Editing Barra (section)

== History ==
===Early history===
Human presence on Barra since the [[Neolithic era]] was established by the discovery of a near-complete pottery beaker dating from 2500&nbsp;BC during the construction of a road in the 1990s. A number of stone remains were also found, including a Neolithic "work platform", which complement the several [[standing stone]]s scattered around the island. In the hills to the north of Borve, there is a large [[chambered cairn]], sited in a prominent position.

Beyond the main island, a [[Bronze Age]] cemetery is located on [[Vatersay]], as well as an [[Iron Age]] [[broch]]; the remains of a similarly aged broch is located on the east of Barra itself. Remains of Bronze Age burials and [[Iron Age]] roundhouses were also discovered in sand dunes, near the hamlet of [[Allasdale]], following storms in 2007{{refn|group="note"|In May of that year, [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Time Team]]'' came to investigate the remains. The programme was broadcast on 20 January 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2008/barra/index.html |title=Barra, Western Isles |publisher=[[Channel 4]] |access-date=21 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123080317/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2008/barra/index.html |archive-date=23 January 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}. Occupation of Barra continued during the later Iron Age, as evidenced by the discovery of a [[wheelhouse (archaeology)|wheelhouse]] from the end of the period, which was later re-occupied between the 3rd and 4th centuries, and again in the 7th and 8th centuries.

These occupations were followed in the 9th century by [[Viking]] settlers, who gave the island the [[Old Norse]] ''{{lang|non|ey}}'' ("island") part of its name.  Various origins of ''Barr'' have been suggested, including the Gaelic personal name ''{{lang|gd|[[Finbar (disambiguation)|Finnbarr]]}}'', the Old Norse elements ''{{lang|gd|berr}}'' or ''{{lang|gd|barr}}'' ("bare" or "rough"), and the [[Celtic language|Celtic]] element *''barr'' ("top" or "peak").<ref>{{cite book |last=Abrams |first=L |year=2007 |chapter=Conversion and the Church in the Hebrides in the Viking Age |editor1-last=Smith |editor1-first=BB |editor2-last=Taylor |editor2-first=S |editor3-last=Williams |editor3-first=G |title=West Over Sea: Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300 |series=The Northern World: North Europe and the Baltic {{circa|400–1700}} AD. Peoples, Economics and Cultures (series vol. 31) |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |location=Leiden |pages=169–193 |isbn=978-90-04-15893-1 |issn=1569-1462 }}</ref> According to the ancient [[Grettis saga]], the first viking to arrive was named ''Omund the Wooden-Leg''.

<gallery mode="packed-overlay" heights="180px">
File:Vatersay Fae037.jpg|Neolithic "work platform", near Vatersay
File:Borve Standing Stones.JPG|Standing stone at Borve
File:Vatersay Fae028.jpg|Iron Age wheelhouse near Vatersay
File:Bruernish broch 01.jpg|Broch at Bruernish
</gallery>

===Kingdom of the Isles===
The Vikings established the [[Kingdom of the Isles]] throughout the Hebrides, including Barra. Following Norwegian unification, the Kingdom of the Isles became a crown dependency of the Norwegian king; to the Norwegians, it was ''Suðreyjar'' (meaning ''southern isles''). [[Malcolm III of Scotland]] acknowledged in writing that they were not Scottish, and King [[Edgar of Scotland|Edgar]] [[quitclaim]]ed any residual doubts. In the north of Barra, from this period survived a gravestone, on which a [[Celtic cross]] is present on one side, and [[rune|runic]] inscriptions on the other{{refn|group="note"|Discovered in 1865, the gravestone is now located in Edinburgh, though a facsimile was later placed in the chapel near the stone's original location on Barra}}.

In the mid 12th century, [[Somerled]], a [[Norse-Gael]] of uncertain origin, launched a coup, which made Suðreyjar entirely independent. Following his death, Norwegian authority was nominally restored, but in practice, the kingdom was divided between Somerled's heirs ({{lang|gd|[[Clann Somhairle]]}}), and the dynasty that Somerled had deposed (the [[Crovan dynasty]]). {{lang|gd|[[Clann Ruaidhrí]]}}, a branch of Somerled's heirs, ruled Barra, as well as [[Uist]], [[Eigg]], [[Rùm]], the [[Rough Bounds]], [[Isle of Bute|Bute]], [[Isle of Arran|Arran]], and northern [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]].<ref>''Kingship and Unity, Scotland 1000-1306'', G. W. S. Barrow, Edinburgh University Press, 1981</ref><ref>''Galloglas: Hebridean and West Highland Mercenary Warrior Kindreds in Medieval Ireland'', John Marsden, 2003</ref><ref>''Lismore: The Great Garden'', Robert Hay, 2009, Birlinn Ltd</ref><ref>''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland'', 90 (1956-1957), A.A.M. Duncan, A.L Brown, pages 204-205</ref><ref>''The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard'', R. A. McDonald, 1997, Tuckwell Press</ref>

In the 13th century, despite Edgar's quitclaim, Scottish forces attempted to conquer parts of Suðreyjar, culminating in the indecisive [[Battle of Largs]]. In 1266, the matter was settled by the [[Treaty of Perth]], which transferred the whole of Suðreyjar to Scotland, in exchange for a very large sum of money.{{Refn|group="note"|4000 marks}} The Treaty expressly preserved the status of the rulers of Suðreyjar; the Clann Ruaidhri lands, excepting Bute, Arran, and Jura, became the ''Lordship of [[Garmoran]]'', a quasi-independent crown dependency, rather than an intrinsic part of Scotland.

