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{{Short description|Island in Outer Hebrides, Scotland}}
{{About|the island in Scotland}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{refimprove|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox Scottish island 
|coordinates       = {{coord|56.9833|-7.4667|type:isle_region:GB-ELS|display=title,inline}}
|location_map      = Scotland Outer Hebrides
|caption           = Barra shown within the Outer Hebrides
|GridReference     = NF687004
|celtic name       = Eilean Bharraigh
|scots name        = Barra<ref>{{cite web | url=https://d3lmsxlb5aor5x.cloudfront.net/library/document/Map_of_Scotland_in_Scots-Guide_and_gazetteer.pdf | title=Map of Scotland in Scots - Guide and gazetteer}}</ref>
|norse name        = 
|meaning of name   = 
|area              = {{Cvt|5875|ha|sqmi|frac=8}}
|area rank         = 20
|highest elevation = [[Heaval]], {{cvt|383|m|ft|0}}
|Population        = 1,209<ref name=RESAS>{{RESAS}}</ref>
|population rank   = 12
|population density= 20.6 people/km<sup>2</sup><ref name=RESAS/><ref name="Smith"/>
|main settlement   = [[Castlebay]]
|island group      = [[Uist]]s and [[Barra]]
|local authority   = {{lang|gd|[[Na h-Eileanan Siar]]}}
|image_flag        = Isle of Barra flag.svg
|references        = <ref name=Smith>{{Haswell-Smith|218–222}}</ref><ref name=OS>{{Cite web |title=Sheet 34, Barra |work=[[Ordnance Survey]] One-inch to the mile maps of Great Britain, Seventh Series, 1952–1961 |url=http://maps.nls.uk/view/91549111 |access-date=23 January 2016 |publisher=[[National Library of Scotland]] }}</ref>
|Image             =Approaching Castlebay - geograph.org.uk - 5453335.jpg
|ImageCaption      = The Village of [[Castlebay]] from the sea with [[Kisimul Castle]] in the foreground and the heights of [[Heaval]] beyond
}}

'''Barra''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ær|ə}}; {{langx|gd|Barraigh}} {{IPA|gd|ˈparˠaj|}} or {{lang|gd|Eilean Bharraigh}} {{IPA|gd|ˈelan ˈvarˠaj||Barraigh Eilean Bharraigh.ogg}}; {{langx|sco|Barra}}) is an island in the [[Outer Hebrides]], [[Scotland]], and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of [[Vatersay]] to which it is connected by the [[Vatersay Causeway]].

In 2022, the population was 1,209, an increase of 35 since the 2011 census.<ref name=NRS>{{NRS1C}}</ref> English and Gaelic are widely spoken, and at the 2011 Census, there were 761 Gaelic speakers (62% of the population, falling from 76% in the 1991 census).<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24955839 Census 2011 stats] BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 2014.</ref> Barra's airport is claimed to be the only one in the world to have regular scheduled flights landing on a beach.<ref name="airport"/>

== Geography ==
Barra is roughly {{convert|60|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} in area,<ref name=Smith/> {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|11|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name=OS/> A [[single-track road]], the A888, runs around the coast of the southern part of the island following the flattest land and serving the many coastal settlements. The interior of the island here is hilly and uninhabited. The west and north of the island has white sandy beaches consisting of sand created from marine shells adjoining the grassed {{lang|gd|[[machair (geography)|machair]]}}, while the southeast side has numerous rocky inlets. To the north a sandy peninsula runs to the beach airport and Eoligarry.<ref name=Smith/>

== Geology ==
In common with the rest of the [[Western Isles]], Barra is formed from the oldest rocks in Britain, the [[Lewisian gneiss]], which dates from the [[Archean|Archaean]] eon. Some of the gneiss in the east of the island is noted as being [[pyroxene]]-bearing. Layered textures or [[Foliation (geology)|foliation]] in this [[metamorphic rock]] is typically around 30° to the east or northeast. [[Palaeoproterozoic]] age [[diorite|metadiorites]] and [[tonalite|metatonalites]] forming a part of the East Barra Meta-igneous Complex occur around [[Castlebay]] as they do on the neighbouring islands of [[Vatersay]] and [[Flodday, Sound of Barra|Flodday]]. A few [[mafic|metabasic]] [[dike (geology)|dykes]] intrude the gneiss in the east.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uist and Barra (South) |url=http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1002541 |website=BGS large map images |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>
The island is traversed by a handful of [[normal fault]]s running WNW-ESE and by west-facing [[thrust fault]]s bringing [[nappe]]s of gneiss from the east. [[Machair|Blown sand]] masks the bedrock around [[Borve, Barra|Borve]] and Allisdale as it does west of Barra airport. [[Peat]] deposits are mapped across Beinn Chliaid and Beinn Sgurabhal in the north of the island.<ref>{{cite web |title=Onshore Geoindex |url=https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html |website=British Geological Survey |access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
===Early history===
Human presence on Barra since the [[Neolithic era]] was established by the discovery of a near-complete pottery beaker dating from 2500&nbsp;BC during the construction of a road in the 1990s. A number of stone remains were also found, including a Neolithic "work platform", which complement the several [[standing stone]]s scattered around the island. In the hills to the north of Borve, there is a large [[chambered cairn]], sited in a prominent position.

