View source for Tiree

{{Short description|Most westerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland}}
{{Other uses|Tyree (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox Scottish island
|location_map=Scotland Argyll and Bute
|coordinates = {{coord|56.5|-6.88|display=inline}}
|caption=Tiree shown within Argyll and Bute
|image_flag=Tiree Island Flag.svg
|flag_caption=''Sun of Barley'' flag adopted in 2018
|GridReference=NL999458
|celtic name=Tiriodh
|gaelic pronunciation={{IPA|gd|ˈtʲʰiɾʲəɣ||Tiriodh.ogg}}
|norse name=Tyrvist
|meaning of name=Gaelic for 'land of corn'
|area=  {{cvt|7834|ha|sqmi|frac=8}}
|area rank=17
|highest elevation=Ben Hynish {{cvt|141|m|ft|0}}
|Population=700<ref name=RESAS>{{RESAS}}</ref>
|population rank=18
|population density ={{cvt|8.9|PD/km2}}<ref name=RESAS/><ref name=Smith/>
|main settlement=[[Scarinish]]
|island group=[[Isle of Mull|Mull]]
|local authority=[[Argyll and Bute]]
|references=<ref name=Smith>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 112</ref><ref>{{Ordnance Survey}}</ref><ref>Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) ''Orkneyinga Saga''. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). {{ISBN|0-901824-25-9}}</ref>
}}

'''Tiree''' ({{IPAc-en|t|aɪ|ˈ|r|iː}}; {{langx|gd|Tiriodh}}, {{IPA|gd|ˈtʲʰiɾʲəɣ|pron}}) is the most westerly [[island]] in the [[Inner Hebrides]] of [[Scotland]]. The low-lying island, southwest of [[Coll]], has an area of {{convert|7834|ha|sqmi|frac=8|abbr=off}} and a population of around 700.

The land is highly fertile, and [[crofting]], alongside [[tourism]], and fishing are the main sources of [[employment]] for the islanders. Tiree, along with [[Colonsay]], enjoys a relatively high number of total hours of sunshine during the late spring and early summer compared to the average for the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Mayes| first=Julian|author2=Wheeler | others=Dennis| title=Regional Climates of the British Isles| publisher=Routledge| year=1997| edition=Perback| page=247| chapter=The Highlands and Islands of Scotland| isbn=978-0-415-13931-1| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hhscRv5FFosC&q=Tiree+sunshine&pg=PA247| access-date=14 September 2009}}</ref> Tiree is a popular windsurfing venue; it is sometimes referred to as the "[[Hawaii]] of the north".<ref>{{cite web|title = Ferry To & From Tiree {{!}} Visit Tiree {{!}} CalMac|url = https://www.calmac.co.uk/destinations/tiree|website = www.calmac.co.uk|access-date = 2015-11-21}}</ref> In most years, the Tiree World Classic surfing event is held here.<ref>[https://www.countrylife.co.uk/travel/the-perfect-way-to-go-island-hopping-in-the-hebrides-216864 The perfect way to go island hopping in the Hebrides]</ref> People native to the island are known as Tirisdich.

== History ==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2018}}
[[File:Tiree ringing stone.jpg|thumb|left|The Ringing Stone – a [[Cup and ring mark]]  stone in 1892.<ref name="Buckley">Harvie-Brown, J.A. and Buckley, T. E. (1892), ''A Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll and the Inner Hebrides.'' Pub. David Douglas., Edinburgh. Facing P. LXIV.</ref>]]
[[File:Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (1899) (14598330869).jpg|thumb|Map of Tiree (bottom, southwest) and [[Coll]] (top, northeast), 1899.]]
Tiree is known for the 1st-century-AD [[Dun Mor Vaul|{{lang|gd|Dùn Mòr|italic=no|nocat=y}} broch]], for the [[prehistoric]] carved Ringing Stone and for the birds of the {{lang|gd|Ceann a' Mhara|italic=no}} headland.

{{lang|gd|[[Adomnán]]|italic=no}}, abbot of [[Iona Abbey]] 679–704, recorded several stories relating to [[St Columba]] and the island of Tiree.

