Thathas den bheachd gun deach Eilean Iarmain ainmeachadh an-toiseach mar “Eilean Dhiarmaid” (Diarmid’s Isle), às dèidh a’ ghaisgich mhòir Oisianach. Tha an t-eilean a-nis ceangailte ri Slèite, an ceann-tìre as fhaide deas den Eilean Sgitheanach, agus tha e ainmeil ann am bàrdachd agus uirsgeulan. B’ e Eilean Iarmain prìomh phort ceann a deas an Eilein Sgitheanaich agus an geata gu na h-Eileanan an Iar. Bha an cidhe eachdraidheil, a chaidh a thogail mu 1800, air leth trang agus bhiodh a h-uile duine a bha a’ siubhal a’ tighinn ‘s a’ falbh air bàta. Bhiodh sia bàtaichean-aiseig a’ nochdadh ann gach latha à Glaschu, Caol Loch Aillse, na h-Eileanan an Iar is eile. Cha robh cidhe aiseig ann an Armadal no Malaig gu toiseach na 1900an. Dh’ ainmich a’ bhana-bhàrd Màiri Nic a’ Phearsain, neo Màiri Mhòr nan Òran, Eilean Iarmain ann an òran a sgrìobh i, is i a’ tilleadh dhachaigh aon turas dhan Eilean agus am bàta-smùid a’ tighinn faisg air a’ chidhe:
“Nuair nochd mi ri Eilean Dhiarmaid dh’fhalbh na strìochan às mo mhala.”

Eilean Iarmain is thought to have originally been known as “Eilean Dhiarmaid” (Diarmid’s Isle), named after the great Ossianic hero. The isle is now joined to Sleat, the southernmost peninsula of the mainland of Skye, and is renowned in the poetry and legend of old. Eilean Iarmain was the main port of the South of Skye and the gateway to the Western Isles. The historic drystone pier, built c. 1800, was a busy hub of activity and all those travelling would arrive and depart by sea. Six scheduled ferry boats used to call daily from Glasgow, Kyle, the Western Isles and elsewhere. There was no ferry pier at either Armadale or Mallaig until the beginning of the 1900s. On one of her visits back to her native Skye, the Gaelic bardess Mary Macpherson, or Màiri Mhòr nan Òran, fondly remarked as the steamer arrived at the old pier:
“When I reached Eilean Iarmain the furrows left my brow.”