Clan MacNeil Totally Explained

Everything about Clan Macneil totally explained

Clan MacNeil, also known in Scotland as Clan Niall, is a highland Scottish clan, particularly associated with the Outer Hebridean island of Barra. The early history of Clan Macneil is obscure, however despite this the clan claims to descend from the legendary Niall of the nine hostages. The clan itself takes its name from a Niall who lived in the 13th or early 14th century, and who belonged the same dynastic family of Cowall and Knapdale as the ancestors of the Lamonts, MacEwens of Otter, Maclachlans, and the MacSweens. While the clan is centred in Barra in the Outer Hebrides, there's a branch of the clan in Argyll that some historians have speculated was more senior in line, or possibly even unrelated. However, according to Scots law the current chief of Clan Macneil is the chief of all MacNeil(l)s.

History

Origins

MacNeils of Barra

The MacNeils of Barra claim to be descendants of Anrothan, an 11th century Irish prince who emigrated to Scotland. Through Anrothan the MacNeils of Barra claim to descend from the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages. This MacNeil of Barra tradition however relies solely on oral tradition, and incredibly on the authority of two crofters on Barra at the turn of the 20th century. An opposing theory according to Nicholas Maclean Bristol, is that there's reason to believe that they descend from Neill Maclean who appears Exchequer Rolls at a time when Tarbert Castle was being rebuilt by Robert the Bruce. The earliest contemporary record of the Macneils of Barra is only in 1427, when Gilleonan Macneil received a charter of Barra and Boisdale.

McNeills of Argyll (in Taynish, Gigha and Colonsay)

The origin of the McNeills of Taynish, Gigha and Colonsay is also obscure. During the Middle Ages the McNeills held the island of Gigha on the coast of Knapdale, as well as Taynish on the mainland. The McNeills were hereditary keepers of Castle Sween under the lords of the isles during the 15th and 16th centuries. The McNeill of Gigha, Torkill McNeill, was known as the "chief and principal of the clan and surname of Macnelis" in 1530. However, with the power of the Campbells growing and spreading out into the Inner Hebrides, the influence of the McNeills of Gigha decreased. At about this time the MacNeils on more remote island of Barra far, removed of Campbell power, began to grow in prominence and for a long time since have been regarded as Chief of the Clan and Name. There is even a school of thought that there's no relation at all between this branch of MacNeills to that of Barra. In 1838 after going broke, Colonel Roderick's son and heir, Lieutenant General Roderick Macneil of Barra, sold Barra to Colonel Gordon of Cluny. In 2001 the castle was leased to Historic Scotland for one thousand years at the rent of £1 per year and a bottle of Talisker whisky. In October 2004 the chief handed over 3,600 hectares, comprising of almost all of his estate on Barra to Scottish Ministers. The current chief of Clan MacNeil is Ian Roderick Macneil of Barra, The Macneil of Barra, Chief of Clan Niall and 26th of Barra, also Baron of Barra. The chief is a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. The current chief, while an United States citizen, lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Clan symbols

The chiefs of Clan MacNeil, are reckoned from Niall Noigíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), from whom all the MacNeil chiefs claim descent. The current chief is reckoned by the clan as the 46th chief.

#	Name	Note	Year of death
1	Niall Noigíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages)	High King of Ireland	405
2	Eógan mac Néill	King of Aileach and Prince of Ulster	465
3	Muiredach mac Eógain	King of Aileach and Prince of Ulster	480
4	Muirchertach mac Muiredaig	High King of Ireland in 487, King of Aileach
5	Domnall mac Muirchertaig	High King of Ireland in 559, King of Aileach	561
6	Áed Uaridnach	High King of Ireland 599, King of Aileach	607
7	Máel Fithrich mac Áedo)	King of Aileach, Prince of Ulster	626-630
8	Máel Dúin mac Máele Fithrich	King of Aileach, Prince of Ulster	706
9	Fergal mac Máele Dúin	High King of Ireland 709, King of Aileach	718
10	Niall Frossach	High King of Ireland 759, King of Aileach	773
11	Áed Oirdnide mac Néill	High King of Ireland 793, King of Aileach	818
12	Niall Caille mac Áeda	High King of Ireland 832, King of Aileach and Ulster	845
13	Aed Finliath	High King of Ireland 861, King of Aileach and Ulster	878
14	Niall Glúndub	High King of Ireland 878, King of Aileach and Ulster	916
15	Muirceartach na Cochall Croiceann (Muirchertach mac Néill)	High King of Ireland 937, King of Aileach and Ulster	943
16	Domnall ua Néill	High King of Ireland 954, King of Aileach and Ulster	978
17	Muirceartach na Midhe	Prince of Ulster and Tyrone	975
18	Flathartach an Trostain	King of Aileach and Ulster and Prince of Tyrone
19	Aodh Athlamh	King of Aileach and Ulster and Prince of Tyrone
20	Aodh Aonrachan	King of Aileach, Prince of Aileach and Argyll, resigned kingship to brother Domhnall in 1033
21	Niall of the Castle	Prince of Argyll and the Norse Council of the Isles. Began construction of Kisimul Castle
22	Aodh	Prince of the Norse Council of the Isles
23	Donald	Prince of the Norse Council of the Isles
24	Muirceartach	Prince of the Norse Council of the Isles
25	Niall	Prince of the Norse Council of the Isles
26	Niall Og
27	Muirceartach
28	Roderick
29	Gilleonan
30	Roderick
31	Gilleonan
32	Gilleonan
33	Gilleonan
34	Roderick Og
35	Roderick the Turbulent
36	Niall Og
37	Gilleonan
38	Roderick Dhu	Baron of Barra
39	Roderick 'Dove of the West'	Baron of Barra	1763
40	Roderick 'The Gentle'	Baron of Barra	1822
41	Roderick 'The General'	Baron of Barra, lost the Barony and Estate of Barra in 1838	1863
42	Donald McGougan		1880
43	Iain		1893
44	Roderick Ambrose		1914
45	Robert Lister	Baron of Barra
46	Ian Roderick

Further Information

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