Macneils of Barra
A clan gathering of the Macneils, the prominent surname on the island, takes place on Barra in summer. In 1838, the Clan Macneil lost ownership of Barra when Clan Chief Roderick Macneil sold out to Colonel Gordon of Cluny for £38,050. Islanders were subsequently evicted during the Clearances and many shipped out to America and Canada during the 1800s.
Robert Macneil, an American citizen and Clan Chief, purchased the island in 1837 and later bequeathed it to his son Ian Roderick Macneil, the 46th Clan Chief and Edinburgh resident. The estate has since been gifted the island estate to the Scottish Government in trust for the islanders. The deal, sealed by the exchange of a bottle of good whisky, allows islanders to take direct control at any time in the future.
Chief Ian Roderick died in Edinburgh in 2010 aged 80 years and was buried on Barra. He received an ordinary Hebridean funeral and is interred at the cemetery at Cuithir on the west of the island.
Macneil of Barra taught American President Barack Obama when he was a young student. Years ago the professor predicted Obama would achieve after being impressed in his ability in law school.
The 46th chief of Clan MacNeil was hugely respected amongst his own kin on Barra. His father Robert Lister repatriated the family back from America to Scotland and in 1937 purchased 12,000 acres of former clans land on Barra as well as the ruined stronghold of Kismul Castle built on a reef in Castle Bay.
Ian Roderick went to school on the island as the castle was being renovated. Later the family stayed in it on visits to Barra. Now the family holiday in a old refurbished croft house and have actively campaigned on community issues.
Ian Roderick leased Kismul to Historic Scotland for a thousand years for £1 year plus a bottle of Talisker whisky.
His son Rory who is married to Sau Ming Kwan of Hong Kong has inherited the chief’s title.