===Lordship of Garmoran===
{{Main|Garmoran}}
[[File:Cliad bay and Ben Cliad - geograph.org.uk - 852097.jpg|thumb|Cliad bay]]

In 1293, King [[John Balliol]] established the [[Sheriffdom of Skye]], which included the Outer Hebrides. Following his usurpation, the sheriffdom ceased to be mentioned{{refn|group="note"|In surviving records, at least.}}, and the Garmoran lordship (including Barra) was confirmed to {{lang|gd|[[Ruaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí]]}}, the head of Clann Ruaidhri. In 1343, King [[David II of Scotland|David II]] issued a further charter to Ruaidhrí's son, [[Raghnall Mac Ruaidhrí|Raghnall]],<ref>''Regesta Regum Scottorum VI'' ed. Bruce Webster (Edinburgh 1982) no. 73.</ref> but Raghnall's assassination, just three years later, left Garmoran in the hands of [[Amy of Garmoran]].

The southern parts of the Kingdom of the Isles had become the ''[[Lordship of the Isles]]'', ruled by the [[Clan Donald|MacDonald]]s (another group of Somerled's descendants). Amy married the MacDonald leader, [[John of Islay, Lord of the Isles|John of Islay]],<ref name="Raven 2005">{{cite thesis |last=Raven |first=JA |title=Medieval Landscapes and Lordship in South Uist |degree=PhD |url=http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1116/ |volume=1 |publisher=[[University of Glasgow]] |year=2005 |via=[[Glasgow Theses Service]] }}</ref> but a decade later he divorced her, and married the king's niece instead (in return for a substantial [[dowry]]). As part of the divorce, John deprived his eldest son, [[Ranald MacDonald (founder of Clanranald)|Ranald]], of the ability to inherit the Lordship of the Isles, in favour of a son by his new wife. As compensation, John granted Lordship of the Uists to Ranald's younger brother Godfrey and made Ranald Lord of the remainder of Garmoran.

On Ranald's death, disputes between Godfrey and his nephews led to an enormous amount of violence. In 1427, frustrated with the level of violence generally in the highlands, King [[James I of Scotland|James I]] demanded that highland leaders should attend a meeting at [[Inverness]]. On arrival, many of the leaders were seized and imprisoned; Alexander MacGorrie, son of Godfrey, was considered to be one of the two most reprehensible, and after a quick [[showtrial]], was immediately executed.<ref name="G65">{{Citation | author1=Gregory, Donald | title=History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland, from A.D. 1493 to A.D. 1625, with a brief introductory sketch, from A.D. 80 to A.D. 1493 | year=1836 | publisher=Edinburgh, W. Tait | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DaoHAAAAQAAJ | access-date=11 May 2012 }}, p. 65</ref> As Alexander had by now inherited Godfrey's [[de facto]] position as Lord of Garmoran, and in view of Ranald's heirs being no less responsible for the violence, King James declared the Lordship of Garmoran forfeit.

===Lairds and pirates===
[[File:Kisimul Castle (Chiosmuil ) Castlebay.JPG|thumb|[[Kisimul Castle]]]]
Following the forfeiture, and in that same year, [[Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross|the Lord of the Isles]] granted [[Laird]]ship of Barra (and half of [[South Uist]]) to Giolla Adhamhnáin Mac Néill, [[Scottish clan chief|Chief]] of [[Clan MacNeil]].

Headquartering themselves at [[Kisimul Castle]] and making use of [[Birlinn]]s, the MacNeils became famed for [[piracy]] after attacking English ships during the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]]. They were summoned by [[James VI of Scotland|King James VI]] – King of Scotland – to answer for their behaviour. The Chief, Roderick MacNeil ("Rory the Turbulent"), argued that he thought King James would be pleased, since Queen Elizabeth had beheaded his mother [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]. Pleased, King James released him. {{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The mainly [[Catholic Church in Scotland|Catholic population]] of the island was under serious threat during the [[Jacobite Uprising of 1745]]. According to Bishop [[John Geddes (bishop)|John Geddes]], "Early in the spring of [[1746]], some ships of war came to the coast of the isle of Barra and landed some men, who threatened they would lay desolate the whole island if the [[Roman Catholic priest|priest]] was not delivered up to them. Father 
[[James Grant (Scottish bishop)|James Grant]], who was missionary then, and afterward Bishop, being informed of the threats in a safe retreat in which he was in a little island, surrendered himself, and was carried prisoner to [[Mingarry Castle]] on the Western coast (i.e. [[Ardnamurchan]]) where he was detained for some weeks."<ref>Charles MacDonald (2011), ''Moidart: Among the Clanranalds'', Birlinn Press. Page 176.</ref>

