The festival consisted of :
All the inhabitants observe the anniversary of St. Barr, being the 27th September, it is performed riding on horseback, and the solemnity is concluded by three turns around St. Barr's church.
A Description of the Western Isles, Martin Martin, 1703

It is believed that in 620 AD Saint Barr established a building at Cille Bharra on the island of Barra, where the twelfth century 'cashel' is located today. This is a collection of religious and secular buildings which would have been a monastic community. One building has been restored, the others are in ruins.

Located on the north end of the island on a steep hillside you will find a charming graveyard where in 1865 a curious stone was found with a Celtic cross on one side and a runic inscription on the other. It demonstrates that the Vikings settled in Barra long enough for some to accept the Christian faith. The original stone is in Edinburgh but there is a facsimile in the restored north chapel that also houses medieval tombstones. The ruined church nearby dates from the twelfth century.

Both this place and the island are named after Barra's mysterious patron saint, Saint Finnbarr or Saint Barr for whom the festival was celebrated.

You can find more articles in the archive under Fada 's Farsaing (Far and Wide)

Since September 1, 2000