In one story, Columba warned a monk called Berach not to sail directly from Iona to Tiree, and instead to take a different route, and the monk went against his advice and sailed directly, but along the way, a huge whale came out of the sea and almost destroyed their boat. Columba gave the same warning to {{lang|gd|[[Baithéne mac Brénaind]]|italic=no}} who replied that both he and the whale were in God's hands, and Columba told him to go because his faith would save him. And {{lang|gd|Baithene|italic=no}} set off for Tiree, and when the whale appeared, he raised his hands and blessed it and it went back down into the ocean.

In another story, {{lang|gd|Adomnán|italic=no}} claimed there to be a monastery on the island of Tiree that was called Artchain. The monastery had been founded by a priest called Findchan, who was very closely attached "[[homosexual clergy in the Catholic Church|in a carnal way]]" to {{lang|gd|[[Áed Dub mac Suibni]]|italic=no}}. Columba took issue at Aed Dub's ordination because he had previously killed a number of men and prophesied that Aed Dub would ultimately leave the priesthood and return to his sinful life as a murderer, only to be killed violently himself.<ref>Thomas Innes, ''The Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland'', Aberdeen, 1853.</ref><ref>Carlos Herrero, and Elena González-Cascos, ''Philip Perry’s Sketch of the Ancient British History: A Critical Edition''</ref>

In another story, {{lang|gd|Adomnán|italic=no}} claimed that {{lang|gd|Baithéne mac Brénaind|italic=no}} asked Columba to pray for a good wind to get him to Tiree, and it was given to him, and he crossed the sea from Iona to Tiree with full sail. In another story, Columba instructed a particular monk to go to the monastery on Tiree and do penance for seven years. In another story, Columba banished some demons from Iona who then went to the island of Tiree to afflict the monks there instead. {{lang|gd|Adomnán|italic=no}} also records there being more than one monastery on Tiree in that time period, and that {{lang|gd|Baithéne mac Brénaind|italic=no}} had been abbot of one of these monasteries.<ref>Adomnan of Iona. Life of St Columba. Penguin Books, 1995</ref>

Writing in 1549, [[Donald Monro (Dean)|Donald Munro]], High Dean of the Isles wrote of "Thiridh" that it was: {{lang|sco|"ane mane laich fertile fruitful cuntrie... All inhabite and manurit with twa paroche kirkis in it, ane fresh water loch with an auld castell. Na cuntrie may be mair fertile of corn and very gude for wild fowls and for fishe, with ane gude heavin for heiland galayis"|italic=no}}.{{#tag:ref|English translation from [[Scots language|Lowland Scots]]: "a low-lying fertile fruitful country... Its entirety is inhabited and manured and there are two parish churches and a freshwater lake with an old castle. Nowhere is more fertile for corn and it is good for wild fowl and fish, with a good harbour for [[Scottish Highlands|Highland]] [[galley]]s."<ref>Munro, D. (1818) ''Description of the Western Isles of Scotland called Hybrides, by Mr. Donald Munro, High Dean of the Isles, who travelled through most of them in the year 1549.'' Miscellanea Scotica, 2. Quoted in Banks (1977) p. 190</ref>|group="Note"}}

In 1770, half of the island was held by fourteen farmers who had drained land for hay and pasture. Instead of exporting live cattle (which were often exhausted by the long journey to market and so fetched low prices), they began to export [[salt beef]] in barrels to get better prices. The rest of the island was let to 45 groups of tenants on [[co-operative]] joint farms: agricultural organisations probably dating from clan times. Field strips were allocated by annual ballot. Sowing and harvesting dates were decided communally. It is reported that in 1774, Tiresians were 'well-clothed and well-fed, having an abundance of corn and cattle'.

Its name derives from {{lang|gd|Tìr Iodh}}, 'land of the corn', from the days of the 6th century [[Celts|Celtic]] missionary and [[abbot]] [[St Columba]] (d. 597). Tiree provided the monastic community on the island of [[Iona]], southeast of the island, with grain. A number of early monasteries once existed on Tiree itself, and several sites have stone cross-slabs from this period, such as St Patrick's Chapel, {{lang|gd|Ceann a' Mhara|italic=no}} (NL 938 401) and Soroby (NL 984 416).

