Loch Gorm Castle is a ruined castle located on Eilean Mòr (''big island'') on Loch Gorm,

Islay Islay ( ; , ) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll and Bute just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The island's cap ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. It was built in the early 15th century (generally dated to around the 1430s) and served as a stronghold for Clan Donald. The castle was square, with a round bastion at each corner. The ruins, however, are heavily overgrown, and reduced to a low level, such that from the shoreline the island looks featureless. In 1578, the castle was occupied temporarily by

Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean Sir Lachlan Mór Maclean (1558 – 5 August 1598) or Big Lachlan Maclean, was the 14th Clan Chief of Clan MacLean from late 1573 or early 1574 until 1598. Mór or Mor translates as ''big'' in English, or ''magnus'' in Latin, when added to a name ...

of Duart, as part of his campaign to recover/seize the

Rinns of Islay The Rinns of Islay (Scottish Gaelic: Na Roinn Ìleach; alternative English spelling Rhinns of Islay) is an area on the west of the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is a peninsula that is attached to the main body of the i ...

. He was ejected by the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg, with the assistance of the

Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll (c. 1542– October 1584) was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was appointed to the Lord Chancellorship of Scotland. Biography He was the eldest son of Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll and his seco ...

(Lachlan's cousin). Ruinous from 1586, royal forces led by Andrew Stuart, 3rd Lord Ochiltree demolished the castle in 1608. Repaired afterwards,

Ranald MacDonald of Smerby Ranald MacDonald of Smerby, also known as Ranald MacJames () was a son of James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg and Agnes Campbell, daughter of Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll. He was granted Smerby Castle from his father. He was a hostage for the g ...

was in charge of the garrison of troops within Loch Gorm Castle and surrendered the castle to Sir John Campbell of Cawdor on 28 January 1615.

Sir James MacDonald, 9th of Dunnyveg Sir James MacDonald, 9th of Dunnyveg (; died 1626), was the last chief of Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg or Clan Donald South. He was most often known as James ''M'Connall'' from the Gaelic pronunciation of the name ''Mac Dhòmhnaill,'' the modern '' ...

retook the island in April 1615 and left a garrison upon Eilean Mór. A private garrison was maintained upon Eilean Mór between 1639 and 1640.

References

Islay Info Blog
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External links

Ruined castles in Argyll and Bute Islay Scheduled monuments in Argyll and Bute {{Scotland-castle-stub