The MacNeils of Barra – descendants of Irish Royalty or raiding Vikings?
One of the delights of our cruises is mingling with the local population when we happen to meet them. The history of the people who populate the islands we visit is invariably fascinating and they are justly proud of their roots and ancestry. Barra has a population of 1,000 and the main name is MacNeil. There are of course MacNeils all over the world who are also proud of their heritage
For centuries the MacNeil clan of Barra have proudly claimed to be descendants of Ireland's "greatest" King, Niall of the Nine Hostages who emigrated to Scotland in the 11th century.
But a check on hundreds of modern day MacNeils has revealed their roots actually lie with the Vikings and not the Irish. DNA swabs taken from Barra MacNeils as far away as Canada and Australia have proved that the blood of fierce Norse raiders runs through their veins. The finding comes from the MacNeil Surname Y-DNA project run by genealogists Vincent MacNeil and Alex Buchanan.
Clansmen from all over the world including Scotland, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have provided DNA samples but the DNA project has not found a single match to the O’Neills of Ireland.
Genealogist Vincent MacNeil, from Nova Scotia, Canada says the findings suggest the Barra MacNeils are probably of Norse descent. The clan was infamous throughout Scotland and beyond for its Viking-style pirating and great seamanship. MacNeils raided the seas from their base at Kisimul Castle in Birlinn vessels - boats similar to the Viking longships.
Why not find out for yourself on our Far Flung Islands cruise when we call in at Kisimul Castle in Castlebay seat of the Chiefs of Clan Macneil?
Dear Emma Mike & I would like to thank the Skipper James and the crew for a fantastic and informative 6 night cruise, The enthusiasm of the crew inspired the guests. The daily menus were inspirational & also the delicious cakes for afternoon tea. We enjoyed the visits to the islands, the scenery, wildlife and walks with good company. All beyond our expectations. Looking forward to our next cruise Chris & Mike Lewis
Chris & Mike Lewis: 28 July 2021Skye and the Small Isles: Hebridean horizons