Beyond the main island, a [[Bronze Age]] cemetery is located on [[Vatersay]], as well as an [[Iron Age]] [[broch]]; the remains of a similarly aged broch is located on the east of Barra itself. Remains of Bronze Age burials and [[Iron Age]] roundhouses were also discovered in sand dunes, near the hamlet of [[Allasdale]], following storms in 2007{{refn|group="note"|In May of that year, [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Time Team]]'' came to investigate the remains. 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 |publisher=[[Channel 4]] |access-date=21 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123080317/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2008/barra/index.html |archive-date=23 January 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}. Occupation of Barra continued during the later Iron Age, as evidenced by the discovery of a [[wheelhouse (archaeology)|wheelhouse]] from the end of the period, which was later re-occupied between the 3rd and 4th centuries, and again in the 7th and 8th centuries.

These occupations were followed in the 9th century by [[Viking]] settlers, who gave the island the [[Old Norse]] ''{{lang|non|ey}}'' ("island") part of its name.  Various origins of ''Barr'' have been suggested, including the Gaelic personal name ''{{lang|gd|[[Finbar (disambiguation)|Finnbarr]]}}'', the Old Norse elements ''{{lang|gd|berr}}'' or ''{{lang|gd|barr}}'' ("bare" or "rough"), and the [[Celtic language|Celtic]] element *''barr'' ("top" or "peak").<ref>{{cite book |last=Abrams |first=L |year=2007 |chapter=Conversion and the Church in the Hebrides in the Viking Age |editor1-last=Smith |editor1-first=BB |editor2-last=Taylor |editor2-first=S |editor3-last=Williams |editor3-first=G |title=West Over Sea: Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300 |series=The Northern World: North Europe and the Baltic {{circa|400–1700}} AD. Peoples, Economics and Cultures (series vol. 31) |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |location=Leiden |pages=169–193 |isbn=978-90-04-15893-1 |issn=1569-1462 }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed-overlay" heights="180px">
File:Vatersay Fae037.jpg|Neolithic "work platform", near Vatersay
File:Borve Standing Stones.JPG|Standing stone at Borve
File:Vatersay Fae028.jpg|Iron Age wheelhouse near Vatersay
File:Bruernish broch 01.jpg|Broch at Bruernish
</gallery>

===Kingdom of the Isles===
The Vikings established the [[Kingdom of the Isles]] throughout the Hebrides, including Barra. Following Norwegian unification, the Kingdom of the Isles became a crown dependency of the Norwegian king; to the Norwegians, it was ''Suðreyjar'' (meaning ''southern isles''). [[Malcolm III of Scotland]] acknowledged in writing that they were not Scottish, and King [[Edgar of Scotland|Edgar]] [[quitclaim]]ed any residual doubts. In the north of Barra, from this period survived a gravestone, on which a [[Celtic cross]] is present on one side, and [[rune|runic]] inscriptions on the other{{refn|group="note"|Discovered in 1865, the gravestone is now located in Edinburgh, though a facsimile was later placed in the chapel near the stone's original location on Barra}}.

In the mid 12th century, [[Somerled]], a [[Norse-Gael]] of uncertain origin, launched a coup, which made Suðreyjar entirely independent. Following his death, Norwegian authority was nominally restored, but in practice, the kingdom was divided between Somerled's heirs ({{lang|gd|[[Clann Somhairle]]}}), and the dynasty that Somerled had deposed (the [[Crovan dynasty]]). {{lang|gd|[[Clann Ruaidhrí]]}}, a branch of Somerled's heirs, ruled Barra, as well as [[Uist]], [[Eigg]], [[Rùm]], the [[Rough Bounds]], [[Isle of Bute|Bute]], [[Isle of Arran|Arran]], and northern [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]].<ref>''Kingship and Unity, Scotland 1000-1306'', G. W. S. Barrow, Edinburgh University Press, 1981</ref><ref>''Galloglas: Hebridean and West Highland Mercenary Warrior Kindreds in Medieval Ireland'', John Marsden, 2003</ref><ref>''Lismore: The Great Garden'', Robert Hay, 2009, Birlinn Ltd</ref><ref>''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland'', 90 (1956-1957), A.A.M. Duncan, A.L Brown, pages 204-205</ref><ref>''The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard'', R. A. McDonald, 1997, Tuckwell Press</ref>

