Tobermory (Scottish Gaelic: Tobar Mhoire) is the capital of and the only burgh on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. It is located in the northeastern part of that island, near the northern entrance of the Sound of Mull. Its population is approximately 700 people. The town was founded as a fishing port in 1788 on a layout designed by Dumfriesshire engineer Thomas Telford. A treasure ship of the Spanish Armada, the Galeon de Florencia, is said to have sunk in what is now the town's harbour in 1588, and the legend further states that this was due to the witch known as Dòideag. The composer Felix Mendelssohn visited in 1829 and is commemorated in an annual festival. The town also has an annual folk music festival. Many buildings in Tobermory, mostly shops and restaurants, are painted in assorted bright colours, making it a popular location for television programmes, including the children's show Balamory. Notable buildings in the town include Tobermory Clock Tower, while the burgh also boasts a museum, the Tobermory Scotch whisky distillery, the Isle of Mull Brewery, and An Tobar[1], an arts centre. Tobermory's many famous sons and daughters include Duncan MacGilp and Janet MacDonald, both past Gold Medal winners at Scotland's Royal National Mod. During World War II, Tobermory was the home of HMS Western Isles which was a training base of the Royal Navy. Richard Baker studied there and has written a biography of the Commodore Vice Admiral Sir Gilbert Stephenson. The children's TV series Balamory was mostly filmed there and the fictional town of Torbay in Alistair MacLean's novel When Eight Bells Toll was based on the town. One of the Wombles was also named Tobermory after the town and the writer Saki gave the name to a talking cat in one of his most most famous short stories.
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Etymology
The name Tobermory is derived from the Gaelic Tobar Mhoire, meaning "Mary's well".[1][2] The name refers to a well located nearby which was dedicated in ancient times to the Virgin Mary.[3]
Transport
Ferries sail between Tobermory and the mainland to Kilchoan on the peninsula of Ardnamurchan. In addition a new seaplane service, operated by Loch Lomond Seaplanes is due to start from Tobermory to Glasgow city centre's Seaplane Terminal in 2008.
Bibliography
- The Terror of Tobermory (Birlinn, Edinburgh ISBN 1-84341-023-0) Richard Baker) Biography of Vice Admiral Sir Gilbert Stephenson KBE CB CMG and history of HMS Western Isles
External links
Notes
- ^ Guide to Gaelic origins of place names in Britain (PDF format). Ordnance Survey (Nov 2005). Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
- ^ A Guide to the Meaning of Gaelic Distillery Names (2003). Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
- ^ Samuel Lewis (1846), Topographical Dictionary of Scotland: Tain - Tobermory pp. 526-46. From the Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 1 September 2006.
