MV Eilean Bhearnaraigh

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History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Name: MV Eilean Bhearnaraigh
Namesake: Berneray
Builder:
Yard number: 283
Launched: 1982
Identification: IMO number:  8201557
General characteristics
Tonnage: 67gt 3nt [1]
Length: 15.90m/55.1ft
Beam: 7.00m/23.0ft
Draught: 1.65m
Propulsion: Twin diesels 2 x M6cy 290bhp 2scr
Speed: 7.3 knots on trials 11/10/1982

MV Eilean Bhearnaraigh is a small passenger ferry built for the Outer Hebrides. After serving the monks on Papa Stronsay, she now operates in Southern Ireland as Sancta Maria.

Outer Hebrides archipelago and council area off the west coast of mainland Scotland

The Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles, Innse Gall or the Long Isle/Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. The islands are geographically coextensive with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. They form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides. Scottish Gaelic is the predominant spoken language, although in a few areas English speakers form a majority.

Papa Stronsay a small island in Orkney, Scotland, lying north east of Stronsay

Papa Stronsay is a small island in Orkney, Scotland, lying north east of Stronsay. It is 74 hectares (0.29 sq mi) in size, and 13 metres (43 ft) at its highest point.

Contents

History

MV Eilean Bhearnaraigh, a small landing craft type ferry, was built for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 1982, to provide the first vehicular link between Berneray and Otternish. [2] After the new causeway opened in 1998, she ran as the Eriskay ferry. In 2002 she was bought by the monks of Papa Stronsay, a small island in the Orkney archipelago. [2]

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Place

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the local government council for Na h-Eileanan Siar council area of Scotland, comprising the Outer Hebrides. It is based in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

Otternish village in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK

Otternish is the former North Uist terminal for the ferry to Berneray, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The slipway lies 6 miles (10 km) north of Lochmaddy, and is situated within the parish of North Uist. Otternish is situated on the B893, and when the Berneray causeway was completed in December 1998, the slipway was no longer needed. Ancient human remains were found here in 1870. At a site 50 yards to the north of the discovery, a Viking ship burial was also found in the early 20th century.

Eriskay island of the Outer Hebrides in northern Scotland

Eriskay, from the Old Norse for "Eric's Isle", is an island and community council area of the Outer Hebrides in northern Scotland. It lies between South Uist and Barra and is connected to South Uist by a causeway which was opened in 2001. In the same year Eriskay became the ferry terminal for travelling between South Uist and Barra. The Caledonian MacBrayne vehicular ferry travels between Ceann a' Ghàraidh in Eriskay and Ardmore in Barra. The crossing takes around 40 minutes.

Service

MV Eilean Bhearnaraigh was built for the Berneray crossing, coming into service in 1982. [2] Displaced from there in 1996, by the MV Loch Bhrusda, she moved to the Eriskay service, also serving as secondary vessel for the Sound of Barra service.

In 2002 she was purchased by the monks of Papa Stronsay to service their monastery. [3]

She now runs to Bere Island in Southern Ireland and is named Sancta Maria. [4]

Bere Island island in County Cork

Bere Island Irish: Oiléan Béarra, meaning "bear island", although officially called An tOileán Mór meaning "the big island") is an island off the Beara Peninsula in County Cork Ireland. It is roughly 10 km x 3 km in dimension, with an area of 17.68 km², and, as of 2012, had a population of between 210 and 220 people.

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The Eriskay Pony is a breed of pony from Scotland. It is generally grey in colour, and has a dense, waterproof coat that protects it in harsh weather. The breed developed in ancient times in the Hebrides islands in Scotland, and a small population remained pure and protected from crossbreeding by the remoteness of the islands. It is used for light draught work, as a mount for children, in many equestrian disciplines, and for driving. The breed is rare today, with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust considering their status critical. There are two breed registries for the Eriskay Pony. Comann Each nan Eilean was formed in 1971 and The Eriskay Pony Society was formed in 1986.

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References

  1. ↑ "Eilean Bhearnaraigh". Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Last Goodbye for Council Ferries". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. 18 August 2003. Retrieved 4 October 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. ↑ "Monks' work continues to develop Golgotha island monastery". The Orcadian. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  4. ↑ "Local Notes: Beara & District". The Southern Star. 24 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
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