In the 13th century, despite Edgar's quitclaim, Scottish forces attempted to conquer parts of Suðreyjar, culminating in the indecisive [[Battle of Largs]]. In 1266, the matter was settled by the [[Treaty of Perth]], which transferred the whole of Suðreyjar to Scotland, in exchange for a very large sum of money.{{Refn|group="note"|4000 marks}} The Treaty expressly preserved the status of the rulers of Suðreyjar; the Clann Ruaidhri lands, excepting Bute, Arran, and Jura, became the ''Lordship of [[Garmoran]]'', a quasi-independent crown dependency, rather than an intrinsic part of Scotland.

===Lordship of Garmoran===
{{Main|Garmoran}}
[[File:Cliad bay and Ben Cliad - geograph.org.uk - 852097.jpg|thumb|Cliad bay]]

In 1293, King [[John Balliol]] established the [[Sheriffdom of Skye]], which included the Outer Hebrides. Following his usurpation, the sheriffdom ceased to be mentioned{{refn|group="note"|In surviving records, at least.}}, and the Garmoran lordship (including Barra) was confirmed to {{lang|gd|[[Ruaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí]]}}, the head of Clann Ruaidhri. In 1343, King [[David II of Scotland|David II]] issued a further charter to Ruaidhrí's son, [[Raghnall Mac Ruaidhrí|Raghnall]],<ref>''Regesta Regum Scottorum VI'' ed. Bruce Webster (Edinburgh 1982) no. 73.</ref> but Raghnall's assassination, just three years later, left Garmoran in the hands of [[Amy of Garmoran]].

The southern parts of the Kingdom of the Isles had become the ''[[Lordship of the Isles]]'', ruled by the [[Clan Donald|MacDonald]]s (another group of Somerled's descendants). Amy married the MacDonald leader, [[John of Islay, Lord of the Isles|John of Islay]],<ref name="Raven 2005">{{cite thesis |last=Raven |first=JA |title=Medieval Landscapes and Lordship in South Uist |degree=PhD |url=http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1116/ |volume=1 |publisher=[[University of Glasgow]] |year=2005 |via=[[Glasgow Theses Service]] }}</ref> but a decade later he divorced her, and married the king's niece instead (in return for a substantial [[dowry]]). As part of the divorce, John deprived his eldest son, [[Ranald MacDonald (founder of Clanranald)|Ranald]], of the ability to inherit the Lordship of the Isles, in favour of a son by his new wife. As compensation, John granted Lordship of the Uists to Ranald's younger brother Godfrey and made Ranald Lord of the remainder of Garmoran.

On Ranald's death, disputes between Godfrey and his nephews led to an enormous amount of violence. In 1427, frustrated with the level of violence generally in the highlands, King [[James I of Scotland|James I]] demanded that highland leaders should attend a meeting at [[Inverness]]. On arrival, many of the leaders were seized and imprisoned; Alexander MacGorrie, son of Godfrey, was considered to be one of the two most reprehensible, and after a quick [[showtrial]], was immediately executed.<ref name="G65">{{Citation | author1=Gregory, Donald | title=History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland, from A.D. 1493 to A.D. 1625, with a brief introductory sketch, from A.D. 80 to A.D. 1493 | year=1836 | publisher=Edinburgh, W. Tait | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DaoHAAAAQAAJ | access-date=11 May 2012 }}, p. 65</ref> As Alexander had by now inherited Godfrey's [[de facto]] position as Lord of Garmoran, and in view of Ranald's heirs being no less responsible for the violence, King James declared the Lordship of Garmoran forfeit.

===Lairds and pirates===
[[File:Kisimul Castle (Chiosmuil ) Castlebay.JPG|thumb|[[Kisimul Castle]]]]
Following the forfeiture, and in that same year, [[Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross|the Lord of the Isles]] granted [[Laird]]ship of Barra (and half of [[South Uist]]) to Giolla Adhamhnáin Mac Néill, [[Scottish clan chief|Chief]] of [[Clan MacNeil]].

