máirín==================================================== »-(¯`v´¯)-» Design your MySpace with MyLook «-(¯`v´¯)-«Contact Tables ====================================================