Archive for Clan MacNeil
MacNeil Postcard ~~ Feb 27, 2018 ~~ Hermon MacNeil Birthday #152
Posted by: | CommentsThis Feb 27th of 2018 marks the 152 Anniversary of the birth of HERMON ATKINS MacNEIL. We celebrate with a little MacNeil history.
American sculptor of hundreds of pieces and monuments all over this country, 1st President of the Clan MacNeil Association of America,
Eight years ago this website started gathering the many images and stories associated with his life and work. The Clan name traces back to to the Island of Barra in the Western Hebrides of Scotland.
The Kisimul Castle in Castle Bay was restored by the MacNeil of Barra XLV –Robert Lister MacNeil. The story of the Clan and the Castle are told in his book, Castle in the Sea: The Macneil of Barra XLV, published in 1964. His son Ian Roderick Macneil, Chief, Clan Macneil, published a revised 2nd edition 1975.
The Kisimul Castle is featured in cameo on this postcard “The Macneil” by Raphael Tuck and Sons. (Publishers to their Majesties the King and Queen) as part of their series “SCOTTISH CLANS.” Series VI; Postcard 9481.
The reverse of this never used postcard contains a Clan history of the two branches of the MacNeils:
No Date is found on the Postcard
MacNeil Chief greets visitors arriving to the Kisimul Castle for the 2014 Gathering of the MacNeil Clan.
The 2014 Gathering of the Clan was celebrated at the Castle and across Barra. I had the priviledge to attend the festivities and to tour Scotland for three weeks with Donna, my wife. It was a memorable trip of a lifetime and an inauguration of our retirement years.
Webmaster, Daniel Neil Leininger in kilt at Kisimul Castle in the summer of 2014.
MacNeil Tour of Scotland ~ Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Posted by: | Comments “Scotland ~ the beautiful home of historic clans.”
Dan Leininger wears the modern MacNeil tartan six-yard kilt with formal dress jacket and MacNeil crest. Donna is dressed for comfort.
NO these are not Native Scot revelers. Just a stunning couple that have briefly transplanted from the U.S. of A.
Dan and Donna Leininger are celebrating Dan’s heritage from MacNeil and McKay clans. This pair have just finished 13 days of their 21 day MacNeil Clan tour. These two travelers are decked out for an evening under the stars at the Military tattoo.
Their journey through Scotland included the 2014 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. 
The annual event fills the stadium at Edinburgh Castle for 23 consecutive days and nights every August. No summer tour of the Highlands is complete without witnessing this spectacle. Bands, Pipes, drums, marching, dancing, precision movement. Three hours of spectacular entertainment in the cool night air of Scotland.
Pippers and Drums playing in mass at the 2014 Tatoo
The crowd along the Royal Mile. [ The Royal Mile is the name given to a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town.]
What a fabulous evening under the stars high atop Edinburgh Castle hill.
Edinburgh Castle silhouetted by a dramatic sunset evening. [ Source: http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/the-experience/edinburgh-castle ]
- ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO: edintattoo.co.uk
- ALL OTHER PHOTOS 1-6: Dan Leininger (copyright 2014)
Kisimul Castle the home of the MacNeil Chieftans
Posted by: | Comments
Roderick Wilson MacNeil of Barra, 47th Chief, stands at Kisimul Castle. (August 2014 dnl)
Webmaster, Daniel Neil Leininger in kilt at Kisimul Castle in the summer of 2014.
Kisimul Castle was the 14th Century home of the MacNeil Chiefs.
In 2014, the current Chief, Roderick Wilson MacNeil, received the Clan members at a Reunion of the MacNeil Clan on Barra. Here he stands outside the boat landing to the Castle.
In the courtyard of Kisimul Castle two young Lasses were playing bagpipes to welcome the visitors. 
The castle home of the MacNeil Chieftains has been restored and contains many of the ancient objects of the clan.
“Vincere Vel Mori” Conquer or Die ~ The MacNeil motto over the crest and coat of arms.
The MacNeil Crest graces the wall of the Great Room above the fireplace.
Weapons hang from the far wall ascending the stairway.
The MacNeil Gathering inside Kisimul Castle August 2014. MacNeil’s from Scotland, Barra, Canada, and the USA stand together
According to the MacNeil Clan Association website: 
“In 1937 Kisimul castle and most of the Island of Barra were brought back into the family when Robert L(ister) MacNeill, a descendant of the 22nd chief, returned from the United States, purchased most of Barra and spent his life restoring Kisimul Castle. His son, the 46th chief, (was) a law Professor and divid(ed) his time between Scotland and the United States.” (Source: http://www.clanmacneilusa.us/?page_id=61 )
SOURCES:
Clan MacNeil — http://www.clanmacneilusa.us/?page_id=61
Historic Scotland — http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertyabout.htm?PropID=PL_189&PropName=Kisimul%20Castle
PHOTO CREDITS: Dan Leininger (Copyright 2014)
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The castle has since been placed under the protectorship of Historic Environment Scotland. This allows for the perpetual preservation of this site as a Scottish national treasure.