Headquartering themselves at [[Kisimul Castle]] and making use of [[Birlinn]]s, the MacNeils became famed for [[piracy]] after attacking English ships during the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]]. They were summoned by [[James VI of Scotland|King James VI]] – King of Scotland – to answer for their behaviour. The Chief, Roderick MacNeil ("Rory the Turbulent"), argued that he thought King James would be pleased, since Queen Elizabeth had beheaded his mother [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]. Pleased, King James released him. {{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The mainly [[Catholic Church in Scotland|Catholic population]] of the island was under serious threat during the [[Jacobite Uprising of 1745]]. According to Bishop [[John Geddes (bishop)|John Geddes]], "Early in the spring of [[1746]], some ships of war came to the coast of the isle of Barra and landed some men, who threatened they would lay desolate the whole island if the [[Roman Catholic priest|priest]] was not delivered up to them. Father 
[[James Grant (Scottish bishop)|James Grant]], who was missionary then, and afterward Bishop, being informed of the threats in a safe retreat in which he was in a little island, surrendered himself, and was carried prisoner to [[Mingarry Castle]] on the Western coast (i.e. [[Ardnamurchan]])". He was detained and then deported.<ref>Charles MacDonald (2011), ''Moidart: Among the Clanranalds'', Birlinn Press. Page 176 - 177.</ref>

[[File:Watermill ruin - geograph.org.uk - 75677.jpg|thumb|An abandoned watermill on Barra]]
The descendants of the [[Scottish clan chief|Clan Chiefs]] held on to Barra until 1838. Roderick MacNeil, Chief of the MacNeils was heavily in debt and sold the island to Colonel [[John Gordon (soldier)|John Gordon]] of [[Cluny Castle|Cluny]] for the sum of £38,050. Without any consultation with the islanders Gordon then offered Barra to the British Government for use as a penal colony.<ref name=Smith/>

In common with many of the new [[Anglo-Scottish]] landlords, Colonel Gordon [[Highland Clearances|evicted most of the islanders]] to make way for sheep farming in 1851. These were "some of the most cruel and shameful cases of inhumanity ever seen on the West Coast" with many of the displaced islanders joining the [[Scottish diaspora]] in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], the [[United States]], and [[Canada]].<ref name=Smith/><ref>John Lorne Campbell (1992), ''Tales from Barra: Told by The Coddy'', Birlinn. Pages 67-69.</ref>

The MacNeil Chiefs were also among the migrants, settling at first in Canada, but moving to the United States by the 20th century. Barra was restored to MacNeil ownership in 1937 when the Barra estate, which encompassed most of the island, was bought by Robert Lister Macneil, an American. In 2000, his heir, [[Ian Roderick Macneil]] (another American), let Kisimul Castle to [[Historic Scotland]], on a 1000-year lease (for a rental of £1 and a bottle of whisky, per annum). In 2003, he transferred ownership of the Barra Estate to the [[Scottish Government]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A gift to Scotland&nbsp;– the isle of Barra |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=980092003 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717232553/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=980092003 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2012 |first=John |last=Ross |date=6 September 2003 |access-date=4 November 2007 |work=[[The Scotsman]] }}</ref> Under Scottish law, the inhabitants have the right to take possession of the estate themselves, if they so wish.

==Places of interest==
The main village is Castlebay (''{{lang|gd|Bàgh a' Chaisteil}}'') in a sheltered bay, where [[Kisimul Castle]] sits on a small [[islet]] not far from shore; giving the village its name. This is the main harbour.

A smaller medieval tower house, {{lang|gd|Dun Mhic Leoid}}, is in the middle of Loch St Clare on the west side of the island at Tangasdale.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/21394/barra-dun-mhic-leoid |title=Barra, Dun Mhic Leoid  |website=canmore.org.uk |access-date=2017-01-20 }}</ref>

The highest elevation on the island is [[Heaval]], near the top of which is a prominent white marble statue of the [[Mother of Christ|Madonna and Child]], called "Our Lady of the Sea", which was erected during the [[Marian year]] of 1954. The predominant faith on the island is [[Catholicism]] and the Catholic church dedicated to Our Lady of the Sea is apparent to those arriving at Castlebay.<ref>[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/barra/starofthesea/index.html Undiscovered Scotland]</ref>

== Economy ==
Tourism provides the main income for the majority of islanders; the high season lasts from May to September. Thousands of people visit the island every year, the busiest times being during {{lang|gd|Fèis Bharraigh}} & BarraFest in July. The {{lang|gd|Dualchas}} Heritage and Cultural Centre is located in Castlebay, next to [[Castlebay Community School]]. It has various exhibitions each year and is open throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barraheritage.com/dualchas.htm |title=Dualchas |publisher={{lang|gd|Comunn Eachdraidh Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh}} |access-date=29 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705011933/http://www.barraheritage.com/dualchas.htm |archive-date=5 July 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In April 2020, [[Condé Nast Traveller]] summed up Barra as "a delightful little island with its own castle and beach airport" and recommended visiting the "high cliffs in the east and lovely beaches and bays in the west".<ref>[https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/islands-scotland THE 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS TO VISIT IN SCOTLAND]</ref>

