Long-time Clan MacNeil in Canada member, Oighrig Mac Neil Keogh, celebrated her 80^th. birthday in a most unusual way. Both she and her nephew, Angus John Mac Neil, who hold Private Pilot Licences, met in Inverness, Scotland on the evening of Friday, June 10^th. 2011. Oighrig lives in Aurora, Ontario, Canada and Angus John lives in Kingston, Tasmania, half-a-world apart ! Both of Angus John’s grandfathers were born in Barra and were childhood and long-term friends. One, Oighrig’s father, became a sea captain and the other became a chartered accountant who settled in Australia. Two of their children met and married in Australia. They settled for a while in Melbourne where Angus John was born. However shortly afterwards the young family moved to the Hebrides where his father Donnie, became manager of Polochar Inn, South Uist which was owned by his family. They settled into a new home and six more children were born. Being the eldest, Angus John had the privilege of spending most of his time at the Inn. Later in life, at the age of 26, he returned to Australia.

 On Saturday June 11^th. these two adventurers flew off to the Outer Hebrides in a rented Piper Warrior for an island-hopping trip. They flew to Barra and landed on its magnificent beach called the ‘Traigh Mhor’ (large beach). According to experts at Private Fly.com, this airport has the 10^th.  most spectacular approach anywhere in the world. Sion, nestled in the heart of the Alps, tops the list. But Barra is the only official airport where scheduled aircraft land directly on the beach, dependant on the tides. When they landed in Barra they were warmly greeted by a group of family and friends. They were showered with hugs, kisses and gifts including two boxes of huge fresh prawns – still wiggling! Because of the tide they could only remain on Barra for twenty minutes and then flew north along the west coast of South Uist to Benbecula. They were met there by Oighrig’s sister Myret and her husband Murdo Mac Kinnon. They drove south through Benbecula and all of South Uist to its southernmost point, Polochar Inn.

Next stop was the home of Myret and Murdo followed by a visit to the local church for the evening Mass, which was given in Gaelic and English. Murdo then took them on a quick tour of the island of Eriskay. The weather was glorious and lent itself to a spectacular view of Barra, many other little islands and the massive Atlantic Ocean separating the islands from North America.

Ishbel Walker, Myret and Murdo’s youngest daughter, hosted all to a magnificent dinner of fresh lobster, roast beef and all the trimmings and a delicious dessert that her youngsters Katie and Jack had helped to prepare. Tom, the cat, presided over the affair waiting patiently for left-overs! Dad, Donald, works ‘away’ on the mainland of Scotland as an electrician, but comes home frequently for week-ends. About 10.30 p.m., content and well-fed, they watched the sun finally set behind the hills and walked down the hill to Myret & Murdo’s home for a cosy sleep.

The following morning, after a true Scottish breakfast, they left for Benbecula. They departed about 1 p.m. and headed for the Isle of Skye, where they ‘dipped their wings’ to a friend, before climbing over the ominous mountains of Wester Ross. That was an unforgettable part of the adventure as there was nowhere in that inhospitable terrain that one could put down for an emergency landing should one’s one-and-only engine decide to quit !! Angus John’s mother, three of his sisters and countless nieces and nephews greeted them with sighs of relief as they landed in Inverness after 26 unforgettable hours.

Oighrig: a-ok1@sympatico.ca      Angus John: angusmacneil@iinet.net.au

Footnote: Check our website, clanmacneilincanada.ca, to view Angus John’s wonderful slide show of the Isle of Barra that he filmed a few years ago when he and his wife Cheryl celebrated their 25^th. Wedding Anniversary.