After long imprisonment at [[Inverness]] and in a [[prison hulk]] in the [[River Thames]], Father Grant was deported to the [[Netherlands]] and warned never to return to the [[British Isles]]. Like the other priests imprisoned with him, Father Grant did so almost immediately.<ref>Charles MacDonald (2011), ''Moidart: Among the Clanranalds'', Birlinn Press. Pages 176-177.</ref>

[[File:Watermill ruin - geograph.org.uk - 75677.jpg|thumb|An abandoned watermill on Barra]]
The descendants of the [[Scottish clan chief|Clan Chiefs]] held on to Barra until 1838, when the island was sold to Colonel [[John Gordon (soldier)|John Gordon]] of [[Cluny Castle|Cluny]] (for the sum of £38,050). Roderick MacNeil, Chief of the MacNeils, had already abandoned Kisimul Castle, and built a mansion in the north of Barra; the ensuing debt was one of the reasons he sold the island.

In common with many of the new [[Anglo-Scottish]] landlords, Colonel Gordon [[Highland Clearances|evicted most of the islanders]] to make way for sheep farming. Some of the displaced islanders variously went to the Scottish mainland. Others joined the [[Scottish diaspora]] in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], the [[United States]], and [[Canada]].

Gaelic [[traditional singer]] and Barra native [[Flora MacNeil]] later recalled one the best sources of the Gaelic songs she learned at local [[ceilidh]]s was her mother's cousin, Mary Johnstone. Johnstone's parents had moved to [[Mingulay]] after being evicted by Colonel Gordon's [[Factor (Scotland)|factor]]s  and she returned to her ancestral island after Mingulay was abandoned in 1912. In later years, Johnstone would regularly visit the MacNeil family's croft near [[Castlebay]] and sing at the ceilidhs.<ref>Edited by Eberhard Bort (2011), '''Tis Sixty Years Since: The 1951 Edinburgh People's Festival Ceilidh and the Scottish Folk Revival'', pages 75-80.</ref>

By far the worst mass evictions took place, according to Barra ''[[seanchaidh]]'' (historian) John "The Coddy" MacPherson, during the [[Highland Potato Famine]] of the [[1840s]]. Many residents of Barra were unwillingly rounded up and forced by Colonel Gordon's factors to board the ''Admiral'', an immigrant ship anchored at [[Lochboisdale]], [[South Uist]], and which then set sail for [[Canada]].<ref>John Lorne Campbell (1992), ''Tales from Barra: Told by The Coddy'', Birlinn. Pages 67-69.</ref>

MacPherson later said of those who were evicted, "Now they were aboard, and they sailed away and it took them six months, I think, to get across from Lochboisdale to [[Quebec]] - or the [[St. Lawrence Seaway|St. Lawrence]] somewhere anyway. After that, there was nothing for them but trees and poverty, and those wretched fellows had to back it for life. Going through the hardships of the emigrants who went across the [[Atlantic]] in the ''Admiral'', not many people would credit them today."<ref name="John Lorne Campbell 1992 Page 69">John Lorne Campbell (1992), ''Tales from Barra: Told by The Coddy'', Birlinn. Page 69.</ref>

The MacNeil Chiefs were also among the migrants, settling at first in Canada, but moving to the United States by the 20th century. Barra was restored to MacNeil ownership in 1937 when the Barra estate, which encompassed most of the island, was bought by Robert Lister Macneil, an American. In 2000, his heir, [[Ian Roderick Macneil]] (another American), let Kisimul Castle to [[Historic Scotland]], on a 1000-year lease (for a rental of £1 and a bottle of whisky, per annum). In 2003, he transferred ownership of the Barra Estate to the [[Scottish Government]];.<ref>{{cite news |title=A gift to Scotland&nbsp;– the isle of Barra |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=980092003 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717232553/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=980092003 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2012 |first=John |last=Ross |date=6 September 2003 |access-date=4 November 2007 |work=[[The Scotsman]] }}</ref> Under Scottish law, the inhabitants have the right to take possession of the estate themselves, if they so wish.

Having been flown unofficially for at least a decade, the island's flag received official recognition from the [[Lyon Court]] and the [[Flag Institute]] in November 2017. The design is a white [[Nordic cross]] on a green background.<ref name="flag-recognised-bbc">{{cite news| title=Isle of Barra's flag officially recognised| date=23 November 2017| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42094599 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="flag-institute">{{cite web|title=Barra Flag|url={{Flag Institute|Barra}}|publisher=Flag Institute|access-date=26 May 2018}}</ref>