The Outer Hebrides Web site particularly recommended visits to sites "the iconic Kisimul Castle at Castlebay" and stopping to see the Barra seals at Seal Bay.<ref>[https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/our-islands/barra Our Islands, Barra]</ref> The Explore Scotland tourism Web site also discusses the Barra Golf Club, Kisimul Castle, Barra Heritage and Cultural Centre, Heaval for exceptional views, Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea and Cille Bharra, the ancient graveyard.<ref>[https://www.explore-isle-of-barra.co.uk/what-to-do/ What to do]</ref>

According to the Scottish Government, "tourism is by far and away the mainstay industry" of the Outer Hebrides, "generating £65m in economic value for the islands, sustaining around 1000 jobs" The report adds that the "islands receive 219,000 visitors per year".<ref>[https://www.scotland.org/live-in-scotland/where-to-live-in-scotland/the-outer-hebrides The Outer Hebrides]</ref> The Outer Hebrides tourism bureau states that 10–15% of economic activity on the islands was made up of tourism in 2017. The agency states that the "exact split between islands is not possible" when calculating the number of visits, but "the approximate split is Lewis (45%), Uist (25%), Harris (20%), Barra (10%)".<ref>[https://www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk/industry/tourism-in-the-outer-hebrides Tourism in the Outer Hebrides]</ref>

Castlebay is the primary base for tourists, with a few hotels, a supermarket, bank and  petrol station. Explore Scotland stated in 2020 that the island was "also an ideal starting point for visiting and exploring the Uists and Benbecula".<ref>[https://www.explore-isle-of-barra.co.uk/ Welcome to the Isle of Barra]</ref>

In 2010, camping on the machair at the airport was banned due to erosion; this prompted crofters to provide areas on their crofts for visiting tourists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.explore-isle-of-barra.co.uk/accommodation/camping-and-motor-homes/ |title=Camping and Motor Homes |date=18 December 2012 |publisher=Explore Scotland }}</ref> Boat trips to the neighbouring island of [[Mingulay]] are available during the summer season, and island-hopping plane trips are also available.

The Barratlantic factory, in [[Northbay]] is a fish and shellfish processing company. As of 2020, its main products were king scallops and langoustines but it was selling most types of white fish from the quayside. Their Web site indicated that the stock included "cod; haddock; skate; witches; megrims; turbot; Dover sole and monkfish which you can buy direct from the factory".<ref>[https://www.barratlantic.co.uk/index.php/about-us About Us]</ref> The Hebridean Toffee Factory in Castlebay is one of the few manufacturers on Barra and it makes the products locally. According to Visit Scotland, the toffee can be ordered from anywhere in the world; "it is made to order and is usually shipped within 24 hours".<ref>[https://www.visitscotland.com/info/food-drink/hebridean-toffee-p301871 HEBRIDEAN TOFFEE]</ref>

Isle of Barra Distillers was founded by Michael and Katie Morrison in 2016; their Barra Atlantic Gin was first sold in August 2017 and the company has expanded since then.<ref>[https://thegincooperative.com/a-new-chapter-in-scottish-gin-isle-of-barra-distillers/ A New Chapter in Scottish Gin 28 August 2020]</ref><ref>[https://www.visitscotland.com/info/food-drink/isle-of-barra-distillers-p1696081  ISLE OF BARRA DISTILLERS]</ref> As of early 2021, the distillery continued marketing gin, with great success.<ref>[https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/isle-of-barra-distillers-unveil-new-ada-still-heres-what-that-means-for-their-barra-atlantic-gin/ Isle of Barra Distillers unveil new Ada still – here’s what that means for their Barra Atlantic Gin 9 December 2020]</ref> The plan for whisky was stated on its Web site as: "It is our goal to open the Islands first Single Malt Whisky Distillery within the next 2-3 years".<ref>[https://isleofbarradistillers.com/ 2021]</ref>

