Islay: Finlaggan

Finlaggan, an inland freshwater lake, was the administrative centre of the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. As can be seen by the air photo on the left, the nerve centre consisted of 2 islands: the larger with a chapel, etc., and the smaller, sort of an 'executive suite' for the very important leaders. "Finlaggan" is named after St Columba's contemporary, St. Findlugan. It is probable that the larger island, was, in Celtic times, a Christian centre.

The last of the MacDonald chieftains were executed in 1493 in Edinburgh, and there are only a few remains of what must have once been a bustling and wealthy community. The Lords of the Isles were a seafaring folk, so it is of interest that Finlaggan is inland, on a freshwater loch.

The Chapel was built in the 1300s by John I Lord of the Isles. It is ruinous now, but there are some well preserved grave slabs in the accompanying burial ground. The photo on the right is the grave slab of Donald MacGillispie.