[[Skerryvore]] lighthouse, {{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=off}} south west of Tiree, was built with some difficulty between 1838 and 1844 by [[Alan Stevenson]].

A large [[Royal Air Force]] station was built on Tiree during [[World War II]]. The weather observations from [[No. 518 Squadron RAF|squadron 518]] collected helped inform [[Group Captain]] [[James Martin Stagg]]'s recommendation to General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] to delay the launching of the [[D-Day]] invasion of Normandy from 5 June to 6 June 1944.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |last=Buttle |first=Cameron |date=5 June 2019 |title=The RAF weathermen who helped save D-Day |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-48498383 |work=BBC Scotland |access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> The airfield became [[Tiree Airport]] in 1947.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Tiree.htm |title=RAF Tiree airfield |publisher=Control Towers|access-date=26 July 2012}}</ref> There was also an RAF [[Chain Home]] radar station at Kilkenneth and an RAF Chain Home Low radar station at {{lang|gd|Beinn Hough|italic=no}}. These were preceded by a temporary RAF Advanced Chain Home radar station at Port Mor and an RAF Chain Home Beam radar station at Barrapol. Post-war there was [[RAF Scarinish]] [[ROTOR]] radar station at {{lang|gd|Beinn Ghott|italic=no}}.

[[File:Tiree, Balephuil Bay.jpg|thumb|left|Looking west to Balephuil Bay, across the famous Hebridean [[Machair (geography)|Machair]]]]

== Geology ==
Tiree is formed largely from [[gneiss]] forming the [[Lewisian complex]], a suite of [[metamorphic rock]]s of [[Archean|Archaean]] to early [[Proterozoic]] age. [[Granite]] of Archaean age is found locally. [[Igneous]] intrusions of [[dolerite]], [[felsite]], [[lamprophyre]] and [[diorite]] of [[Palaeozoic]] age are encountered in places.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiree and Coll Scotland sheet 42 and 51W (Solid and Drift Geology) |url=http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1002385 |website=BGS large map images |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref> The eastern part of the island is traversed by numerous [[normal fault]]s most of which run broadly northwest–southeast. [[Quaternary]] [[sediment]]s include [[raised beach]] deposits which are extensive across the island and incorporate areas of [[alluvium]] locally. There are considerable areas of blown sand in the west and behind the major bays elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web |title=Onshore Geoindex |url=https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html |website=British Geological Survey |access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>

== Geography ==
The main village on Tiree is [[Scarinish]]. [[Mannal]] is a coastal hamlet in the south west.

The highest point on Tiree is Ben Hynish, to the south of the island, which rises to {{convert|141|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}.

== Transport ==

[[Caledonian MacBrayne]] operate a [[ferry]] to Scarinish. The daily crossing from [[Oban]] on the mainland takes four hours.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.calmac.co.uk/timetables/summer-timetables.htm?id=summer-coll-and-tiree--oban-coll-tiree.png| title=Summer Timetables: Coll and Tiree| publisher=[[Caledonian MacBrayne]]| access-date=15 April 2012}}</ref> A call is made at [[Arinagour]] on [[Coll]] and once a week the ferry crosses to [[Castlebay]] on [[Barra]]. More limited services operate in Winter.

[[Tiree Airport]] is located at Crossapol. [[Loganair]] provide daily flights to [[Glasgow International Airport|Glasgow International]] and [[Hebridean Air Services]] fly to [[Coll Airport|Coll]] and [[Oban Airport|Oban]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.hebrideanair.co.uk/flights/Oban_Scheduled_Timetable.html| title=Summer Timetable 2012| publisher=[[Hebridean Air Services]]| access-date=15 April 2012| archive-date=7 June 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607054223/http://www.hebrideanair.co.uk/flights/Oban_Scheduled_Timetable.html| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Roads on Tiree, in common with many other small islands, are nearly all [[single-track roads]]. There are passing places, locally called 'pockets' or 'passing places', where cars must wait to enable oncoming traffic to pass or overtake.
{{s-rail-start|noclear=yes}}
{{s-rail|title=Ferry}}
{{rail line |previous=[[Isle of Coll|Coll]]|next=[[Oban railway station|Oban]]|route=[[Caledonian MacBrayne]]<br /><small> Ferry</small> |col={{CalMac color}} }}
{{rail line |previous=[[Isle of Coll|Coll]]|next=[[Castlebay]]|route=[[Caledonian MacBrayne]]<br /><small> Ferry (limited service, summer only)</small> |col={{CalMac color}} }}
{{s-end}}

