Skye will remain Skye, Council assures the public

Statement issued by The Highland Council - 30 April 2007

The Highland Council has assured the public that Skye will continue to be known as, and referred to, as Skye in Council business, literature and road signage and has dismissed suggestions that the island will have a new Gaelic name from Thursday, when Council elections are held.

The Council has moved to clarify the matter after its Service Centre received a number of telephone calls today (Monday) regarding media coverage of the naming of the new Electoral Division No 11 (Skye and Raasay) on The Highland Council as  Eilean a' Cheò (Misty Isle).

Eilean a' Cheò is one of 22 multi-member wards, which have been created as the result of the move to voting in The Highland Council election on Thursday by Proportional Representation, using the single transferable vote.  It covers the islands of Skye and Raasay and has a population of 9,600 and will be represented by four councillors.

Eilean a' Cheò is simply the name of the electoral division. Many places in the Highlands are known by their English and Gaelic names, such as Portree (Port Righ).

Eilean a' Cheò was  recommended by Skye and Lochalsh councillors as the name for the new electoral division and approved by the full council in September 2005 to reflect the importance of Gaelic on  Skye.  The Council has also identified names for another 21 multi-member wards, which range from North West and Central Sutherland and Landward Caithness to Fort William and Ardnamurchan and Aird and Loch Ness.

There is no intention to change road signage or literature. The island will continue to be referred to as Skye.  Skye will remain on the tourist map and we don’t envisage any problems for tourists who want to come to the area to sample its scenery, culture and heritage and perhaps find out more about Gaelic.