Egilsay facts for kids
| 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 |
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| OS grid reference | HY470301 |
| Coordinates | 59°09′00″N 2°54′58″W / 59.15°N 2.916°W |
| 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 beautiful Orkney Islands in Scotland. It lies just east of another island called Rousay. Egilsay is mostly covered in farmland. It's famous for two main things: its special birds called corncrakes and the historic St Magnus Church.
This church is named after Saint Magnus. He was an important figure who was killed on the island in 1117. For many years, the story of Saint Magnus, which is part of the old Norse tales called the Orkneyinga saga, was thought to be just a legend. However, a skull with a large crack, like it had been hit by an axe, was later found inside the walls of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. This discovery made people believe the story was true!
What's in a Name?
The name "Egilsay" is quite interesting. Most island names in the Northern Isles come from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. At first, "Egilsay" seems to mean "Egil's island," named after a Norse person called Egil.
But some people think part of the name might come from an older language, Gaelic. The Gaelic word eaglais means "church." This makes sense because a very old church, built even before the Vikings arrived, is a main feature of the island. So, "Egilsay" could mean "Church island." A small island nearby, Kili Holm, might also have a name linked to old church words, possibly meaning "monastic cell" (a small room for a monk).
Egilsay Today
Egilsay is a small island with a small community. In 2011, the population was 26 people. This was a bit of a drop from 2001, when 37 people lived there. Even though some Scottish islands saw their populations grow, Egilsay's became smaller.
Getting to Egilsay is easy with Orkney Ferries. The ferry travels from the island to Tingwall on the main island of Orkney. It also stops at Wyre and Rousay along the way.