== Climate ==
[[File:Klimadiagramm-metrisch-deutsch-Tiree (Hebriden)-GB.png|thumb|left|Climate diagram of Tiree]]

As with the rest of western Scotland, Tiree experiences a [[maritime climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Cfb]]) with cool summers and mild winters. Despite its being on the same latitude as Labrador on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, snow and frost are rare, and short-lived when they occur. Weather data is collected at the island's airport. The lowest temperature to occur in recent years was {{convert|-5.8|C|F}} during the cold spell of December 2010.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = [[UKMO]] | url= http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/minimum-temperatures-and-snow-across-the-uk-last-night-4/ | title = 2010 temperature| date= 2010-12-18 }}</ref> The extreme maritime moderation contributes to summer temperatures that are far below even coastal locations in [[continental Europe]] on similar latitudes. Winter temperatures are similar to those of coastal southern England.

{{Weather box
|location = Tiree, 9m asl, 1991–2020, Extremes 1951–
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 12.3
|Feb record high C = 12.9
|Mar record high C = 15.2
|Apr record high C = 19.8
|May record high C = 23.4
|Jun record high C = 25.0
|Jul record high C = 26.1
|Aug record high C = 25.0
|Sep record high C = 21.2
|Oct record high C = 19.1
|Nov record high C = 14.6
|Dec record high C = 13.2
|year record high C = 26.1
|Jan high C = 8.0
|Feb high C = 7.9
|Mar high C = 8.9
|Apr high C = 10.7
|May high C = 13.1
|Jun high C = 14.9
|Jul high C = 16.3
|Aug high C = 16.6
|Sep high C = 15.2
|Oct high C = 12.7
|Nov high C = 10.2
|Dec high C = 8.5
|year high C = 11.9
|Jan mean C = 5.9
|Feb mean C = 5.7
|Mar mean C = 6.5
|Apr mean C = 8.0
|May mean C = 10.2
|Jun mean C = 12.3
|Jul mean C = 13.8
|Aug mean C = 14.0
|Sep mean C = 12.8
|Oct mean C = 10.4
|Nov mean C = 8.1
|Dec mean C = 6.3
|year mean C = 9.5
|Jan low C = 3.8
|Feb low C = 3.5
|Mar low C = 4.2
|Apr low C = 5.4
|May low C = 7.3
|Jun low C = 9.7
|Jul low C = 11.3
|Aug low C = 11.5
|Sep low C = 10.3
|Oct low C = 8.1
|Nov low C = 5.9
|Dec low C = 4.2
|year low C = 7.1
|Jan record low C = −6.4
|Feb record low C = −6.1
|Mar record low C = −4.8
|Apr record low C = −4.4
|May record low C = −0.3
|Jun record low C = 2.3
|Jul record low C = 5.4
|Aug record low C = 4.9
|Sep record low C = 1.4
|Oct record low C = -0.3
|Nov record low C = −3.9
|Dec record low C = −7.0
|year record low C = −7.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 137.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 111.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 92.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 72.4
| May precipitation mm = 66.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 68.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 88.4
| Aug precipitation mm = 103.1
| Sep precipitation mm = 104.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 144.2
| Nov precipitation mm = 140.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 146.5
| year precipitation mm = 1275.1
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 20.9
|Feb precipitation days = 17.1
|Mar precipitation days = 17.1
|Apr precipitation days = 12.4
|May precipitation days = 12.8
|Jun precipitation days = 12.1
|Jul precipitation days = 14.3
|Aug precipitation days = 15.4
|Sep precipitation days = 15.2
|Oct precipitation days = 19.2
|Nov precipitation days = 20.6
|Dec precipitation days = 21.0
|year precipitation days = 198.3
|Jan sun = 37.3
|Feb sun = 71.8
|Mar sun = 121.8
|Apr sun = 187.4
|May sun = 240.2
|Jun sun = 205.3
|Jul sun = 182.6
|Aug sun = 171.2
|Sep sun = 131.9
|Oct sun = 91.2
|Nov sun = 48.6
|Dec sun = 34.8
|year sun = 1524.2
|source 1 = Met Office<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gf517kcnc| title = Tiree 1991–2020 averages  | publisher = UKMO | access-date = September 13, 2012}}</ref>
|source 2 = Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute/KNMI<ref>{{cite web | url = http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/mapserver/anomaly.php?indexcat=**&indexid=TXx&year=1998&seasonid=18&create_image=true&minx=-2182380.952381&miny=-5015238.0952381&maxx=1284285.7142857&maxy=-2415238.0952381&MapSize=560%2C420&imagewidth=560&imageheight=420&mainmap.x=274&mainmap.y=228&CMD=QUERY_POINT&CMD=QUERY_POINT#bottom | title = Extremes for Tiree | publisher = KNMI | access-date = 3 November 2011 | archive-date = 2 February 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170202031134/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/mapserver/anomaly.php?indexcat=**&indexid=TXx&year=1998&seasonid=18&create_image=true&minx=-2182380.952381&miny=-5015238.0952381&maxx=1284285.7142857&maxy=-2415238.0952381&MapSize=560,420&imagewidth=560&imageheight=420&mainmap.x=274&mainmap.y=228&CMD=QUERY_POINT&CMD=QUERY_POINT#bottom | url-status = dead }}</ref>
|date=Nov 2011
}}
[[File:Tiree, spotted house.jpg|thumb|A restored 'spotted house'.]]
[[File:Tiree Satellite Photo.png|thumb|Satellite image of Tiree.]]

