
![]() |
Kiessimul Castle, Isle of Barra, is the seat of the Clan MacNeil, lying imposingly on an islet off Castlebay. The first of the MacNeil family to have settled in Scotland was Hugh Aonrachan, King of Airleach and Prince of Argyll, and was descended from the Irish King Niall of the Nine Hostages in 397. The 45th MacNeil of Barra, the current chief, who practised as an architect in the U.S.A., has dated the curtain wall from the 11th century, based on the claim that Hugh Aonrachan's son is reputed to have begun building the castle in 1030. However, W. Mackay Mackenzie believes that nothing of the castle predates 1427.
|
A print of this costs $25 (£16) |