Great Bernera
Location
Great Bernera
Great Bernera shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid reference	NB162344
Names
Gaelic name	Beàrnaraigh Mòr (help·info)
Norse name	bjarnar-øy
Meaning of name	Bjørn's island from Norse
Area and summit
Area	2122 ha
Area rank	34
Highest elevation	87 metres (285 ft)
Population
Population	233
Population rank	29 out of 100
Main settlement	Breaclete
Groupings
Island group	Lewis and Harris
Local Authority	Na h-Eileanan Siar
References	[1][2][3][4]
If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census.

Great Bernera (Scottish Gaelic: Beàrnaraigh Mòr, pronounced [ˈpjaːrˠn̪ˠəɾaj moːɾ]), often known just as Bernera (Scottish Gaelic: Bearnaraigh) is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. With an area of just over 21 km² (8.1 sq mi), it is the thirty-fourth largest Scottish island.^[2]

Great Bernera lies in Loch Roag on the north-west coast of Lewis and is linked to it by a road bridge. Built in 1953, the bridge was the first pre-stressed concrete bridge in Europe.^[2][5] The main settlement on the island is Breaclete (Gaelic: Breacleit).

The island, under the name of "Borva", was the setting for A Princess of Thule (1873) by the Scottish novelist William Black. The novel is notable for its descriptions of the local scenery.

History[link]

Tursachan, the Callanish VIII megalithic monument on Great Bernera overlooks the bridge from Lewis.

The island's name is Norse in origin^[2] as are many other names in the district, implying extensive Norse settlement.

The most common name on Great Bernera is MacDonald (MacDhòmhnaill or Dòmhnallach), and these are said to be descended from a watchman of the Macaulays of Uig, who gave him the island in return for his services.^[2]

Since 1962, the island has been owned by Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees,^[2] a former Queen's Herald, who is recognised as Laird of Bernera. He has a house and fish farm at Kirkibost.^[2]

Calanais VIII[link]

Callanish VIII is a unique standing stone arrangement near the bridge between Lewis and Bernera, set out in a semicircle. It is known locally as Tursachan, which means merely "Standing Stones".^[6] The ruins of Dun Barraglom broch are nearby.^[3]

Bostadh[link]

Bernera is also known for its Iron Age (or possibly Pictish) settlement at Bostadh, discovered in 1992 and now covered by sand to preserve it. A replica Iron Age house matching those now buried is sited nearby.

Bernera Riot[link]

The island was the location of the Bernera Riot, where crofters resisted the Highland clearances. The riot took place in 1874, and occurred as a reaction to heavy-handed evictions and treatment by the factor of Sir James Matheson, Donald Munro. The islanders refused to agree to an ever increasing diminishing grazings allowance at the expense of expanding sporting estates and were in turn threatened with a military visit. This did not occur, but even more eviction notices were handed out, and the visitors were pelted with clods of earth.^[7]

Tobson

Geography and geology[link]

White fibrous tremolite on grey muscovite from Great Bernera

The island is roughly 8 km long by 3 km wide, the length being oriented from north west to south east. The coast is much indented and there are also numerous fresh water bodies such as Loch Barabhat, Loch Breacleit and Loch Niosabhat. The highest point is the eminence of Middle Shalaval south of Bostadh and north of Tobson that reaches 87 metres (285 ft).^[3] There are deposits of muscovite and tremolite asbestos. An example of a rock of tremolite on muscovite from Great Bernera is shown in the photograph to the right.

The western side of the island is included in the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area.^[8]

Surrounding Islands[link]

There are many islands in Loch Roag. to the west, from north to south are Pabaigh Mòr, Vacsay (Bhacsaigh), Fuaigh Mòr (Vuia Mòr), and Fuaigh Beag (Vuia Beg). To the north, the island of Bearnaraigh Beag (Little Bernera), and a number of islets. To the east, there are not so many islands, but there is Eilean Chearstaidh (Eilean Kerstay) to the south east.

Flora and fauna[link]

Atlantic Seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Sea life is especially rich where there is tidal run between the Caolas Bhalasaigh (English: "Valasay Straits/Kyles") and the inner sea-loch of Tòb Bhalasaigh. There are numerous molluscs, sponges, brittlestars, and sea stars, the latter growing noticeably larger in size than normal. Cup Coral, Snakelocks Anemone and Dead Man's Fingers coral, may also be found here. Common fish include Shanny and Butterfish and Atlantic and Common Seals are regular off-shore visitors.^[9]

Great Bernera hosts numerous sea bird species, including gulls, waders and ducks such as Goldeneye. More unusually, a Jack Snipe was observed on the island in 2007.^[10]

Economy and infrastructure[link]

The community centre at Breacleit

Lobster ponds

Great Bernera's population is mainly dependent on lobster fishing, crofting and tourism. Fertile machair pasture permits sheep and cattle grazing.^[7] A processing plant was built at Kirkibost in 1972.^[2] There are still some weavers but this is no longer one of the main industries. Breacleit is home to a small museum, mini-mart & off licence, school, a post office, church, community centre with café, petrol station, fire station and doctor's surgery.

