Barra

Infobox Scottish island |
latitude=56.9833
longitude=-7.4667
GridReference=NF687004
celtic name=Barraigh, Eilean Bharraigh
norse name=Barr-oy
meaning of name=Barr's island, after St Barr
area=5,875 ha
area rank=20
highest elevation=Heaval 383 m
Population=1,078
population rank=13
main settlement=Castlebay
island group=Uists and Barra
local authority=Na h-Eileanan Siar
references= [General Register Office for Scotland (28 Nov 2003) [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/occpapers/occasional-paper-10.html "Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands"] Retrieved 9 July 2007.] Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) "The Scottish Islands". Edinburgh. Canongate. Pages 218-222.] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ] The Isle of Barra or "Barraigh/Eilean Bharraigh" (in Scottish Gaelic) is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides ("Na h-Eileanan Siar") in Scotland.

Geography

At the 2001 census the resident population was 1,078, and mostly Roman Catholic. The area of Barra is 23 square miles, the main village being Castlebay ("Bàgh a' Chaisteil"). Barra is now linked by a man-made causeway to the neighbouring island of Vatersay ("Eilean Bhatarsaigh").

The west of the island has white sandy beaches backed by shell-sand machair and the east has numerous rocky inlets. Barra is abundant with stunning scenery, rare flowers and wildlife, which can be appreciated by coastal or hill walks, drives or cycle rides along the various small roads. Car and bicycle hire are available locally.

Kisimul Castle at Castlebay is located on an island in the bay, so giving the village its name.

Places of interest on the island include a ruined church and museum at Cille Bharra, a number of Iron Age brochs such as those at Dùn Chuidhir and An Dùn Bàn and a whole range of other Iron Age and later structures which have recently been excavated and recorded.

History

The Clan MacNeil has strong ties to the Isle of Barra and claims descent from the O'Neills of Ulster. [cite web|url=http://www.scotclans.com/scottish_clans/clans/macneill_of_barra/history.html|title=MacNeill of Barra History|work=ScotClans|accessdate=2007-12-18]

Alexander, Lord of the Isles granted the island to the MacNeill clan in 1427. The clan held the island until 1838, when Roderick MacNeil, the 40th Chief of the Clan, sold the island to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. Gordon expelled most of the inhabitants to the United States of America in order to make way for sheep. Barra was restored to MacNeill ownership in 1937 when the Barra estate, which encompassed most of the island, was bought by Robert MacNeil, an American architect, and 45th chief of the clan.cite web|url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/barra/barra/index.html|title=Barra Feature Page|Publisher=Undiscovered Scotland|accessdate=2007-11-04]

In 2003, the ownership of the Barra Estate was passed by the owner, Ian MacNeil, to the Scottish Government. The estate will be transferred to the inhabitants in the future if they request it. MacNeil, the 46th chief of the clan, had previously transferred Kismuil Castle to Historic Scotland in 2000. [cite news|title=A gift to Scotland - the isle of Barra|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=980092003|first=John|last=Ross|date=2003-09-06|accessdate=2007-11-04|work=The Scotsman]

In May 2007 Channel 4's Time Team came to the hamlet of Allasdale to investigate the exposed remains of Bronze Age burials and Iron Age roundhouses in sand dunes that had been previously uncovered by storms. The programme was broadcast on 20 January 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2008/barra/index.html|title=Barra, Western Isles|work=Time Team Website|accessdate=2008-01-21]

Media and the Arts

Every summer, Fèis Bharraigh [http://www.barra-accommodation.co.uk/events.php "Isle of Barra Events"] Barra Accommodation. Retrieved 21 March 2008. ] brings the whole island together in a cultural festival centred around the learning and performing of traditional music. In 2007, Fèis Bharraigh launched BarraFest - Live @ the Edge, a weekend festival of traditional and modern Scottish music held on the Tangasdale machair. BarraFest 2008 will be held on the 25th and 26th of July.

The Dualchas Heritage and Cultural Centre is located in Castlebay. [ [http://www.barraheritage.com/dualchas.htm "Dualchas"] Comunn Eachdraidh Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh. Retrieved 29 March 2008.]

