Talk:Lismore, Scotland/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Casliber (talk · contribs) 13:56, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

I'll go through and make straightforward changes (please revert if I inadvertently change the meaning) and jot queries below. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 13:56, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

• The climate is damp and mild, with over 166 centimetres (65 in) of rain recorded annually and the economy is largely based on farming fishing and tourism. -needs to be a comma between farming and fishing, and the two items joined by an "and" are a bit unrelated. I didn't rejig it as the lead should have the island's size and largest town in it somewhere and so have left for you to juggle.

Done save that there is no 'town'. Achnacroish has a population of (estimating from the map) between 20 and 30 and don't know of any stats produced for settlements of this size. It is in the infobox but I have added it here too.

• This fertile, low-lying island, was once a major centre of Celtic Christianity, - no comma after island.

Done.

• Local tradition records various stories about island life in earlier times. - bit vague and probably true of many places - I'd ditch it from the lead.

Done.

• During the early part of this period the population exceeded 1,000 followed by a lengthy decline and although it now numbers less than 200 there was an increase in residents from 2001 to 2011. - sentence is a bit of a mess - I was going to rejig it but had no idea over what period the decline came over. Also needs a comma after 200.

Done.

• Etymology section is brief - can anything be added about when the current name was used and spelling variants etc.

I was surprised at how little was available from the obvious sources. I will look into this further.

Done.

• Any material on individual small islands surrounding to make this bit less listy would be helpful.

I could move a few to etymology, so killing two euns with one clach.

Sounds good. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 08:53, 2 October 2013 (UTC)

Attempted.

• The bit on ferries should be in transport maybe?

Moved to present day. There is no air service or public transport so I don't think it needs its own section. Added a sentence about the road.

A single road? See that stuff is fascinating - for us aussies, alot of these names have great significance - my grandmother was born in Lismore, New South Wales and I spent some time there as a medical student (nice town BTW), so one thinks these places must be substantial. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 08:53, 2 October 2013 (UTC)

They were once more substantial than they are now, population-wise at least. If you Google- earth it you will see that much of the road is also single-track. (I see we don't know if the NSW version is named after the Scottish or the Irish variety - makes you wonder how we know anything at all from 1,000 years ago).

• The island's dimensions and highest elevation should be in this section.

Done.

• Any conservation areas on the island?

The text does mention the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area. I don't think there are any of note but I will look into this.

Added 2 SAC mentions and an SSSI.

• There is, however, no reason to suppose that this was a daughter house of Columba's abbey on Iona itself. - I am not sure how this relates one way pr teh other to the preceding sentence.

The assumption that readers might leap to is that somehow Lismore's monastery was created by or subservient to the more famous house on Iona, so this is an attempt to clarify that there is no evidence for this (even although the records we have today are provided via the Iona Chronicle).

Ok Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 08:54, 2 October 2013 (UTC)

• Lismore is the home of the Clan MacLea. - I'd expand this paragraph a little if possible - how much sway do they have over the island? etc.

I'll look into this - they are a rather obscure bunch and their present day influence is next to nothing.

As you can see this "clan" was officially recognised in those far distant times, 2002. The existence of an ancient clan of this name is not in doubt. Its relationship with the island post 18th century would seem to be tenuous and most if not all of its 'history' on the clan website somewhat dubious. You will note they are keen to stress the relationship with the Livingstone family, presumably on the grounds that there are numerous famous Livingstones, but narry a one called MacLea that I can see. I had a quick foray in that direction and cleaned up some on-wiki bits but attempting to get involved in clan history is a not a great way to maintain sanity.

• The Present day section needs info on how many towns and villages there are on teh island. Also politically where does it belong and how does it vote?

Per the above, there are no towns or villages. The only recognisable settlements are Achnacroish, Port Ramsay (winter population I suspect about 2) and Clachan, which is a crossroads with a church and a farm or two. I'll add the constituency stuff asap but there are not going to be any numbers on how such a small population votes - only who represents them.

Constituency stuff done. Ben MacDui 08:46, 2 October 2013 (UTC)

This sort of info on the size of the villages is fantastic and would be great if we could get sourcing as it really helps give a firm picture to the reader on that is there (surely we must be able to source this somewhere/somehow??). Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 08:56, 2 October 2013 (UTC)

Will have a look but these are tiny places and mentions may not reach the RS threshold.

Tried the Gazeteer, Scotland's Places, Rough Guide, Haswell-Smith and Virtual Hebrides, with no luck. Scottish anchorages was a bit scathing about Achnacroish, which clearly doesn't measure up to the yachtie's standards. I was in a nearby village a while ago - there were over a hundred residents in summer, but only two old folk in winter. Ben MacDui 19:52, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

Sigh - you tried - I understand....Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 23:20, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

Will look at prose more after more info added. Interesting read, cheers. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 14:26, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

Many thanks for the review. I will complete the remainder asap. Ben MacDui 08:49, 1 October 2013 (UTC)

MORE - any info on the size of the lochs on Lismore...or are they wee puddles? Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 08:54, 2 October 2013 (UTC)

They are bigger than puddles, but unless SNH have something I might be struggling.

Found an approx measure. Will look for more. Ben MacDui 19:16, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

Good stuff. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 23:20, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

1. Well written?:

Prose quality:

Manual of Style compliance:

2. Factually accurate and verifiable?:

References to sources:

Citations to reliable sources, where required:

No original research:

3. Broad in coverage?:

Major aspects:

Focused:

4. Reflects a neutral point of view?:

Fair representation without bias:

5. Reasonably stable?

No edit wars, etc. (Vandalism does not count against GA):

6. Illustrated by images, when possible and appropriate?:

Images are copyright tagged, and non-free images have fair use rationales:

Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:

Overall:

Pass or Fail: - Good work chiselling out some more info..reckon we're over the GA line here..Cheers, Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 23:25, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

Many thanks - and you have inspired me to further efforts. To my surprise the lochs are mentioned in Ye Olde Bathymetrical Survey, which contains enough info for a whole new section. I also need to check an issue about Gaelic spelling of one of the islets. Ben MacDui 08:18, 4 October 2013 (UTC)