Island in the Inner Hebrides; area 850 hectares/2,100 acres. A centre of early Christianity, it is the site of a monastery founded in 563 by St Columba. It later became a burial ground for Irish, Scottish, and Norwegian kings. It has a 13th-century abbey.
Blue represents the sky and the sea. Yellow symbolizes the sun which gives light and life. Red reflects the people and their determination to work in the future in unity and love. White stands for justice and harmony. Green recalls the land and nature. Effective date: 8 January 1996.