Dr McKenzie: I dare you to tell the …

Comment posted So which are our 25 inhabited islands? by Robert Wakeham.

Dr McKenzie: I dare you to tell the Skiannachs that they don’t live on an island.

Robert Wakeham also commented

  • If Argyll was in France Kintyre would be a textbook example of a ‘presqu’ile’ – but still not an island, even if a canal were to be dug at Tarbert.
  • Simon, could it be that your interests are rather limited?
  • Simon, could it be that you’ve become an old misery before your time?
  • Eilan Loain (known to some as ‘treasure island’), Loch Sween, certainly has a very substantial house – but might not be inhabited all year.
  • I think that Eilean da Mheinn, Crinan Harbour, is inhabited all year round.

Recent comments by Robert Wakeham

  • Minutes of today’s meeting of ‘Concerned Councillors’ Group
    Perhaps Argyll should be reclassified from a local authority area to a semi-wilderness zone not suited to self-government, of a similar standing to the Northwest Territories in Canada; if that doesn’t work, then how about the Tribal Areas of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier? – anarchic groups that continually disintegrate and morph into new allegiances, beyond rational control and inviting attack by pilotless rocket-firing drones controlled from outside the country’s borders. Attacks noisily condemned by a dis-functional central government, but secretly welcomed.
  • CalMac geared up to start Campbeltown-Ardrossan ferry service on Thursday night
    If indeed Calmac were ‘thrown a curve ball’ by the Scottish government then it doesn’t bode well for the future, if indeed the government is into cynical manipulation of public finances to enhance their popularity.
    The trouble is, this would fit with the apparent cynical manipulation, by this government, of Argyll & Bute Council politics – and if this really is all in character then it reinforces my cynicism about politicians in general.
    You can find some decent ones, in most parties, if you try – but anyone listening to Alex Salmond jousting with James Naughtie on BBC R4 ‘Today’, this morning, will have heard him claim that Denis Healey (whom I respected for his ability in government) has said that the Treasury deliberately underplayed the value of Scottish oil in years gone by to make independence seem less attractive.
    A plague on the lot of them.
  • Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
    I’m just wondering if this is a wild goose chase – barking up the wrong tree, so to speak – and it might be a creature of a different political colour altogether?
  • Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
    Talking of Conservatives, and bearing in mind the ornithological wonders of this part of the world, has anyone yet spotted a swivel-eyed loon? – or is it an imaginary creature?
  • First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
    Farage was in Edinburgh to raise the profile of UKIP – don’t underestimate wee Nige.

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22 Responses to Dr McKenzie: I dare you to tell the …

  1. Not surprising that the CONDEMALL’s Spokeperson for Islands did not provide the information. The 25 islands are as follows:

    Bute
    Coll
    Colonsay
    Danna
    Davaar
    Easdale
    Erraid
    Gigha
    Gometra
    Inchtavannach
    Innischonan
    Iona
    Islay
    Jura
    Kerrera
    Lismore
    Luing
    Lunga
    Mull
    Oronsay
    Sanda
    Seil
    Shuna
    Tiree
    Ulva

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  2. What about Innis Trynich on Loch Awe? There is at least one house on it, but…

    Forgot about Oronsay AND DAVAAR (Shame); didn’t know Erraid and Gometra were inhabited – now off to find out where Danna is and to check if Inchtavannach is in Loch Lomond.

    And Inchmurran – or is that outwith Argyll and Bute?

    Press piece said single inhabitant of Innis Chonan recently stopped living there. Is this incorrect?

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  3. What is an island? In his excellent & comprehensive book “The Scottish Islands” Hamish Haswell-Smith arrived at a definition after much consideration: “An island is a piece of land or group of pieces of land which is entirely surrounded by sea water at Lowest Astronomical Tide and to which there is no permanent means of dry access.” For freshwater lochs knock out the tidal & seawater bits. So, Seil is not an island, nor are Danna or Davaar. Gometra is attached to Ulva, Oronsay to Colonsay etc etc. Is a revision of the list in order?

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  4. What a spectacular snore-fest of a ‘story’…

    “Hamish Haswell-Smith arrived at a definition” Duh!!! You guys have way too much time on your hands.

    Have a nice evening :)

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  5. Old misery before my time – aye that’ll be right.

    Lets ne honest here – Geo Freeman provides the list of the 25. Then someone suggests that because Hasmish double-barrelled name defines an island differently form others this ‘definition’ suggests that some islands are actually no longer islands!! This provokes even more suggestions/counter suggestions from the usual suspect eg “it has a bridge”/or “has a substantial house but might not be inhabiited all year”.

    Ye gods – talk about the number of angels that can dance on the head of apin!!! Get a life you numpties.

    Oh, and have a nice day :)

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  6. What about Campbeltown? Most folk seem to think of it as an island because its so far away from anywhere else!

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    • If Argyll was in France Kintyre would be a textbook example of a ‘presqu’ile’ – but still not an island, even if a canal were to be dug at Tarbert.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0


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