Little is known
of the mysterious British or Pictish 'Horse' tribe the Epidii, who
probably inhabited Islay, Jura and Kintyre (as close as the Romans got) before
the arrival of the Scots from Ireland in 200 AD. The Vikings who came and went,
leaving their imprint particularly in the name places of many farms and hamlets
in use today. For a couple of centuries the Western seaboard of the UK, from
the Isle of Man in the south (including Northern Ireland) to Shetland in the
North, was run peacefully from Islay by the Lord of the Isles - a title that
Prince Charles still holds; a halcyon period of stability and richness. Feuding
and rivalries resulted in the collapse of the Lordship and ushered in a long
period of uncertainty, inter clan battles, betrayals, disunity and hopeless
wars that lasted for three hundred years - the effects are still evident today.
I am indebted to Carl Reavey for images and text and Dr Aaron Watson of Reading University for
his drawings.
Natural Born Distillers Sophisticated Independent Spirit Privately Owned
Scottish Company Natural Whisky Islay Bottled
Islay Spring Water For Savouring
History