The Clan MacNeil of Barra is one of the oldest Scottish clans: it claims descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages in Ireland in 379 AD and King Lóegaire mac Néill in Ireland in 428 AD. The seat of the clan is Kisimul Castle. Although the castle was at one time sold to raise money to pay off debts, and allowed to fall into disrepair, it was later re-purchased by the American-born Robert Lister MacNeil in 1937 and restored. Historic Scotland now leases the castle for one pound and one bottle of whiskey per year for a lease term of 1000 years, from their leasor, Ian Roderick MacNeill, currently the 46th Chief of Clan Neil. Image File history File links MacNeillOfColonsayCrest. ... Image File history File links MacNeillOfColonsayCrest. ... Castlebay, Barra Traigh Eaig beach This article is about the island of Barra in Scotland. ... Clan map of Scotland Scottish clans give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relatives throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat... Niall of the Nine Hostages (Irish: Niall Noigíallach) was a High King of Ireland who was active in the early-to-mid 5th century, dying - according to the latest estimates - around 450-455. ... January 19 - Theodosius I is elevated as Roman Emperor at Sirmium. ... Lóegaire (Loeguire, Láegaire, Laoghaire, sometimes anglicised as Leary), son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. ... Kisimul (also Kiessimul or Chisimul) Castle is a small medieval castle located in the centre of Castlebay on Barra, an island of the Outer Hebrides. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Historic Scotland is the Scottish agency looking after historic monuments. ...

Account of the MacNeill Clan

The MacNeil name comes up subtly and sometimes inconspicuously through Scottish history. From meeting quietly with the Norwegian King Haakon Haakonson on the island of Gigha just before the Battle of Largs, to being included in the Hy Niall dynasty from Ireland, this Viking/Gaelic Norse-Gaels hybrid of peoples have managed clan survival for almost 1700 years. Håkon IV (1204—December 15, 1263), also called Haakon the Old, was declared to be the son of Håkon III of Norway, the leader of the Birkebeiner, who had seized control over large parts of Norway in 1202. ... Gigha (pronounced geea, or gi-haris) a small island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. ... The Battle of Largs took place in Largs, North Ayrshire in 1263 between Scotland and the forces of King Magnus III of Man and the Isles as well as the manxmens ally, King Haakon IV of Norway. ... The Norse-Gaels were a people who dominated much of the Irish Sea region and western Scotland for a large part of the Middle Ages, whose aristocracy were mainly of Scandinavian origin, but as a whole exhibited a great deal of Gaelic and Norse cultural syncretism. ...

Norse Gaels

Kisimul Castle.

The Norse-Gaels were a people who dominated much of the Irish Sea region and western Scotland for a large part of the Middle Ages, whose aristocracy were mainly of Scandinavian origin, but as a whole exhibited a great deal of Gaelic and Norse cultural syncretism. They are generally known by the Gaelic name which they themselves used, of which "Norse-Gaels" is a translation. This term is subject to are large range of variations depending on chronological and geographical differences in the Gaelic language, i.e. Gall Gaidel, Gall Gaidhel, Gall Gaidheal, Gall Gaedil, Gall Gaedhil, Gall Gaedhel, Gall Goidel, etc, etc. The nativised presence of Norsemen in Ireland also lent at least one self-reference, that of Ostmen. Other modern translations used include Scoto-Norse, Hiberno-Norse and Foreign Gaels. Image File history File links Kisimul_Castle. ... Image File history File links Kisimul_Castle. ... The Norse-Gaels were a people who dominated much of the Irish Sea region and western Scotland for a large part of the Middle Ages, whose aristocracy were mainly of Scandinavian origin, but as a whole exhibited a great deal of Gaelic and Norse cultural syncretism. ... Gael (Ancient people) : A Gael is a member of a distinct culture existing in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man whose language is one that is Gaelic. ... Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language. ... Goidelic is one of two major divisions of modern-day Celtic languages (the other being Brythonic). ... The Hiberno-Norse were a mix of Irish and Norwegians who inhabited certain settlements in Ireland in the 900s. ...

Kismul Castle from mainland.