Communications were much improved during the 20th century. The first telephone was installed on Lewis in 1897 and outlying villages were slowly connected. Great Bernera was the last exchange to link to Lewis with a single wire circuit and an earth return.^[11] The bridge to the island from Lewis was built in 1953. It is said to be the first one of pre-stressed concrete in Europe. It was constructed after the islanders threatened to dynamite the hillside to create a causeway of their own making.^[2]

In 2003 the island residents were considering a feasibility study into bringing the island into community ownership, a process that has been successfully completed by the islanders of Gigha and Eigg. However, the laird is apparently popular locally and has said he is unwilling to sell.^[2][12]

Notable residents and visitors[link]

• The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling owns a converted blackhouse at Breaclete, and his mother's family were from the island^[13]

• Callum Macdonald, arguably the most important publisher of Scottish poetry of the 20th century, who was born on the island.^[14]

• Birthplace of Captain Murdo Stewart MacDonald (1852–1938) the last Sea Baron and Lloyd Surveyor of Shipping

References[link]

v t e Lewis and Harris / Leòdhas agus na Hearadh Outer Hebrides Scotland Inhabited islands Lewis/Leòdhas and Harris/Na Hearadh Great Bernera/Bearnaraigh Mòr Scalpay/Sgalpaigh Other islands Bayble Island Eilean Chaluim Chille Eilean Chearstaidh Eilean Liubhaird Eilean Mhealasta Ensay/Easaigh Fuaigh Beag Fuaigh Mòr Hermetray/Thearnatraigh Killegray/Ceileagraigh North Rona/Ronaigh a Tuath Pabbay of Harris/Pabaigh na Hearadh Pabaigh Mòr Scarp/An Sgairp Seaforth/Shìphiort Sgeotasaigh Soay Beag Soay Mòr Stockinish/Stocainis Sula Sgeir Taransay/Tarasaigh Vacsay/Bhacsaigh Settlements Stornoway/Steòrnabhagh Adabroc Aignish Aird An Rubha Ardroil Arnol Bail' Ùr Tholastaidh Baile an Truiseil Balallan/Baile Ailein Barvas/Barabhas Bayble/Pabail Borghastan Borsham Borgh na Hearadh Borgh na Leòdhas Bragar Branahuie Breacleit Breasclete/Brèascleit Breibhig Brenish/Bréanais Brue/Brù Cabharstadh Calbost Callanish/Calanais Carloway/Carlabhagh Coll Fivepenny/Còig Peighinnean Nis Flesherin/Fleisirin Garenin/Geàrrannan Garrabost Gravir/Grabhair Gress/Griais Habost/Tabost Holm Huisinis Leurbost/Liurbost Leverburgh/An t-Ob Lionel Lingerbay Marybank/Bruach Màiri Melbost Newvalley/An Gleann Ùr Ohagro Parkend Portnaguran/Port nan Giuran Portvoller/Port Mholair Rèinigeadal Rodel/Roghadal Shawbost/Siabost Skigersta/Sgiogarstaigh Shulishader/Sulaisiadar Tarbert/Tairbeart Timsgarry/Timsgearraidh Tong/Tunga Districts Back/Bac Ness/Nis North Lochs/Na Lochan a Tuath Park/Pairc Point/Eye Peninsula/An Rubha Uig West Side/Taobh Siar Geographical features Butt of Lewis/Rubha Robhanais Clisham/Cliseam The Minch/An Cuan Sgìth Eilean Glas Historical sites Callanish Stones Clach an Truiseil and Steinacleit Dun Carloway/Dùn Chàrlabhaigh Dùn Èistean Lews Castle St Clement's Church/Tur Chliamainn Teampull Mholuaidh

v t e Inhabited islands of the Hebrides Inner Hebrides Canna Coll Colonsay Danna Eigg Eilean Bàn Eilean Donan Eilean Shona Erraid Gigha Gometra Iona Islay Isle of Ewe Jura Kerrera Lismore Lunga Muck Mull Oronsay Raasay Sanday Scalpay Rona Rùm Skye Slate Islands Soay Summer Isles Tiree Ulva Outer Hebrides Baleshare Barra Benbecula Berneray Eriskay Flodaigh Fraoch-eilean Great Bernera Grimsay (North) Grimsay (South) Lewis and Harris North Uist Scalpay South Uist Vatersay

v t e Islands of Scotland Northern Isles Shetland List of Shetland islands Orkney List of Orkney islands Hebrides Outer Hebrides List of Outer Hebrides Inner Hebrides List of Inner Hebrides St Kilda Other Islands of the Clyde Islands of the Forth Outlying Islands Freshwater Islands

Coordinates: 58°13′48″N 6°51′0″W / 58.23°N 6.85°W / 58.23; -6.85

Lewis Harris, also known as Louis Harris, was an English rugby league player.^[1]

Harris played for Hull Kingston Rovers when they won the Challenge Cup in 1925,^[1] and were Northern Rugby Football Union champions in 1921 and 1923.^[1]

Harris was Jewish.^[2] The Jews were the first significant minority group to play rugby in Britain.^[2]

See also[link]

• List of select Jewish rugby league players

References[link]

• Encyclopedia Judaica, Second Edition, volume 19, p. 146

1. ^ ^{a b c} Encyclopedia Judaica
2. ^ ^{a b} Rugby league in twentieth century .... http://books.google.com/books?id=J6nXcpxXzWsC&pg=PA156&dq=%22Louis+Harris%22+jewish+rugby&hl=en&ei=Llx-TZyXDJS8sAPh5fT4Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Louis%20Harris%22%20jewish%20rugby&f=false. Retrieved 2011-03-14.