The Clan MacNeil of Barra is one of the oldest Scottish clans: it can trace ancestry back to King 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.
The MacNeil name comes up subtlely and sometimes inconspicuosly 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Clan MacNeil fought on the side of MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, at The Battle of Bloddy 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 proportion of Celtic blood, beyond doubt, is far the largest in the veins of the clan generally.
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 King 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.
.jpg) Macneil of Colonsay tartan |
.jpg) Macneil of Barra tartan |
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