Barra
or 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. The
area of Barra is 35 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.
The Clan MacNeil
has strong ties to the Isle of
Barra and can trace its lineage
back to the O'Neills of Ulster
who came to Barra from Ireland around
the year 1000. Kisimul Castle at Castlebay is the hereditary seat
of the MacNeils. It is located
on an island in the bay, so
giving the village its name.
Other 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.