Gometra

Gometra

Gaelic name	Gòmastra
Norse name	Goðrmaðrey
Meaning of name	Possibly Good-man's island
Location
Gometra Gometra shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference	NM361414
Coordinates	56°29′N 6°17′W / 56.49°N 6.29°W / 56.49; -6.29
Physical geography
Island group	Mull
Area	425 hectares (1.6 sq mi)
Area rank	75
Highest elevation	155 metres (509 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Demographics
Population	2
Population rank	86=
Population density	0.5 people/km2

Gometra (Scottish Gaelic: Gòmastra [ˈkoːməs̪t̪ɾə]) is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, lying west of Mull. It lies immediately west of Ulva, to which it is linked by a bridge, and at low tide also by a beach. It is approximately 425 hectares (1.64 sq mi) in size. The name is also applied to the island summit, which is a Marilyn.

According to Gillies (1906) Gometra is from the Norse gottr + madr + ey and means "The good-man's island" or "God-man's island". Mac an Tàilleir (2003) offers "Godmund's island". The Norse Goðrmaðray may also mean "warrior priest's island". The Gaelic Gu mòr traigh meaning "only at low tide" has been proposed as the meaning of the name, but may be an example of folk etymology. Mediaeval charters render the name "Gomedrach".

The island is agricultural, formerly growing grain for the monastery on Iona. Once home to a population of over a hundred, it is now down to a tight-knit community of a handful of people, up to a thousand black face sheep, highland cattle, pigs, horses, a flock of feral goats, and red deer. Historical sites on the island include an old burial ground, the remains of two duns and old settlements. It has no school, doctor, or ferry. It has a weekly postal service and issues its own local carriage stamps.