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?
Hi Emma - I am sure the other members of our party will drop you a line as I am equally sure I speak for us all today. I cannot thank you enough for organising our trip the other week. In truth all of us had some mild 'trepidations' about what it would be like but I can say that we had a marvellous time. I want to be specific here. Our skipper, Charlie, was a revelation and we owe him a great deal for making our trip so exciting and enjoyable. He exemplifies a 'duty of care'; put all of our minds at rest when we concerned about the weather and adapted his plans to ensure we had the best of times. He ran a great crew and we all felt confident and secure in his leadership. He was also great company and nothing was ever too much. I told him that you have our details here and if he is ever in Merseyside he should contact us. Please pass my details should he ever request. The guide, Lindsay was first class. Knowledgeable, personable and patient with ' elderly knees' she made a great contribution to our trip. We all loved her guided tours of the islands, her knowledge of the wildlife and her choice of the best routes for the conditions. The evening briefing with her and Charlie, reflecting on the day and discussing prospects for the the following day were really enjoyable. Made you feel you were part of something..we all agreed. I have to mention Charlie the cook. Charlie's food was first class. We all agreed that it was rare, and we are well travelled, to have that quality food so consistently. Please thank her. And last but NOT least the 'human dynamo' Sofia. She described her role a the stewardess which we all felt was an understatement. In truth we were constantly amazed at how efficient she was in everything she did. Her dinner table settings, her service and her engaging manner were a delight. A first class employee in my view. They were a great crew and exceptionally well lead.
Bill Frost: 14 September 2024Skye and the Small Isles: Hebridean horizons