Finlaggan (NR 388 680,Scottish Gaelic:Port an Eilein) is a historic site on Eilean Mòr[a] in Loch Finlaggan, on the island ofIslay, around 4 km west of the ferry terminal atPort Askaig.
Finlaggan was the seat of theLords of the Isles and ofClan Donald. Two of the three islands in Loch Finlaggan,[1] Eilean Mòr ("Great Isle") and Eilean na Comhairle ("Isle of the Council"), were the administrative centre of the Lordship of the Isles during the 13th to 15th centuries, until 1493 when the lordship of the Isles fell toJames IV of Scotland, who administered the territory via atenant-in-chief.
The Finlaggan Trust maintains the site and also refurbished a derelict cottage that has been converted into a comprehensive museum.[2] The centre contains numerousartefacts discovered during archaeological excavations: from a sheep wool quiltedaketon, worn under armour, to an ancient cross related to the lords.
The site has been the subject of recent archaeological investigations and hosted an episode ofChannel 4's archaeological television programmeTime Team in 1995.[3] During summer 2008 the centre was extensively refurbished and extended. The stone walls of a medievalchapel dedicated to St Findlugan on Eilean Mòr have been stabilised and several 16th century graves put on display and covered by large glass panels. In May 2019, researchers at theUniversity of St Andrews, working with the Finlaggan Trust and theNational Museum of Scotland, announced the creation of a virtual-reality reconstruction of the settlement in the early 15th century, based on archaeological data. The reconstruction will be on show at the visitor centre.[4]
Finlaggan Castle (Scottish Gaelic:Port an Eilein, English:Port of the Island), also known asEilean Mòr Castle, is a ruined fortified house located on the isle of Eilean Mòr on Loch Finlaggan. It was once a residence and stronghold ofLord of the Isles andClan Donald.
In the first half of the 7th century, a monastic community was established on Eilean Mòr, the largest of the three islands in the loch. This was either dedicated to or possibly founded by St Findlugan, an Irish monk and a contemporary of St Columba. St Findlugan is officially venerated as a saint in theRoman Catholic Church andEastern Orthodox Church.[5]
The ruins we see today are from a castle built in the 13th century, with masonry walls. An earlier construction, likely timber, was erected in 1138 bySomerled, Lord of Argyll, Kintyre, and Lorne, the first "Lord of the Isles".[6] The 12th century building might have been constructed on the remains of an earlier Iron Age fort. The Lords of the Isles used the fortress as a principal court and meeting place of their clan chiefs. Iain Mòr MacDonald,3rd of Dunnyveg, and his son Iain Cathanach MacDonald were taken prisoner at Finlaggan Castle, through the deception ofMacIain of Ardnamurchan, for the hanging and execution of the governor ofDunaverty Castle and were later tried and hanged on theBurgh Muir,Edinburgh. In 1541 Finlaggan was held from the Crown by Donald MacGilleasbuig. The castle appears to have been demolished in the 15th–16th centuries.
55°50′04″N6°10′23″W / 55.83431°N 6.17304°W /55.83431; -6.17304