== Economy ==
The Southern Hebrides agency states that "while farming and, to a lesser extent, fishing, continue to provide most of the income of Tiree, tourism plays an increasing part in the island’s economy".<ref name="Isle of Tiree – Sunshine Island">[https://www.southernhebrides.com/isle-of-tiree/ Isle of Tiree – Sunshine Island]</ref> The fertile [[machair]] lands of the island provide for good quality farming and [[croft (land)|crofting]].

Tiree Community Development Trust owns and operates a 950&nbsp;kW community-owned wind turbine project known as Tilley. This was the fourth such large-scale project in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.tireerenewableenergy.co.uk| title=Tiree renewable energy| publisher=Tiree Renewable Energy| access-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> The first three projects were on [[Gigha]] and [[Westray]] and at [[Findhorn Ecovillage]]. [http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/argyll-array-gb-uk52.html The Argyll Array], an offshore [[wind farm]] development was proposed for development around [[Skerryvore]] but was subsequently abandoned.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.argyllarray.com/| title=Argyll Array Windfarm| publisher=ScottishPower Renewables| access-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

The island is a popular destination for family holidays. Tourists are attracted by the beaches, its many crofts, "traditional blackhouses and white houses, many retaining their charming thatched roofs, as well as unique ‘pudding houses’ where white mortar contrasts with dark stone".<ref>[https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/islands-scotland THE 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS TO VISIT IN SCOTLAND]</ref> A full dozen blackhouses, thatched with local marram grass, can still be found on Tiree.<ref name="Isle of Tiree – Sunshine Island"/>

Tiree is popular for [[windsurfing]]. The island regularly hosts the [[Tiree Wave Classic]]<ref>[http://tireewaveclassic.com/ "The GMFCo Tiree Wave Classic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226201453/http://www.tireewaveclassic.com/ |date=2012-02-26 }}. tireewaveclassic.com. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref> and was the venue for the Corona Extra PWA World Cup Finals in 2007.<ref>[http://www.scotlandontv.tv/scotland_on_tv/video.html?vxSiteId=60fdd544-9c52-4e17-be7e-57a2a2d76992&vxChannel=Advent%20Water&vxClipId=1380_SMG1277&vxBitrate=300 "The Professional Windsurfing Association World Cup 2007"]{{Dead link|date=December 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} STV. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref> It is visited regularly by surfing clubs, including Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow university clubs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://euwsc.eusu.ed.ac.uk/trips/index.php?t1=big&t2=tiree |title=Tiree – the outermost Inner-Hebride |publisher=Edinburgh University Windsurfing and Surfing Club |access-date=15 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003024859/http://euwsc.eusu.ed.ac.uk/trips/index.php?t1=big&t2=tiree |archive-date=3 October 2011 }}</ref> There is a [[radar]] station which tracks [[civil aircraft]].

