The Eilean Mor Disappearance
The same mystery as Flannan Isles—three keepers gone. But local legend speaks of the 'Little Men' who inhabit the island and resent human presence.
Eilean Mor (“Big Isle” in Gaelic) is the largest of the Flannan Isles and the site of the famous lighthouse keeper disappearance. But beyond the historical mystery, the island carries older, stranger legends.
The Seven Hunters
The Flannan Isles are also called Na h-Eileanan Flannach or “The Seven Hunters.” Local Hebridean tradition held that the islands were home to supernatural beings and dangerous to visit. They were subject to strict taboos and known as a place where men could vanish.
Fishermen had specific rituals before landing. They would remove hats upon landing, never kill birds on the islands, and never use certain words (including “island” itself).
The “Little Men”
Hebridean folklore spoke of the “Little Men” or “Other Crowd” who inhabited remote islands. They resented human intrusion and could cause misfortune or death. They were appeased through proper behavior, and violation of taboos brought punishment.
Some locals believed the lighthouse keepers had violated sacred ground and paid the price.
The Chapel
Eilean Mor contains the ruins of a small chapel dedicated to Saint Flannan, dating to the 7th century. The island was a pilgrimage site, and the chapel ruins add to its mystical atmosphere.
Before the lighthouse was built, shepherds grazed sheep but never stayed overnight. The island was considered haunted, and strange lights were reportedly seen.
Modern Visitors
Those who visit Eilean Mor today report an overwhelming sense of isolation. There’s unusual quiet—few birds despite being a seabird colony—and a feeling of being watched. The ruins feel “wrong.”
Whether these are psychological responses to the tragedy or something more, the island maintains its reputation.
The Ongoing Mystery
The three keepers’ fate remains unknown, but the location’s pre-existing supernatural reputation adds layers to the story. Did something ancient on Eilean Mor claim them? Or did the sea simply take three men as it has taken so many?
Sources
The lighthouse still stands on Eilean Mor, automated now, warning ships away from the rocks. But the island’s deeper mysteries remain, older than any lighthouse, older than the keepers who vanished, as old as the Hebridean fear of the Little Men who dwell in lonely places.