The [[Isle of Barra distillery]]<ref>[http://www.uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk/ Isle of Barra Distillery] Retrieved 04 Dec 2022.</ref> was founded in 2003 as Uisge Beatha nan Eilean Ltd<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC259535 Uisge Beatha nan Eilean Ltd Companies House] Retrieved 04 Dec 2022.</ref> and became a Community Benefit Society in 2018<ref>[https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/Search/Society/10476 Mutuals Public Register] Retrieved 04 Dec 2022.</ref> under the [[Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014]]. In December 2012, four 6&nbsp;kW wind turbines<ref>[https://en.wind-turbine-models.com/turbines/666-kingspan-renewables-kw6 Kingspan Renewables KW6 wind turbine] Retrieved 04 Dec 2022.</ref> made by Proven (Proven were bought by [[Kingspan Group]] in 2011<ref>[https://www.insider.co.uk/news/kingspan-renewables-buys-troubled-proven-9868424 Kingspan Renewables buys troubled Proven] Retrieved 04 Dec 2022.</ref>) were erected<ref>[http://www.uisgebeathananeilean.co.uk/green.html Isle of Barra Distillery wind turbines] Retrieved 04 Dec 2022.</ref> next to the reservoir Loch Uisge,<ref>[https://www.wildtrout.org/av/loch-uisge-isle-barra Loch Uisge, Isle of Barra] Retrieved 04 Dec 2022.</ref> which originally supplied the mains water to Castlebay. It is proposed that as much as possible of the raw materials, supply chain and labor to produce the whisky should remain as local as possible to minimise imports and maximise the benefit to the island's economy.

=== {{lang|gd|Coimhearsachd Bharraigh agus Bhatarsaigh}} ===
{{lang|gd|Coimhearsachd Bharraidh agus Bhatarsaidh}} (Barra and Vatersay Community) Ltd is a community-owned company whose aim is to support community development on Barra and Vatersay. The company is managed by a volunteer board of directors drawn from the membership. Membership is open to residents of the two islands whose names appear on the voting register.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://isleofbarra.com/coimhearsachdbharraigh.htm |title=Coimhearsachd Bharraigh agus Bhatarsaigh |publisher=Isle of Barra |access-date=17 November 2013 }}</ref>

The company's latest project is a 900&nbsp;kW Enercon E-44 wind turbine installed at {{lang|gd|Gòb Sgùrabhal}}, at the most northwesterly point of the island. At the time of construction, it was anticipated that the wind resource would make this one of the most productive 900&nbsp;kW turbines in Western Europe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Community Wind Turbine for Barra |date=21 October 2013 |newspaper=[[Stornoway Gazette]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219051809/http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/community-wind-turbine-for-barra-1-3149343 |archive-date=2013-12-19 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/community-wind-turbine-for-barra-1-3149343 }}</ref>

== Transport ==
===Air===
[[File:Barra airport1.jpg|thumb|[[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter|Twin Otter]] at Barra airport]]

[[Barra Airport (Scotland)|Barra's airport]], near [[Northbay]], uses the {{convert|2|mi|km|0|adj=mid|-long}} cockle shell beach of [[Traigh Mhor]], (Scottish Gaelic: {{lang|gd|An Tràigh Mhòr}} "The Great Beach") as a runway. Planes can land and take off only at low tide, so the timetable varies. Voted the world's most scenic landing location using a scheduled flight,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16314441 |title=Barra airport is world's most scenic |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=23 December 2011 |access-date=31 August 2025 }}</ref> Barra's airport is claimed to be the only airport in the world to have regular scheduled flights landing on a beach.<ref name="airport">{{cite web |url=http://www.hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html |title=Barra Airport |publisher=Highlands and Islands Airports Limited |access-date=6 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322030628/http://hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html |archive-date=22 March 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Media ==
The island has featured in a variety of media.

===Film and TV===
Barra is home to a TV production company, Little Day Productions, who produced the documentary ''Barra to Barcelona'', which was broadcast on BBC Alba in 2022 and 2023. Much of their work features Barra and Vatersay.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} Barra has regularly featured in various television programmes on the [[Scottish Gaelic]] channel [[BBC Alba (TV channel)|BBC Alba]] since it began broadcasting in 2008.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

The 1949 [[Ealing Studios]] comedy ''[[Whisky Galore! (1949 film)|Whisky Galore!]]'' was filmed on Barra. The film is based on the novel ''[[Whisky Galore (novel)|Whisky Galore]]'' by Sir [[Compton Mackenzie]], itself a fictionalised telling of the story of the [[SS Politician|SS ''Politician'']], which ran aground with a cargo of some 50,000 cases of whisky on board in 1941. Mackenzie, who lived near the airport and died in 1972, is buried in a grave marked by a simple cross at {{lang|gd|Cille Bharra}} cemetery, which is situated a little way up the hillside overlooking Eoligarry jetty.<ref name="Smith" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/441458/ |title=Whisky Galore! |publisher=screenonline.org.uk |access-date=29 March 2008 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/34803 "Grave of Compton MacKenzie, Eolaigearraidh, Barra"] Photograph NF 7007. Geograph. Retrieved 4 April 2010.</ref> The sequel ''[[Rockets Galore! (film)|Rockets Galore!]]'' was also filmed in and around the island.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Rockets Galore|url=https://archive.org/details/variety212-1958-09/page/n312/mode/1up?q=%22rockets+galore%22+%22donald+sinden%22|date=24 September 1958|magazine=Variety|page=6}}</ref> 