The 1949 Ealing Studios comedy "Whisky Galore!" was filmed on Barra. The film is based on the novel "Whisky Galore" by Sir Compton Mackenzie, who lived near the airport and is buried at Cille Bharra. [ [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/441458/ "Whisky Galore!"] screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2008.]

In the sitcom Dad's Army, Private Frazer claims to be from the Isle of Barra. Frazer renowned for his "We're doomed!" catchphrase, says his most famous story was when "a submarine was sunk in Castlebay, and seven brave men were trapped in. The water, got higher, and higher, until it got to their necks. And then...... terrible way to die!" much to the disgust of his fellow platoon. Apart from that story, Frazer speaks highly of the "lonely island."

ports

Barra hosts an annual half-marathon called the "Barrathon". [http://www.barrathon.org.uk/index.html "Barrathon"] barrathon.org.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2008 ] This year it will be held on the 28th June 2008; it is part of the Western Isles Half Marathon series. This is accompanied by a shorter fun-run for families. A number of fund-raising events are held around this, including a ceilidh at the Talla Bhatarsaigh.

The Barra community holds an annual games on the island. This year The Barra Games was held on the 20 July 2008.

The island golf club, "Comunn Goilf Bharraidh", has a 9-hole golf course that is claimed to be the furthest west in the United Kingdom. However, this title may in fact be held by one of the courses near Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.

Tourists can also go sea kayaking [http://clearwaterpaddling.com/ Clearwater Paddling] Retrieved 29 March 2008. ] or power kiting [http://www.barrapowerkiting.co.uk/ Barra Power Kiting] Retrieved 29 March 2008. ] , and ample opportunities are available for keen anglers.

There is also an annual race where participants run up the highest mountain, Heaval and back down to Castlebay square.

Transport Links

Uniquely in Europe, Barra's tiny airport, near Northbay, uses the beach called An Tràigh Mhòr (English: "The Big Beach") as a runway. Planes can only land and take off at low tide meaning that the timetable varies. Barra's airport is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach. [http://www.hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html Barra Airport Website] ] The aircraft currently in operation on Barra is the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. The beach is also a source of cockles.

Castlebay is the main ferry port from which ferries sail to Oban on the Scottish mainland and Lochboisdale ("Loch Baghasdail") in South Uist ("Uibhist a Deas"). A vehicular ferry also travels between Ceann a' Gharaidh in Eriskay ("Èirisgeigh") and Ardmore ("An Àird Mhòr") in Barra. The crossing takes around 40 minutes. All the afore mentioned ferries are run by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Apart from the ferries, boat trips to Mingulay are also available during the Summer season, and a small boat can take visitors to Kisimul Castle.

= Industry = The Hebridean Toffee Factory in Castlebay is one of the few manufacturers on Barra. [ [http://www.hebrideantoffeecompany.com "Home page"] Heart Hebrides Toffee. Retrieved 24 July 2008.] A new distillery producing around 25,000 litres per annum, is planned for the west side of the island. [http://uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk/home.html Isle of Barra Distillery] uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2008. ] When operational it would be the smallest in Scotland and the only one in the Outer Hebrides. [http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/swa/71.html Map of Scotch Whisky Distilleries] ]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.thevatersayboys.com Local Barra music info on The Vatersay Boys]
* [http://www.explore-isle-of-barra.co.uk. Explore the Isle of Barra]
* [http://www.isleofbarra.com/ Isle of Barra community website]
* [http://www.Barra-Accommodation.co.uk/ Isle of Barra Accommodation, Activities and Events]
* [http://www.uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk/ Barra Distillery]
* [http://www.calmac.co.uk/ Ferry Operator Caledonian MacBrayne]
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9013449/Barra Encyclopaedia Britannica, Barra]
* [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-3117189286713878072 Video of Plane landing on Tràigh Mhòr]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/mar/04/scotland.advertising?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront Island Priest tears strip off agency for nude surfers stunt] "Guardian" 04-03-2008

ee also

*List of places in the Western Isles