Clairinsh or Clairinch (

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

: Clàr-Innis) is an island in

Loch Lomond Loch Lomond (; ) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF), often considered the boundary between the lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands.Tom Weir. ''The Scottish Lochs''. pp. 33-43. Published by ...

, central Scotland. The island lies just east of

Inchcailloch Inchcailloch () is an islet on Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is at its highest point. It is also known to some as Inchebroida. The name Inchcailloch means "Isle of the old woman" or "Isle of the Cowled (Hooded) Woman" in the Scottish Gaelic ...

, is approximately 1 km SW of

Balmaha Balmaha ( Gaelic: ''Baile Mo Thatha'') is a village on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in the council area of Stirling, Scotland. The village is a popular tourist destination for picnickers and day trippers from Glasgow as well as walkers on ...

, and measures 450 m NE to SW by 200 m at its widest point. The island is flat: just 13 m at its highest point. (The word ''clàr'' refers to a flat surface, such as a board or table.) From above, the outline of the island bears a remarkable resemblance to a fish.

History

Iron Age

On the island, the head of an iron ring-headed pin (a La Tène I (c) type) has been discovered. Roman pottery has been found in the remnants of a

crannog A crannog (; ; ) is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually constructed in lakes, bogs and estuary, estuarine waters of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Unlike the prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps, which were built ...

(a man-made artificial island) 62 m off the northern end of Clairinch, called "Keppinch" (Scottish Gaelic: Ceap-Innis) or "The Kitchen". (The crannog is approximately 27 m in diameter, and has been surveyed but has yet to be archaeologically excavated.)

Medieval

In 1225, Maldonus, Third Mormaer of Lennox, granted a charter for Clairinch to Anselan of Buchanan (the seventh Laird of Buchanan), his

seneschal The word ''seneschal'' () can have several different meanings, all of which reflect certain types of supervising or administering in a historic context. Most commonly, a seneschal was a senior position filled by a court appointment within a royal, ...

, in return for a pound of wax yearly. This charter was confirmed by

Alexander II of Scotland Alexander II ( Medieval Gaelic: '; Modern Gaelic: '; nicknamed "the Peaceful" by modern historians; 24 August 1198 – 6 July 1249) was King of Alba (Scotland) from 1214 until his death. He concluded the Treaty of York (1237) which defined t ...

in 1231. There is archaeological evidence for no less than seven buildings and seven stone jetties on the island. Of note, both charters were signed on the island, the island was the clan seat for

Clan Buchanan Clan Buchanan ( ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highlands Scottish Clan whose origins are said to lie in the 1225 grant of lands on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond to clergyman Sir Absalon of Buchanan by the Earl of Lennox."The Scottish Clans and T ...

and Clan Buchanan adopted "Clàr-Innis!" as their slogan or battle cry, thus signifying that the island was of some importance in its own right. The crannog, noted above, may have served as the Council Island for Clan Buchanan.

Post-Medieval

Clairinsh remained the property of the Clan Buchanan chief until it was acquired, in 1682, by the Third

Duke of Montrose Duke of Montrose (named for Montrose, Angus) is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. The title was created anew in 1707, for James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose, James Graham, 4th Marquess of Montrose, great-grandson o ...

, and it remained the property of this family for the next two hundred and fifty years. In 1934, William George Buchanan (1865-1939) (who made his fortune in the Chilean nitrate industry) purchased the island. In his last will and testament, he bequeathed the island to the

Buchanan Society Buchanan may refer to: People * James Buchanan (1791–1868), the 15th president of the United States * Buchanan (surname) Places Antarctica * Buchanan Point, Laurie Island Australia * Buchanan, New South Wales * Buchanan, Northern Territor ...

on the condition that it be held in trust forever and that he wished the island to be used as an animal and bird sanctuary with no shooting allowed. From 1940, the island has been the property of the Buchanan Society. In 1958, Clairinsh was declared as the first part of a National Nature Reserve under an agreement with the landowner.

References

External links

Clan Buchanan reference to Clairinsh in the clan's lands

* ttp://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ancestorsofcedric/Buchanan.htm Another clan site including island information
Archived website lochlomond-islands reference to Clairinch

{{coord, 56.07461, -4.55132, type:landmark_region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NS413898), display=title Islands of Loch Lomond Uninhabited islands of Stirling (council area) Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve