Mallachdaig and Naomhag

Many people know about St Columba’s arrival on the island of Iona in year 563 to spread the Gospel in the West of Scotland.

Some might know that he arrived in a coracle with twelve companions, but not many may know he also travelled to Tiree. According to the Tiree tradition, it was in Gott bay, towards the south east end of the island where the ferry terminal is situated today that St Columba first landed.

The story was he tied his ship to the seaweed growing on a small rock there, but the seaweed anchor was too weak for Tiree's fierce winds and lapping waves. Finding his boat adrift, St Columba cursed the rock, promising that no seaweed would ever grow on it and sailed further round the bay to Ruaig, where at last he was able to safely secure his ship on a larger rock. Both rocks can be seen on Gott bay and Ruaig and they are common land marks for locals. The bare Gott bay rock – only seen a low tide - is known as Mallachdaig (Little cursed one) and the Ruaig rock is known as the Naomhag (Little Holy one).

More information on visiting the area can be found here.