History

MacNeills in Battle

12th Century

The 25th chief, Neil MacNeil, fought with King Alexander III to finally defeat the Norse at the Battle of Largs in 1263.

13th Century

There are MacNeils present on the muster rolls from the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Neil Og MacNeil, the 26th chief, fought with Robert the Bruce against Edward II, defeating the British at Stirling. For his efforts, Neil Og was rewarded with lands in Kintyre, Scotland.

14th Century

In the 1400's, the McNeill's sent heavily armed warriors to fight as mercenaries at the behest of various regional chieftains in their ongoing internecine wars. These families were known as "galloglass". (The term "galloglass" means a "mercenery from abroad"). In one of the earliest references to their appearance, "The Annals Of The Four Masters" records the death of a Scottish galloglass captain "MacNeill", who was killed fighting for the O'Rourke's.

15th Century

The MacNeils participated at the Battle of Glenlivet in October of 1594. In this battle, the Earl of Argyle was sent by King James VI to defeat the Catholic Earls. The Kings army was defeated.

17th Century

In the Jacobite uprisings in 1715 and 1745, the MacNeils fought for the Jacobites, which ended at the Battle of Culloden.

During the 1715 uprising, the 38th chief, Roderick Dhu, led the MacNeil clan into battle on the side of the Jacobites. After the second rebellion, Redcoats landed on Barra in their search for Charles Edward Stuart. After the war, the Highland Clans were outlawed and most clan members moved to other countries.

The chief's son, known as Roderick the Peaceful, was killed at the Storming of Quebec in 1759. His grandson, Colonel Roderick, 20th chief of the clan, moved from Kisimul to a house on Barra. His son, who had been an officer at the Battle of Waterloo, became chief of the clan on the death of Roderick in 1822. The 40th chief, Roderick the Gentle, fought in several battles of the American Revolution.

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