The island's population was 653 as recorded by the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]]<ref name=NRS>{{NRS1C}}</ref> a drop of over 15% since 2001, when there were 770 usual residents.<ref>{{GRO10}}</ref> During the same period [[List of Scottish islands|Scottish island]] populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23711202 "Scotland's 2011 census: Island living on the rise"]. BBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2013.</ref> However, in the 2022 census the resident numbers had increased again to 700.<ref name=RESAS/>

Tiree has a rich distilling history and is home to a distillery, which was set up to re-establish the island's whisky heritage and, {{as of|2019|lc=on}}, is producing Tyree Gin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thescottishginsociety.com/location/tiree-whisky-company/|title=Tyree Gin|publisher=thescottishginsociety.com/|access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref> The distillery has plans to make Scotch Whisky.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} An April 2020 article about the Tiree Whisky Company, producers of Tyree Gin, states that it began making gin on the island again in 2019 but did not mention a plan to make whisky on the island.<ref>[https://thegincooperative.com/a-new-chapter-in-scottish-gin-tyree-gin/ A New Chapter in Scottish Gin]</ref> In 2023 it was announced that the distillery had begun production of a Tiree whisky.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tyreegin.com/singlemalt/ |title=Single Malt|publisher=tyreegin.com/|access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref> The first release of single malt whisky was made available for purchase in January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Single Malt {{!}} Tiree Distillery |url=https://www.tyreegin.com/singlemalt |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=tyreegin |language=en}}</ref> The company is said to be the first legal distillery on the island in over 200 years; distilling had been banned in 1802. In 2020, the company was marketing a Speyside whisky, The Cairnsmuir, but not made on Tiree.<ref>[https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/the-story-behind-the-isle-of-tirees-first-legal-distillery-in-over-200-years/ The story behind the Isle of Tiree’s first legal distillery in over 200 years]</ref>

== Culture and media ==
The island is known for its [[vernacular architecture]], including a '[[blackhouse]]' and 'white houses', many retaining their traditional thatched roofs, and for its unique 'pudding houses' or 'spotted houses' where only the [[Mortar (masonry)|mortar]] is painted white.

Tiree has a declining but still considerable percentage of [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] speakers.<ref>{{citation| url=http://www.linguae-celticae.org/dateien/Gaidhlig_Local_Studies_Vol_20_Muile_Tiriodh_Ed_II.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927152915/http://www.linguae-celticae.org/dateien/Gaidhlig_Local_Studies_Vol_20_Muile_Tiriodh_Ed_II.pdf| url-status=usurped| archive-date=27 September 2006| work=Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) Local Studies| volume=20| title=Muile, Tiriodh & Colla (Mull, Tiree & Coll)| author=Kurt C. Duwe| edition=2nd| publisher=Linguae Celticae| date=September 2006| access-date=15 April 2012}}</ref> In 2001, 368 residents (47.8%) spoke Gaelic.  By 2011 the figure had decreased to 240 (38.3%), still the highest percentage of speakers in the Inner Hebrides.<ref>[http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/common/home.jsp Scotland's Census Results Online (SCROL), 2011 Census of Scotland], Table UV12.</ref><ref>[http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ods-web/data-warehouse.html 2011 Census of Scotland], Table KS206SC & Table QS211SC.</ref>

Since 2010, the island has hosted the annual [[Tiree Music Festival]], held in Crossapol in the fields beside the community hall 'An Talla'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.obantimes.co.uk/news/view/a_thousand_music_fans_flock_to_tiree |title=A thousand music fans flock to Tiree |newspaper=[[Oban Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911140549/http://www.obantimes.co.uk/news/view/a_thousand_music_fans_flock_to_tiree/ |archive-date=September 11, 2011 }}</ref> In 2012, when Tiree appeared in the BBC Programme ''[[Coast (TV series)|Coast]]'' for a second time, the actions of RAF weather forecasters, flying hazardous missions far out into the storms of the Atlantic during World War II, were discussed.

