Lismore, Scotland

Lismore ( Scottish Gaelic: Lios Mòr, German: " Great Garden " ) is an island on the west coast of Scotland. It is located in Loch Linnhe and is about 16 kilometers long and two kilometers wide. Lismore is part of the county of Argyll and the County of Argyll and Bute. The highest mountain is 127 meters high Barr Mòr.

Population

On the island of about 160 people who mostly speak Scottish Gaelic life. Most residents work on the mainland, as in agriculture, only a few workers are needed and the quarry was closed. In the Middle Ages the island was a center because they had access to the sea. In the 17th century still lived around 1,500 people on the island. Today, the geographical location is rather isolated, so that many, especially young people moving. Therefore, the mean age is higher than the national average.

One reason for this is the lack of education infrastructure. The children can only go to Oban to high school and go after high school often do not go back. Immigration is also hampered by high real estate prices, which make a move to the island unattractive.

History

A polished stone ax from the Neolithic period (about 3500 BC ) is of great craftsmanship was found in 1974. From the Bronze Age there are 14 Cairns, most of them in the southwest of the island, with the exception of Cnoc Aingeal ( Fire Hill ) five kilometers from the northern tip of the island. They are largely unaffected. From the Iron Age come six Duns ( Dun Chruban, Dun Fiart, Sean Dun, Dun Slochd a Bhridhe, Chuilean Dun, Dun Mor and Dun Chillchearan ) and the Broch of Tirefour. In the year 562, Christian missionaries came to the island. Still today three family names of the locals back to the missionaries. Around 1150 Lismore was the administrative seat of the Diocese of Argyll and remained so 350 years. The present church is a part of the cathedral from this period (see also Leabhar Deathan Lios Moir, "The Book of the Dean of Lismore ").

Infrastructure

There are few public facilities on the island. The only shop in the village is the post office, which is also connected a store.

Traffic

The only public access is a car ferry from Oban to Achnacroish, which runs twice a day to the island, and a passenger ferry from Port Appin to Lismore point (or port Ramsay at the northern tip ), which runs daily except Sunday on the hour.

Education

The island has a primary school, ranging from the first to the sixth grade, with a children's garden. Total visit of 2007, approximately ten children the facility. The school is run by two teachers and a kindergarten teacher.

Health

Unlike many other Scottish islands Lismore has a community nurse who keeps their office hours daily. She has special powers that allowed it to write prescriptions.

Internet Pilot Project Digital Communities

The regional authorities are trying to counteract the migration. To this end, the project Digital Communities was launched in 2002. On 13 Scottish islands, including Lismore, the residents received free a fully-equipped computer and an internet connection. This will reduce the insulation and create new jobs. 75 computers were issued on Lismore, including the majority of people who had never worked with a computer. Some arrivals and new jobs over the Internet can be reported by the project. The health system benefited most from them, as on the mainland are possible through the DSL lines and video conferencing with doctors. This prevents in many cases that a doctor would have to be factored in on the mainland, for several days, is necessary.

Critics of the project see the benefits but rather the sponsors HP, Microsoft and BT, who won by the project more users and thus also have higher revenue. The outward migration of young islanders could not be stopped by the project.

The long-term goal of the project is the networking of education, in order to offer lessons online can and make the previously necessary emigration to visit a high school unnecessarily. First teaching materials are already available.

Attractions

In addition to the Cairns, Duns and the Broch there are three medieval castle ruins. On the island there is a local history museum.