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Egilsay
Gaelic name ?Eaglais (see meaning)
Norse name Egilsey
Meaning of name Disputed – either Norse "Egil's island" or Norse "ey" + Celtic "eaglais" – "Church island"
Egilsay from Rousay with St Magnus Church on the skyline
Egilsay from Rousay with St Magnus Church on the skyline
OS grid reference HY470301
Coordinates 59°09′00″N 2°54′58″W / 59.15°N 2.916°W / 59.15; -2.916
Physical geography
Island group Orkney Islands
Area 650 hectares (2.5 sq mi)
Area rank 67 
Highest elevation 35 metres (115 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Council area Orkney
Demographics
Population 26
Population density 4 people/km2
Largest settlement Skaill
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Egilsay (Scots: Egilsay) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, lying east of Rousay. The island is largely farmland and is known for its corncrakes and St Magnus Church, dedicated or re-dedicated to Saint Magnus, who was killed on the island in 1117 by an axe blow to the head. For hundreds of years the story of St. Magnus, part of the Orkneyinga saga, was considered just a legend until a skull with a large crack in it, such as it had been stricken by an axe, was found in the walls of St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.

Etymology

Unusually for the Northern Isles, it has been suggested that Egilsay may have a partly Gaelic name. While at first sight, it appears to be Egil's island, "Egil" being a Norse personal name, the Gaelic eaglais (Celtic "eccles") meaning church, may be part of the root, as the island is dominated by a church of pre-Norse foundation. The island of Kili Holm just to the north, may represent cille, a monastic cell.

Present day

The island's population was 26 as recorded by the 2011 census a drop of almost a third since 2001 when there were 37 usual residents. During the same period, Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.

Orkney Ferries sail from the island to Tingwall on the Orkney Mainland via Wyre and Rousay.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Egilsay para niños

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