Helensburgh man campaigns for island to be world heritage site

Sep 26 2008 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A HELENSBURGH man is campaigning for World Heritage status for a tiny island with a little-known link to Scotland’s religious past.

John Black describes Eileach an Naoimh, the most westerly of the group of islands known as the Garvellachs, as “Scotland’s best kept secret”.

The island is said to be the burial place of Eithne, the mother of St Columba who introduced Christianity to Scotland.

Columba himself may have spent time in retreat on the uninhabited island, which forms part of the Inner Hebrides.

Mr Black, founder of the Scottish Jacobite Party, is now calling on Historic Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council, which have responsibility for the island, to push for UNESCO status similar to that just awarded to the Antonine Wall, part of which passes through Old Kilpatrick.

He said: “It is a magical place, probably the most spiritual place in Scotland, with numerous remnants remaining in a marvellous state of preservation.

“This is no doubt due to the inaccessible nature of the island and the fact that its historic significance has been lost for great tracts of time, including the present day.

“It is of much greater significance to Scotland than the Antonine Wall which has just won World Heritage status.”