Eagleshay or Egilshay, a low-lying island of Rousay parish, Orkney, separated from the E side of Rousay island by Howa Sound, and lying 11 miles N of Kirkwall. It measures 3 miles in length from N to S, by 1½ mile in breadth, and includes a small bay of shell sand, a large tract of benty sand, burrowed by hundreds of rabbits, and a small fresh-water lake. The rocks belong to the Lower Old Red sandstone, and the soil is good, but poorly cultivated. Dr Baikie of Tankerness is the proprietor. Eagleshay is notable as the place where St Magnus was murdered by his cousin Hakon about the year 1110; and at its western extremity, on the scene, it is said, of his murder, are the remains of a small ancient church of St Magnus, with a round tower at its W end, and a vaulted choir at the E. There is a public school under Rousay school-board. Pop. (1831) 228, (1851) 192, (1861) 205, (1871) 163, (1881) 158.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)