--
History --
Muck
has been inhabited since at least the Bronze age as indicated
by the presence of many typical Bronze age burial cairns. The
first accounts of Muck go back until the 16th century. One of
the most infamous incidents in the islands history occured in
1588 when a Spanish galleon was wrecked in Tobermory bay. Sir
Lachlan MacLean of Mull employed the surviving Spanish sailors
as mercenaries and let them loose on several islands belonging
to the MacDonalds. One of these islands was Muck and as a result
it was left plundered and in a desolate state.
Gradually
the island recovered and by the 18th century Muck was once again
reasonably prosperous thanks to a considerate laird and the production
of Kelp (which was used to make Potash). However, things turned
sour once again as a collapse in the Kelp market saw 150 islanders
leave for Novia Scotia. In 1854 Muck was purchased by Captain
Thomas Swinburn who started a fishing industry but also rented
the land for sheep farming. This led to further depopulation and
only today is the island recovering thanks to the work of the
current laird, Lawrence MacEwan.
The
island once had a population of nearly 300 but now there are around
30 souls on Muck. The laird advertises at intervals for young
families to settle on the island as it's essential to maintain
a viable primary school.
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