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Subject: [REEVES] Clan MacNeil Info
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:25:46 EDT

As a member of the family and clan MacNeil, I decided it was time to add a
page about the greatest Scottish Clan in the world.
Badge: A rock
Motto: Buaidh no bas (To conquer or die)
Branches: Barra, Gigha, Colonsay
Tartans: Barra, Colonsay
Plant Badge: Plants of Dryas
Gaelic Name: MacNèill
Septs: MacGougan, MacGrail, MacGugan, MacGuigan, MacNeal, MacNeale,
MacNeilage, MacNeill, MacNelly, MacNiel, Neal, Neale, Neely, Neil, Neill, Neilson,
Nelson, Niel, Nielson.
The Clan Macneil claims descent from Naill, a descendant of Aodh O'Neil, King
of North of Ireland at the beginning of the 11th century. Aodh was 20th in
descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages, the pagan 5th Century founder of the
mighty uI'Neill dynasty. Niall came to the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides
around 1049, and is reckoned the first chief. Niel Macneil, 5th of Barra, was
described as a prince at a council of the Isles in 1252. He was still the
chief when king Haakon's army was defeated at Largs in 1263, ending the Norwegian
domination of the Hebrides. His son, Neil Og Macneil, is believed to have
fought with Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn. He was rewarded with lands in north
Kintyre, which were added to his barony of Barra.
The Macneils were Jacobites, and Black Roderick led his clansmen to fight for
James VII at Killiecrankie in 1689. He remained loyal to the cause and
rallied to the 'Old Pretender' at the rising of 1715. His 2 sons, Roderick and
James, went into exile in France. They returned on their fathers death and, for his
Jacobite sympathies, Roderick was consigned to a prison ship, the Royal
Sovereign. He was taken to London and was not released until July 1747. The estates
, however, were not forfeited.
The clan prospered until the time of the 21st chief, General Roderick Macneil
who was forced to sell Barra in 1838. The general had no children, and the
chief ship passed to a cousin, whose line had emigrated to America at the
beginning of the 19th century. It was from the New World that the father of the
present chief came to reclaim Kisimul, together with the greater part of the
island of Barra, in 1937. He devoted his entire life to the restoration of Kisimul,
which is once again the home of the chiefs.
The present Chief, Ian Roderick Macneil, 46th of Barra, is a United States
Citizen and prior to his retirement was seated as the John Henry Wigmore
Professor of Law at Northwestern University. His Banner flies proudly from the tower
of the Castle Kisimul, which he has leased to Historic Scotland for 1000 years
for an annual rent of for a Pound a year and a bottle of whisky! He is
currently living on the Isle of Barra.
There is a Highland saying that in the long geneaology of the MacNeils, the
biblical Noah is not to be found. "The MacNeil had a boat of his own" it is
said.
Borrowed from the _Impressions (Scotland) Ltd_
(http://www.impressions.uk.com/) . website.
There is unfortunately no longer an official website for the MacNeil Clan
association of America OR Canada.
Update (2005) There is now a website for the Clan in Canada!
_The official website of "Clan MacNeil in Canada"_
(http://www.clanmacneilincanada.ca/)
_"Clan MacNeil Net"
_ (http://clanmacneil.ca/) The former Clan Website for Canada
_The Isle of Barra Website_ (http://www.isleofbarra.com/)
_Simply Scottish Media_ (http://www.simplyscottish.com/)
_Kisimul Castle_ (http://www.castles.org/Chatelaine/KISIMUL.HTM)
_Isle of Barra_ (http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/barra.htm)
from the Internet Guide to Scotland
_MacNeil Clan's Crest Jewelry_
(http://www.scottish-heirloom.com/macneil_clan/)
_History Scotland Magazine _ (http://www.historyscotland.com/)
_Electric Scotland_ (http://www.electricscotland.com/)
The largest Scottish website in the world.
_Scottish field Website_ (http://www.scottishfield.co.uk/)
_GaelSong_ (http://www.gaelsong.com/)
A "Celtic" Merchandise retailer
_Scotland Yard_ (http://www.scotyard.com/)
A Kentucky Kilt retailer
_Scottish Lion Imports_ (http://scottishlion.com/)
An excellent Scottish merchandise retailer
_Little Scotland - Scottish Factory Outlet_ (http://www.littlescotland.com/)

_Scottish Society of Louisville _ (http://www.scotsoflou.org/)
The Scottish Society of Louisville is a not-for-profit corporation founded in
Kentucky in 1993.

_Glasgow Highland Games _ (http://www.glasgowhighlandgames.com/)
The Best Highland Games in Kentucky
_The U.S.Scots Web Site_ (http://www.usscots.com/)
The complete internet resource for the North American Scottish community
_COSCA _ (http://www.cosca.net/)
Council of Scottish Clans and Associations' (COSCA) web site.
_Home_ (http://www.wku.edu/~rob.harbison/) Last updated April 20, 2005



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