Ailsa Craig

Ailsa Craig

Gaelic name	Creag Ealasaid
Meaning of name	Elizabeth's rock or Fairy rock
Location
Ailsa Craig Ailsa Craig shown within South Ayrshire
OS grid reference	NX019997
Coordinates	55°15′N 5°07′W / 55.25°N 5.11°W / 55.25; -5.11
Physical geography
Island group	Firth of Clyde
Area	99 hectares (240 acres)
Area rank	150=
Highest elevation	338 m (1,109 ft) (a Marilyn)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	South Ayrshire
Demographics
Population	0
References

Ailsa Craig (/ˈeɪlsə/; Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) is an island of 99 hectares (240 acres) in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from mainland Scotland, upon which blue hone granite was quarried to make curling stones. The now uninhabited island is formed from the volcanic plug of an extinct volcano.

The island, colloquially known as "Paddy's milestone", was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, but is today a bird sanctuary, providing a home for huge numbers of gannets and an increasing number of puffins.

The island is owned by David, Marquess of Ailsa, but since May 2011 has been up for sale. By March 2013 the asking price was for offers over £1,500,000, down from the original asking price of £2,500,000.

An early reference to the rock is made by Sir Donald Monro, Archdeacon of the Isles who referred to the rock as "Elsay" in the 16th century. The modern name of the island is an anglicisation of the Gaelic, Aillse Creag meaning "fairy rock". An alternative Gaelic name is Creag Ealasaid meaning "Elizabeth's rock". The first element, Aillse may represent Allt Shasann, "cliff of the English", mentioned in the Book of Leinster as Aldasain.

The island is sometimes known as "Paddy's Milestone", being approximately the halfway point of the sea journey from Belfast to Glasgow, a traditional route of emigration for many Irish labourers going to Scotland to seek work.