The Taransay Fiddlers – The homepage of Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich
Scottish Centre for Island Studies – Scottish Island Studies@ University of the West of Scotland
Description: An investigation into sites associated with Celtic priests in the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland.
monks (62) papay (6) papar (4) scottish architecture (4) papil (3) pabbay (2) celtic priests (1) monastic settlements (1) scottish archaeology (1) architecture in scotland (1)
The Northern and Western Isles are dotted with islands called ‘Papay’ or ‘Pabbay’. What do these strange names mean? This report is the first stage of an attempt to find an answer.
This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright 2005. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. RCAHMS GD03135G0011.2005
It focusses on all the places in the Northern Isles of Scotland (Orkney and Shetland) and Caithness which have the name Papay, meaning ‘the island of the priests’ and Papil meaning ‘the settlement of the priests’. By gathering together all the evidence for the history of these places, and of the archaeology round about, especially surviving ecclesiastical sculpture, it is hoped that we will be better able to make some assessment of the association with Celtic priests which the name suggests.
The Taransay Fiddlers – The homepage of Fidhleirean Eilean an Fhraoich
Scottish Centre for Island Studies – Scottish Island Studies@ University of the West of Scotland