Barra
143574
224140292
2008-07-07T14:27:25Z
194.217.170.53
/* Sports */
{{otheruses4|the island of '''Barra''' in Scotland|other uses of the same name|Barra (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Scottish island |
<!-- |Map=UK Barra.png -->
|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=[[Uist]]s and [[Barra]]
|local authority=[[Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
|references=<ref>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]].</ref><ref name=Smith>Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) ''The Scottish Islands''. Edinburgh. Canongate. Pages 218-222.</ref><ref>[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey]</ref>
}}
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==
[[Image:Barra Satellite Photo.png|thumb|left|Satellite photo of Barra, Vatersay and surrounding islands]]
At the 2001 census the resident population was 1,078, and mostly [[Roman Catholic Church|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 [[beach]]es backed by shell-sand [[machair (geography)|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]] [[broch]]s 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'Neill]]s of Ulster.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
[[Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross|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.<ref name=undiscovered-barra>{{cite web|url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/barra/barra/index.html|title=Barra Feature Page|Publisher=Undiscovered Scotland|accessdate=2007-11-04}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref>
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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Media and the Arts==
Every summer, [[Fèis Bharraigh]]<ref name = "http://www.barra-accommodation.co.uk/events.php">[http://www.barra-accommodation.co.uk/events.php Barra Accommodation Upcoming Events] Retrieved [[21 March]] [[2008]]. </ref> 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.<ref name = "http://www.barra-accommodation.co.uk/events.php">[http://www.barra-accommodation.co.uk/events.php Barra Accommodation Upcoming Events] Retrieved [[21 March]] [[2008]].</ref>
The Dualchas Heritage and Cultural Centre is located in Castlebay.<ref>[http://www.barraheritage.com/dualchas.htm "Dualchas"] Comunn Eachdraidh Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh. Retrieved [[29 March]] [[2008]].</ref>
The 1949 [[Ealing Studios]] comedy ''[[Whisky Galore! (film)|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.<ref>[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/441458/ ''Whisky Galore!''] screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved [[29 March]] [[2008]].</ref><ref name=Smith/>
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."
==Sports==
Barra hosts an annual half-marathon called the ''Barrathon''.<ref name = "http://www.barrathon.org.uk/index.html">[http://www.barrathon.org.uk/index.html "Barrathon"] barrathon.org.uk. Retrieved [[29 March]] [[2008]] </ref> This year it will be held on the 28th June 2008; it is part of the [[Western Isles Half Marathons|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 [[Vatersay|Bhatarsaigh]].
The Barra community holds an annual [[Highland Games|games]] on the island. This year The Barra Games<ref name = "http://www.barra-accommodation.co.uk/events.php">[http://www.barra-accommodation.co.uk/events.php Barra Accommodation Upcoming Events] Retrieved [[21 March]] [[2008]]. </ref> will be 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 kayak]]ing<ref name = "http://clearwaterpaddling.com/">[http://clearwaterpaddling.com/ Clearwater Paddling] Retrieved [[29 March]] [[2008]]. </ref> or [[power kite|power kiting]]<ref name = "http://www.barrapowerkiting.co.uk/">[http://www.barrapowerkiting.co.uk/ Barra Power Kiting] Retrieved [[29 March]] [[2008]]. </ref>, and ample opportunities are available for keen anglers.
==Transport Links==
Uniquely in [[Europe]], [[Barra Airport (Scotland)|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.<ref name = "http://www.hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html">[http://www.hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html Barra Airport Website]</ref> The aircraft currently in operation on Barra is the [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]]. The beach is also a source of [[cockle]]s.
[[Castlebay]] is the main ferry port from which [[ferry|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, Barra|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.
== Distillery ==
There is currently planning under way to build a distillery on the west side of the island.<ref name = "http://uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk/home.html">[http://uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk/home.html Isle of Barra Distillery] uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk. Retrieved [[29 March]] [[2008]]. </ref> The distillery, producing around 25,000 litres per annum, will be the smallest in Scotland and the only one in the [[Outer Hebrides]] and therefore the most westerly.<ref name = "http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/swa/71.html">[http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/swa/71.html Map of Scotch Whisky Distilleries]</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Isle of barra-castlebay.jpg|Castlebay, Barra
Image:2004 0806hebridies0048.JPG|Traigh Eais
Image:Traigh Sunset.jpg|Sunset From Traigh Eais
Image:Barra Airport Sands.JPG|Airport Sands
Image:bruernish201.jpg|Bruernish
Image:Barra-Airport-Canthusus.JPG|Barra Airport
Image:2004 0806hebridies0040.JPG|Twin Otter Taking off From Barra Airport
</gallery>
==References==
<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
==See also==
*[[List of places in the Western Isles]]
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{{coor title dm|56|59|N|7|28|W|type:isle}}
[[Category:Islands of the Outer Hebrides]]
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[[no:Barra (Skottland)]]
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