Tiree is mentioned in the traditional Scottish song titled "Dark Island", which tells a tale of a ship leaving [[Oban South and the Isles (ward)|Oban]] and passing the "isle of my childhood", Tiree.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76kHRG96ciE DarK Island with lyrics</ref> Tiree is mentioned in [[Enya]]'s 1988 single "[[Orinoco Flow]]". Tiree is also referenced in the song "Western Ocean" by [[Skipinnish]], a traditional Scottish band co-founded by local Tirisdeach (Tiresian) Angus MacPhail.<ref>[https://www.skipinnish.com/about About Page for Skipinnish]</ref>
Tiree is also mentioned in the song “Calls to Tiree” by [[Hamish Hawk]].

The Tiree Songbook is an album of songs from {{lang|gd|Na Bàird Thirisdeach}}, a 20th-century book collecting songs from Tiree, and new compositions about the island.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tiree Songbook Launches |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-oban-times/20171207/281973197987339 |access-date=11 January 2020 |publisher=The Oban Times |date=7 December 2017}}</ref> The album won the Community Project of the Year award at the [[Scots Trad Music Awards]] in 2017.

==People connected to Tiree==
*[[Iain mac Ailein]], or John MacLean, (1787-1848), was a Tiree bard and highly important figure in both [[Scottish Gaelic literature]] and that of [[Canadian Gaelic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Maclean {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/john-maclean|access-date=2021-08-05|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref> According to Robert Dunbar, the [[Gaels]] of Tiree have a very long history of producing highly gifted songwriters and poets, but "MacLean is ...considered by some to be the greatest of the Tiree bards."<ref>Edited by Natasha Sumner and Aidan Doyle (2020), ''North American Gaels: Speech, Song, and Story in the Diaspora'', McGill-Queen's University Press. Page 282.</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Scottish Islands|Scotland|Islands}}
* [[List of islands of Scotland]]
* [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Mull, Coll and Tiree]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* Banks, Noel, (1977) ''Six Inner Hebrides''. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. {{ISBN|0-7153-7368-4}}
* {{Haswell-Smith}}

{{coord|56|31|N|6|49|W|region:GB_type:isle|display=title}}

== External links ==
{{oscoor gbx|NL9995045849}}
{{Commons category|Tiree}}
{{wikivoyage}}
*[http://www.isleoftiree.com Community Website] – The Tiree Community Website
*[http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ISL/Tiree_Hynish.gif Summit of Tiree] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825061115/http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ISL/Tiree_Hynish.gif |date=25 August 2012 }} – a computer-generated panorama
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160215122227/http://tiree.blogspot.com/ Gordon Scott's] website keeps people up to date with Tiree events
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200209130334/http://www.tireeimages.com/ Tiree Images]}} – large collection of photographs
*[http://www.scottishgolfcourses.com/southwest/vaul.html Vaul Golf Club] – Golf on Isle of Tiree
*[http://www.tiree-baptist-church.org.uk/about.html Tiree Baptist Church] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220164002/http://www.tiree-baptist-church.org.uk/about.html |date=20 February 2012 }} – Tiree Baptist Church
*[http://www.tireewaveclassic.co.uk Tiree Wave Classic] – The Tiree Wave Classic
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090420161938/http://antirisdeach.com/ An Tirisdeach]}} – The Island's local paper
*[http://www.tireemusicfestival.co.uk Tiree Music Festival] – The Island's Annual Music Festival
*[http://www.tireetrust.org.uk Tiree Community Development Trust] - Community Led Development Organisation
*[http://www.aniodhlann.org.uk An Iodhlann - Tiree's Historical Centre] - Museum & Archive
*[http://www.tyreegin.co.uk Tyree Gin] - Tyree Gin
*[http://www.tireetea.co.uk Tiree Tea] - Tiree Tea

{{clear}}
{{Argyll Islands}}
{{hebrides}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}

{{Portal bar|Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tiree}}
[[Category:Tiree| ]]
[[Category:Islands of the Inner Hebrides]]
[[Category:Islands of Argyll and Bute]]
[[Category:Surfing locations in Scotland]]
[[Category:Parishes in Argyll]]