After capturing what we could find on references for Eilean a' Bhogha and Eilean a' Bhùth, we returned to research the popular, but (we think) least credible Eilean a' bho or Island of the Cow. We will publish articles on this shortly, with a more comprehensive treatment in the upcoming HES report, but we welcome any information of pre-1962 sources for that name.
Most of the internet sources that mention "Island of the Cow" seem to reference (directly or indirectly) either Wikipedia or other sites who reference Calder and Lindsay's "The Islands of Loch Lomond". The Wikipedia content was entered by MacRusGail in 2008 and we have been trying to locate the author with no success. We had a nice conversation with Lynn Lindsay and she provided sources for her 1983 dissertation that preceded the book (published with her father Sinclair). From that, the earliest written reference we have found so far that suggests Eilean a' bho is in I.M.M. McPhail's "A Short History of Dumbarton" (1962). There it speculates that the current name was "probably derived from Eilean A' Bho (the island of the cow)" without providing any source or reference. So far, the Calder-Lindsay book was the earliest to suggest that the name might be Island of the Cow based on Macfarlanes' skill for rustling, but after reviewing the current research, Ms. Lindsay wrote "the cattle rustling derivation of the name certainly doesn’t stand anymore".
We also still have had two Gaelic scholars tell us that "Eilean a' bho" is grammatically incorrect. Others still say it is a possibility.
The current internet references are clearly borrowing from other internet sources in that their wording is extremely similar. From our recent survey, most are not aware of other forms or research, but one was aware of the other forms and simply "liked" the Island of the Cow story better. (Everything on the internet is true, after all. :-))
Ms. Lindsay's book does also include some alternate names that are interesting and unique. From this, we found a reference that clearly refers to the island as "Elengavahana" in 1845 in describing the boundaries of Dumbartonshire county.
We also came across Sir Walter Scott's reference to the island as "Inch Tavoe" in a note to his historical novel "The Monastery" (1820).
Well ... at least Eilean a' Bhogha, Eilean a' Bho, and Inch Tavoe rhyme!
With busy schedules and many competing projects, we are still pressing for completion of the current report and submission of a new SMC in early 2018. Thanks for all the contributions to research and for your on-going support.
Most of the internet sources that mention "Island of the Cow" seem to reference (directly or indirectly) either Wikipedia or other sites who reference Calder and Lindsay's "The Islands of Loch Lomond". The Wikipedia content was entered by MacRusGail in 2008 and we have been trying to locate the author with no success. We had a nice conversation with Lynn Lindsay and she provided sources for her 1983 dissertation that preceded the book (published with her father Sinclair). From that, the earliest written reference we have found so far that suggests Eilean a' bho is in I.M.M. McPhail's "A Short History of Dumbarton" (1962). There it speculates that the current name was "probably derived from Eilean A' Bho (the island of the cow)" without providing any source or reference. So far, the Calder-Lindsay book was the earliest to suggest that the name might be Island of the Cow based on Macfarlanes' skill for rustling, but after reviewing the current research, Ms. Lindsay wrote "the cattle rustling derivation of the name certainly doesn’t stand anymore".
We also still have had two Gaelic scholars tell us that "Eilean a' bho" is grammatically incorrect. Others still say it is a possibility.
The current internet references are clearly borrowing from other internet sources in that their wording is extremely similar. From our recent survey, most are not aware of other forms or research, but one was aware of the other forms and simply "liked" the Island of the Cow story better. (Everything on the internet is true, after all. :-))
Ms. Lindsay's book does also include some alternate names that are interesting and unique. From this, we found a reference that clearly refers to the island as "Elengavahana" in 1845 in describing the boundaries of Dumbartonshire county.
We also came across Sir Walter Scott's reference to the island as "Inch Tavoe" in a note to his historical novel "The Monastery" (1820).
Well ... at least Eilean a' Bhogha, Eilean a' Bho, and Inch Tavoe rhyme!
With busy schedules and many competing projects, we are still pressing for completion of the current report and submission of a new SMC in early 2018. Thanks for all the contributions to research and for your on-going support.
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