The early medieval period brought significant changes to the cultural and political landscape of Tiree and the Hebrides as a whole.

Gaelic Settlement and Christianization

By the early centuries CE, Gaelic-speaking peoples from Ireland began to settle the western Scottish isles, including Tiree. The island became part of the kingdom of Dál Riata, a Gaelic polity that spanned parts of western Scotland and northeastern Ireland.

Christianity arrived on Tiree around the 6th century, brought by missionaries and monks from Ireland. Tiree was reputedly a site of early Christian monasticism. St. Columba, one of the most important figures in early Scottish Christianity, is said to have had links to the Hebrides, and several monastic sites on Tiree may date back to this era.

Viking Raids and Norse Rule

From the late 8th century onwards, the Hebrides, including Tiree, experienced Viking incursions. Norse settlers eventually established control over many of the islands, integrating them into the Kingdom of the Isles, a Norse-Gaelic polity.

Under Norse rule, the islanders adapted to a fusion of cultures. Place names on Tiree still reflect this Norse heritage. The island’s strategic position along Atlantic sea routes made it valuable for the Vikings as a base for raids and trade.

The Norse presence endured for several centuries until the Kingdom of the Isles was gradually absorbed into the Scottish realm in the 13th century. shutdown123