The 1976 romance ''[[Emily (novel)|Emily]]'' by [[Jilly Cooper]] was filmed on the island; it starred [[Gemma Craven]] and [[Ronald Pickup]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Macdonald |first=Keith |date=1977-04-06 |title=Eleanor misses out on Romance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-eleanor-misses-o/175063883/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |work=Manchester Evening News |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1977-04-06 |title=Job's story in ballet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-jobs-story-in-ballet/175049361/ |access-date=2025-06-22 |work=Evening Post |pages=59}}</ref> The [[sitcom]] ''[[Dad's Army]]'', broadcast from 1968 to 1977, [[Private Frazer]] claims to be from Barra, which he often describes as "a wild and lonely place".<ref>[http://www.dadsarmy.co.uk/maincharacters.html "Main Characters"]. Dad's Army Appreciation Society. Retrieved 7 August 2013.</ref>

Barra was featured{{When|date=August 2025}} on ''[[Time Team]]'', in which archeologists excavated several Iron Age sites.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

Barra was also featured in the 2006 [[Five (TV channel)|Channel 5]] documentary ''Extraordinary People: The Boy Who Lived Before'', where a young boy named Cameron, who lived in [[Glasgow]], claimed to have memories of past life on the island.<ref>[http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/?p=4584 An Island Parish (Series 5) « Tiger Aspect<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609001328/http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/?p=4584 |date=9 June 2011 }}</ref>

The island was the location for the fifth (2011) and sixth series (2012) of the [[BBC Two]] documentary ''[[An Island Parish]]'' documenting the arrival and subsequent experiences of a new Catholic priest on the island –  Father John Paul.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0101jhb#synopsis BBC&nbsp;– BBC Two Programmes&nbsp;– An Island Parish, Series 5, Getting to Know You<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Books===
The specialist in [[mystical theology]] and author [[Rayner Torkington]] wrote a novel concerning [[Christian Mysticism]] featuring a character based on his late brother Peter Torkington called Peter Calvay, whom in the novel had lived on the island of [[Hellisay]] for a number of years in the first half of the twentieth century.<ref name="Torkington1991">{{cite book|author=Rayner Torkington|title=Peter Calvay, Hermit: A Personal Rediscovery of Prayer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rzjAAAACAAJ|year=1991|publisher=Mercier|isbn=978-0-85342-969-2}}</ref> The book, titled ''Peter Calvay, Hermit: A Personal Rediscovery of Prayer'', was first published in 1977 and has had at least eleven reprintings.

Torkington's novel ''Wisdom from the Western Isles: The Making of a Mystic'', published in 2008, also describes the author's meetings with Peter Calvay whilst he was staying on Barra.<ref name="Torkington2015">{{cite book|author=David Torkington|title=Wisdom from the Western Isles: The Making of a Mystic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mp9SBgAAQBAJ|date=30 January 2015|publisher=John Hunt Publishing|isbn=978-1-78535-017-7}}</ref>

===Other===
In 2008 the Barra [[RNLI]] Lifeboat, ''Edna Windsor'', was featured on a series of postage stamps.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3542758.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316135446/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3542758.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 March 2008 |title=Set of stamps honours the courage of Britain's lifeboatmen and coastguards |date=13 March 2008 |work=[[The Times]] |access-date=26 December 2008 }}</ref> The first class stamp shows the {{convert|17|m|ft|adj=on}} [[Severn class lifeboat]] in action in the Sound of [[Barra Head|Berneray]] {{convert|20|km|mi}} southwest of Barra in {{convert|3.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} swell with {{convert|30|km/h|kn|abbr=on}} of wind.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.hmmm-uk.com/2008/03/royal-mail-stamps-mayday-rescu.html |title=Royal Mail Stamps 'Mayday&nbsp;– Rescue at Sea' |publisher=news.hmmm-uk.com |access-date=26 December 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730044056/http://news.hmmm-uk.com/2008/03/royal-mail-stamps-mayday-rescu.html |archive-date=30 July 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Having been flown unofficially for at least a decade, the island's flag received official recognition from the [[Lyon Court]] and the [[Flag Institute]] in November 2017. The design is a white [[Nordic cross]] on a green background.<ref name="flag-recognised-bbc">{{cite news| title=Isle of Barra's flag officially recognised| date=23 November 2017| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42094599 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="flag-institute">{{cite web|title=Barra Flag|url={{Flag Institute|Barra}}|publisher=Flag Institute|access-date=26 May 2018}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Barra has an [[oceanic climate]], with mild temperatures year-round.

