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The Isle of Gigha (; (スコットランド・ゲール語:'Giogha')) is a small island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. The island forms part of Argyll and Bute and has a usually resident population of about 160 people. The climate is mild with higher than average sunshine hours and the soils are fertile. Gigha has a long history, having been inhabited continuously since prehistoric times. It may have had an important role during the Kingdom of Dalriada and is the ancestral home of Clan MacNeill. It fell under the control of the Norse and the Lords of the Isles before becoming incorporated into modern Scotland and saw a variety of conflicts during the medieval period. The population of Gigha peaked at over 700 in the eighteenth century, but during the 20th century the island had numerous owners, which caused various problems in developing the island. By the beginning of the 21st century resident numbers had fallen to only 98. However a "community buy-out" in 2002 has transformed the island, which now has a growing population and a variety of new commercial activities to complement farming and tourism. Attractions on the island include Achamore Gardens and the abundant wildlife, especially seabirds. There have been numerous shipwrecks on the surrounding rocks and skerries. == Etymology == The Hebrides have been occupied by the speakers of at least four languages since the Iron Age, and many of the names of these islands have more than one possible meaning as a result. Many modern authorities hold that the name "Gigha" is probably derived either from the Norse ''Guðey'' or from ''Gud-øy'', meaning either "good island" or "God island".〔〔〔Murray (1977) pp. 115–16.〕〔Czerkawaska (2006) pp. 35–36.〕 The Norse historical text ''Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar'' explicitly calls the island ''Guðey''.〔 Despite this, Keay and Keay (1994) and Haswell-Smith (2004) suggest the Gaelic name is derived instead from ''Gjáey'', meaning "island of the geo" or "cleft".〔〔Keay & Keay (1994) p. 423.〕 However, Norse ''gjá'' normally shows up in Gaelic in the form of ''geodha''. Czerkawaska (2006) also notes that the isle is called "Gug" in a charter of 1309 and also appears as "Gega" on some old maps and speculates that a possible pre-Norse derivation is from the Gaelic ''Sheela na Gig'', a female fertility symbol.〔Czerkawaska (2006) pp. 35–37. This author accepts that the possibility of a connection with ''Sheela na Gig'' is "a remote and contentious one!" and also suggests "island of the good harbour" rather than simply "good island".〕 Haswell-Smith (2004) also offers the possibility of ''Gydha's isle'' after the Norse female name.〔 A Gigha resident is a ''Gioghach'', also nicknamed a ''gamhainn'' ("stirk").〔 Although the most widespread pronunciation of the Gaelic name ''Giogha'' is (:kʲi.ə), the Southern dialects preserve the fricative: (:kʲiɣa) in Kintyre〔Holmer, N. ''The Gaelic of Kintyre'' Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin 1962, p.7〕 and (:kʲɯɣɑ) in Argyllshire.〔Holmer, N. ''Studies on Argyllshire Gaelic'' K. Humnistiska Vetenskaps, Uppsala 1938, p.175〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Gigha」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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