Egilsay
| Scottish Gaelic name | ?Eaglais (see meaning) |
|---|---|
| Scots name | Egilsay |
| Old Norse name | Egilsey |
| Meaning of name | Disputed – either Norse "Egil's island" or Norse "ey" + Celtic "eaglais" – "Church island" |
Egilsay from Rousay with St Magnus Church on the skyline | |
| Location | |
| OS grid reference | HY470301 |
| Coordinates | 59°09′00″N 2°54′58″W / 59.15°N 2.916°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney Islands |
| Area | 650 hectares (1,600 acres) |
| Area rank | 67 |
| Highest elevation | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Orkney |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 26 |
| Population rank | 62 |
| Population density | 4/km2 |
| Largest settlement | Skaill |
| References | www.aroundrousay.co.uk/egilsay.shtml |
Egilsay (/ˈɛɡɪlsiː/, Scots: Egilsay) is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, lying east of Rousay. The anglicized name of Eagleshay was used in past centuries. The island is largely farmland and is known for St Magnus Church, dedicated or re-dedicated to Saint Magnus, who was killed on the island in 1117 by an axe blow to the head. For hundreds of years the story of St Magnus, part of the Orkneyinga saga, was considered just a legend until a skull with a large crack in it, such as it had been stricken by an axe, was found in the walls of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.