It opens it also to attract thousands of visitors annually to experience the serene beauty of the Isle of Barra ~ the westernmost habitation of the Outer Hebrides.
The beautiful Isle of Barra was (as the local Scots say ) truly a “Barradise” of MacNeil sights and Scottish Heritage. The natural undisturbed beauty makes it a restful where the wash of the waves wash sing you to sleep at night, and the sea gulls gently wake you in the morning.
SOURCES:
- Clan MacNeil — http://www.clanmacneilusa.us/?page_id=61
- Historic Scotland — http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertyabout.htm?PropID=PL_189&PropName=Kisimul%20Castle
- PHOTO CREDITS: Dan Leininger
MacNeil Month ~~ February 2016 ~~ 150 Years
Posted by: | CommentsThe year 2016 marks the sesquicentennial of the birth of Hermon Atkins MacNeil on February 27, 1886.
Hermon Atkins MacNeil about the time of his Standing Liberty works.
While we celebrate each February as “MacNeil Month,” this year is extra special as the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Several events during 2016 will acknowledge that here on HermonAtkinsMacNeil.com:
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- The newly commissioned 2016 MacNeil Medallion will be available for sale on eBay. CLICK HERE
- Postings will continue to celebrate the life and art of Hermon A. MacNeil.
- Kisimul Castle the home of the MacNeil Chieftans from the 14th century, will be featured.
- The origins of the MacNeil Clan on the Isle of Barra in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides will be visited with photos and history .
- The webmaster’s ongoing travels and activity will be presented as his “Search for Uncle Hermon” continues as a odyssey of retirement.
- Antique “MacNeil Postcards” of some of his sculptures across the U. S. will be presented as features.
- MacNeil’s years in Paris will be revisited with photos of the newly restored Ecole de Beaux Arts where he studied and taught.
- MacNeil’s teachers in Paris will be featured with photos of their sculptures in the Musee d’Orsay in the center of Paris. This museum was built as the railroad station for the Universal Exposition of 1900 in which MacNeil and his contemporary sculptors exhibited and received prizes.
- Our recent Travels to Scotland will be featured with photos and stories.
- Our travels to France this year will be shared.
ALL in ALL, 2016 begins as a banner year for this website. SO stay tuned.
Better yet, SUBSCRIBE by clicking the button.
Hermon Atkins MacNeil ~ 150 Years
Posted by: | Comments2016 marks a banner year for this website.
This February 27th, 2016 marks another anniversary of the birth of Hermon Atkins MacNeil our patron sculptor.
2016 actually celebrates the:
150th
Anniversary
of the birth of
HERMON ATKINS Mac NEIL
In honor of this Anniversary, we have commissioned a MacNeil Medallion commemorating his birth and the Centennial of the first minting of the Liberty Standing Quarter.
This beautiful bronze medal features the image of MacNeil at about age 60. It is plated in nickel and measures 3 inches (77 mm) in diameter.
It is available on now eBay. CLICK HERE
The other side of the medallion celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the first mintings of the Standing Liberty Quarter. BUT More About that later.
Upcoming: MacNeil Roots and Pursuits
Hermon MacNeil Featured in “The Galley”
Posted by: | CommentsDan Leininger holds the “Galley” for Summer 2014 with MacNeil’s “Pony Express” statue on the cover and an 8 page feature story inside.
“Clan MacNeil Connections and Hermon Atkins MacNeil”
The current issue of the Clan MacNeil Association of America magazine has a feature story on Hermon Atkins MacNeil by webmaster, Dan Leininger
The Galley edited by Vicki Sanders Corporon titles Dan’s story as “Clan MacNeil Connections and Hermon Atkins MacNeil.” The feature and photos fill 8 pages in the “Galley” issue for Spring/Summer 2014.
Ezra Cornell statue at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY was dedicated in 1918 after WWI. Page 19 of the “Galley” (This Photo from Cornell University is Courtesy of Chris Carlsen).
Page 20 of the “Galley” for Summer 2014
The featured photos include the East Pediment of the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. (with a detail close-up of Moses, Confucius, and Salon); The George Rogers Clark monument in Vincennes, IN at the site of his victory over the British in 1779; Confederate Defenders of Charleston, SC; the Young Lawyer Abraham Lincoln in Champaign, IL; General George Washington on the Washington Arch, NYC, NY. Also in this article are photos of the grouping Coming of the White Man in Portland, OR; The WWI Angel of Peace Monument in Flushing NY; and a bust of Dwight L. Moody (who MacNeil sketched during the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair.
Page 18 of the “Galley” for Summer 2014