The Norse-Gaels originated in Viking colonists of Ireland, the Outer Hebrides and Scotland who became subject to the process of Gaelicization, whereby starting as early as the ninth century, they adopted the Gaelic language, and many other Gaelic customs, such as dress. The terminology was used both by native Irish and native Scots who wished to alienate these Hiberno-Norse, and by they themselves who wished to stress their Scandinavian heritage and their links with Norway and other parts of the Scandinavian world. Gaelicized Scandinavians dominated the Irish Sea region until the Norman era of the twelfth century, founding long-lasting kingdoms, such as the Kingdom of Man, Argyll, Dublin, York and Galloway. The Lords of the Isles, a Lordship which lasted until the sixteenth century, as well as many other Gaelic rulers of Scotland and Ireland, traced their descent from Norse-Gaels. Norse-Gaels are recorded as the allies of Harold Godwinson's sons in their battles against the Normans, which occurred circa 1069-1070. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1787x1195, 546 KB) Kisimul Castle, Barra, Scotland Taken by Jot Powers, 7/1997 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Kisimul Castle Clan MacNeil ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1787x1195, 546 KB) Kisimul Castle, Barra, Scotland Taken by Jot Powers, 7/1997 File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Kisimul Castle Clan MacNeil ... The Hiberno-Norse were a mix of Irish and Norwegians who inhabited certain settlements in Ireland in the 900s. ... Lord of the Isles, now a Scottish title of nobility, originally referred to a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of galleys. ...

MacNeil History

The Clan MacNeill were among the tribes of the Lords of the Isles, and its heads appear to have been of Norse or Danish origin. Mr. Thomas Smibert, Esq., in his authored works, The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland, being an Account of their Annals, Separately & Collectively, with Delineations of their Tartans, and Family Arms, observed “... the Clan MacNeil, is one of the best known of all, though never one of the most powerful in point of mere numbers. Lord of the Isles, now a Scottish title of nobility, originally referred to a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of galleys. ... Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language. ...

The first of the Macneil chieftains, it is said, appears in the authentic records of the fifteenth century, and was then lord of a strong castle and other property in Knapdale, on the mainland of Argylshire. As this castle was named Castle Sween - plainly a Norse term - it seems to us probable that the family of the Macneils had either been installed in some of the possessions of the Norwegian colonists - since the isles and coasts of the west were at the very date ceded, and in part evacuated, by the rovers from the north of Europe - or, as it is not less possible, that the Macneils were themselves in part of Norse descent, and kept their lands permanently. The arguments used relatively to the Macleods apply so far, in short, to the Macneils. Knapdale shown within Argyll Knapdale is a rural area of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, adjoining Kintyre to the south, and divided from the rest of Argyll to the north by the Crinan Canal. ... Castle Sween Castle Sween is located next to Loch Sween, near Tarbert, on the Kintyre peninsula in western Scotland. ...

The clan, it must always be held in mind, was in any case largely Gaelic to a certainty. We speak of the fundamental line of the chiefs mainly, when we say that the Macneils, like the Macleods, appear to have at least shared in the blood of the old Scandinavian inhabitants of the western islands. The names of those of the race first found in history are partly indicative of such a lineage. The isle of Barra, and certain lands in Uist, were chartered to a Macneil in 1427; and, in 1472, a charter of the MacDonald family is witnessed by Hector Mactorquil Macneil, keeper of Castle Sween. The appellation of "Mac-Torquil," half Gaelic, half Norse, speaks strongly in favour of the supposition that the two races were at this very time in the act of blending into one people. After all, we proceed not beyond the conclusion, that, by heirs-male or heirs-female, the founders of the house possessed a sprinkling of the blood of the ancient Norwegian occupants of the western isles and coasts, interfused with that of the native Gael of Albyn, and also of the Celtic visitants from Ireland. Scandinavian can mean: a resident of, or anything relating to Scandinavia any North Germanic language a chess opening, Scandinavian Defense the aviation corpotation Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Barra (Eilean Bharraigh in Gaelic) is a mostly Roman Catholic island, and the southermost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. ... The Donald Clan Crest. ...

The Clan MacNeil fought on the side of MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, at The Battle of Bloody Bay in 1480, When William Dubh MacLeod was killed (or taken prisoner) supporting John MacDonald against his bastard son Angus Og Macdonald the flag was also said to have been unfurled in the Battle of Badh na Fola - the Battle of Bloody Bay. According to MacDonald cronicles William was taken prisoner by Angus Og and Allan Moidertach but had been so severely wounded that he died on his way back to Dunvegan. It is said by the Seanachie of Sleat that Ronald Bain, son of Allan the laird of Moidart seized MacLeods galley but an Irishman prevented it from being steered away by thrusting the blade of an oar below the stern post of the galley between it and the rudder. As already mentioned the flag was guarded by a dozen warriors and one after another of them was slain. There is a special account of one of them - Murchadh Breac (Murdo the pock-marked) who was struck by a spear and collapsed on deck of the galley but kept holding the flag up by sticking its pole into the gaping hole of his body until he was relieved of his charge by a comrade. On account of the Seanachie of MacDonald William Dubh was taken prisoner by Allan Moidertach and Angus Og. After the Battle of Bloody Bay the MacDonalds raided Skye on behalf of Clan Leod's part supporting John MacDonald against Angus Og. William Dubh must have been prisoner then as his son Alasdair was not yet chief of the clan when he withstood the raging MacDonalds and was severely wounded between the shoulders by a battleaxe from which he never really recovered. Thence he was hunchbacked and so comes his name Alasdair Crotach. The Donald Clan Crest. ... MacDonald, Lord of the Isles The designation Lord of the Isles (Scottish Gaelic: ), now a Scottish title of nobility, emerged from a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of galleys. ...

