Abstract

Rathlin Island lies between the coasts of Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland and Kintyre, western Scotland, at the northern entrance to the Irish Sea. Its geographical location has resulted in it being the most Scottish of Irish islands, through socio-political, linguistic and material influences. This chapter introduces recent archaeological survey work on Rathlin, with a particular focus on the maritime landscape. It explores aspects of cultural interaction with Scotland and Ireland from the early medieval period to the 19th century, including the kelp industry and smuggling.