Bowmore

Bowmore
Scottish Gaelic: Bogh Mòr [1]
Bowmore main street
Bowmore  Bowmore shown within Argyll and Bute
Population	862 [2] (2001 census) est. 860[3] (2006)
OS grid reference	NR310598
Civil parish	Killarow and Kilmeny
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ISLE OF ISLAY
Postcode district	PA43
Dialling code	01496
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 55°45′25″N 6°17′13″W / 55.757°N 6.287°W

Bowmore (Scottish Gaelic: Bogh Mòr, 'great sea reef') is a village on the Scottish island of Islay and serves as administrative capital of the island. It gives its name to the noted Bowmore distillery producing Bowmore Single Malt, a single malt scotch whisky.

History

Bowmore Round Church

Bowmore is a planned village with wide streets on a grid-iron pattern. Daniel Campbell the Younger initiated the construction of the village in 1770, just after the completion of the Kilarrow Parish Church, which was built in a circular shape to prevent the devil from hiding in a corner.

The Bowmore distillery came in operation at some time before 1816 and is situated on the shores of Loch Indaal and next to an old warehouse which is converted to a swimming pool, known locally as the MacTaggart Centre. The waste heat from the distillery is partially used to heat the water of the swimming pool.

Bowmore in WWII

There was a RAF seaplane base at Bowmore during WWII. Short Sunderland and PBY Catalina flying boats operated from Loch Indaal. Some of the wartime film Coastal Command was filmed in Bowmore and it features a shot of a Sunderland flying low over the main street of Bowmore and over Kilarrow Parish Church.

Facilities

Bowmore has several hotels, restaurants, shops, a hospital, a high school and is home to the Ìleach newspaper, community newspaper of the year 2006. Bowmore is also host to Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle (the Columba Centre), a cultural centre and college founded with the aim of promoting Gaelic language and heritage on the Island.

Noted residents

The Rev Donald Caskie, noted as the "Tartan Pimpernel" for his wartime exploits in France, is one of Bowmore's most noted sons. He was responsible for the safe passage of numerous exiles through the Scots Kirk in Paris during WWII, risking both life and limb. In more recent times, Glenn Campbell can be seen regularly on BBC Scotland as their political correspondent.

Gallery

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  Distillery of Bowmore

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  Round Church of Bowmore

References

1. "Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland database". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
2. "Comparative Population Profile: Bowmore Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
3. "Table 1: Mid-2006 Population Estimates – Settlements in alphabetical order". General Register Office for Scotland. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.

External links

• Homepage Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile (the Columba Centre)
• Ileach Community Newspaper
• Bowmore Round Church website
• Bowmore Single Malt Whisky Website