The proportion of Celtic blood, beyond doubt, is far the largest in the veins of the clan generally.

Religion

Because the MacNeil of Barra were in such a remote spot of the Hebrides in Scotland, the clan was mostly overlooked by the English government occupying Scotland. Thus, the MacNeil of Barra were the last Catholics in all of Scotland. The MacNeil of Barra were cleared from Barra Island during the Scottish land clearances under James I. The MacNeils did not practice the King's religion, the Church of Scotland, and the English wanted to use Barra exclusively for shepherding. The MacNeils on the island were sent to North America, to places such as Virginia and Nova Scotia, Canada. The Hebrides The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, and in geological terms are composed of the oldest rocks in the British Isles. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification... James VI and I (James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland and was the first to style himself King of Great Britain. ... The Church of Scotland (CofS, known informally as The Kirk, Eaglais na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the national church of Scotland. ... In a draw in a mountainous region, a shepherd guides a flock of about 20 sheep amidst scrub and olive trees. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages none (English, French, Gaelic) Flower Trailing arbutus Tree Red Spruce Bird Osprey Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 11 10 Area...

Gaelic Names

• MacNèill (Surname)
• Clann 'icNèill (Collective)

Motto

• Buaidh no bàs (Gaelic for "Victory or Death")
• Vincere Vel Mori (Latin for "Victory or Death")

Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ...

Clan Seat

• Kisimul Castle, Barra, Scotland

Kisimul (also Kiessimul or Chisimul) Castle is a small medieval castle located in the centre of Castlebay on Barra, an island of the Outer Hebrides. ... Castlebay, Barra Traigh Eaig beach This article is about the island of Barra in Scotland. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification...

Branches

• MacNeil of Barra
• MacNeil of Colonsay
• MacNeil of Gigha

Castlebay, Barra Traigh Eaig beach This article is about the island of Barra in Scotland. ... Colonsay shown within Argyll Colonsay [Colbhasa] is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull. ... Gigha (pronounced geea, or gi-haris) a small island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. ...

Septs of Clan MacNeil

• (Mac)Grail
• (Mac)Gougan
• (Mac)Gu(i)gan
• (Mac)Neal(e)
• (Mac)Neilage
• (Mac)Neill
• (Mac)Nelly
• McNeill
• McNeal [Americanized]
• Meneill(e)y
• Neil(son)
• Nelson

Notes and Reference

Trivia

• After providing a safe harbor to the Norwegian King Haakon Haakonson, the MacNeils of Gigha [whom were Norwegian subjects at the time (Gigha was part of the Kingdom of the Hebrides)] decided to remain neutral in his war with Alexander III of Scotland over the control of the Hebrides.
• Legend has it that every evening, the 35th Chief, Rory the Turbulent, would send a herald and trumpeter to the battlements of Kisimul to proclaim to each point of the compass: "Hear, oh ye people, and listen oh ye nations! The Great MacNeil of Barra having finished his meal, the princes of the world may dine!"
• One rival clan chief, on hearing the MacNeils boasting about his long ancestry, commented, "I suppose you MacNeils must have been on the Ark." The reply was simple: "Nae, the MacNeil had a boat of his own."
• The MacNeils are known for four things: arrogance, lawlessness, expert seamenship and piracy.

A painting by the American Edward Hicks (1780–1849), showing the animals boarding Noahs Ark two by two. ...

See also

• Gigha, an island associated with the McNeill branch.
• Colonsay, an island associated with the MacNeill branch.

Gigha (pronounced geea, or gi-haris) a small island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. ... Colonsay shown within Argyll Colonsay [Colbhasa] is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull. ...

External links

• The Tartan of Clan MacNeil
• Electric Scotland: Clan MacNeil
• Rob Harbison's MacNeil page