{{Weather box
|location = Barra ({{lang|gd|Traigh Mhòr}} Airport, 0&nbsp;m asl, averages 1991–2020)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan high C = 8.6
|Feb high C = 8.2
|Mar high C = 9.2
|Apr high C = 10.7
|May high C = 13.1
|Jun high C = 14.9
|Jul high C = 16.4
|Aug high C = 16.6
|Sep high C = 15.1
|Oct high C = 12.6
|Nov high C = 10.4
|Dec high C = 8.8
|year high C = 12.1
|Jan low C = 4.6
|Feb low C = 4.3
|Mar low C = 4.7
|Apr low C = 6.1
|May low C = 7.8
|Jun low C = 10.0
|Jul low C = 11.7
|Aug low C = 12.1
|Sep low C = 11.0
|Oct low C = 8.8
|Nov low C = 6.5
|Dec low C = 4.9
|year low C = 7.7
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 143.5
|Feb rain mm = 101.7
|Mar rain mm = 99.0
|Apr rain mm = 70.2
|May rain mm = 55.2
|Jun rain mm = 67.1
|Jul rain mm = 78.3
|Aug rain mm = 93.7
|Sep rain mm = 93.2
|Oct rain mm = 112.7
|Nov rain mm = 125.2
|Dec rain mm = 135.9
|year rain mm = 1175.7
|unit rain days = 1 mm
|Jan rain days = 22.5
|Feb rain days = 18.8
|Mar rain days = 18.4
|Apr rain days = 13.9
|May rain days = 12.9
|Jun rain days = 12.8
|Jul rain days = 14.8
|Aug rain days = 17.4
|Sep rain days = 16.5
|Oct rain days = 20.3
|Nov rain days = 22.0
|Dec rain days = 21.7
|year rain days = 212.0
|Jan sun = 27.2
|Feb sun = 63.2
|Mar sun = 105.5
|Apr sun = 163.0
|May sun = 211.8
|Jun sun = 177.3
|Jul sun = 160.6
|Aug sun = 158.7
|Sep sun = 118.6
|Oct sun = 84.8
|Nov sun = 42.8
|Dec sun = 19.5
|year sun = 1333.1
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="Met Office">{{Cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gf4sqsg21 |title=Barra (Traigh Mhòr) Airport (Na h-Eileanan Siar) UK climate averages |publisher= Met Office |access-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200321115101/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gf4sqsg21 |archive-date=21 March 2020}}</ref>
}}

== People from Barra ==
* [[Angus MacNeil]] (b. 1970), Member of Parliament for {{lang|gd|[[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)|Na h-Eileanan an Iar]]}}, [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]–[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
* [[Flora MacNeil]] (1928—2015), Scottish Gaelic [[traditional singer]] and Barra native
* [[Mick MacNeil]] (b. 1958), Simple Minds keyboardist 1978–1990

== See also ==
{{Portal|Scottish islands}}
* [[List of islands of Scotland]]
* [[List of places in the Western Isles]]
* {{lang|gd|[[Fèis Bharraigh]]}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="note"}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Edited by [[John Lorne Campbell]] (1936), ''The Book of Barra, Being accounts of the Island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides written by various authors at various times, together with unpublished letters and other matter relating to the Island''. Published by G. Routledge and Sons Ltd. and printed by the Edinburgh Press in 1936. Republished by Acair in 1998 ({{ISBN|0861521048}}).
* John Lorne Campbell (1992), ''Tales from Barra: Told by The Coddy'', [[Birlinn Limited]].
* Ealasaid Chaimbeul (1982), ''Air Mo Chuairt/My Journey, Memories of an Island School Teacher'', {{ISBN|9780861525546}}.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Barra, Scotland|Barra}}
{{EB1911 poster|Barra}}
{{Wikivoyage|Barra}}
* [http://www.explore-isle-of-barra.co.uk/ Explore the Isle of Barra]
* [http://www.isleofbarra.com/ Isle of Barra community website]
* [http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=1655 National Library of Scotland: Scottish Screen Archive] (1950s archive film about the island of Barra)

{{Barra|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Barra Isles}}
{{Hebrides}}
{{Islands of Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Barra| ]]
[[Category:Clan MacNeil]]
[[Category:Islands of the Outer Hebrides]]
[[Category:Parishes in Western Isles]]