The Arms are described from TOP of the Coat of Arms.  Note that the term "doubled" refers to the back of the object, folded or "doubled" over and the term "Proper" refers to the natural colours of an object.

MOTTO:  LATIN -- "Vincere Vel Mori"  -- To Conquer or Die

CREST:  A Rock Proper. The Crest is set upon a --

CHAPEAU (or CAP OF MAINTENANCE): Gules(Red), doubled Ermine (Fur).   The Chapeau is set upon a --

HELM: A Steel Tilting Helm, garnished in Or (Gold) .

The MOTTO, CREST, CHAPEAU and HELM are surrounded by a --

MANTLE: Vert (Green), doubled Or

All of the above are set upon a --

SHIELD:  Normal - Quarterly,

• 1st Vert - a lion rampant Or (facing the shield's right).
• 2nd Argent (Silver) - Issuing from a sea in base, a triple towered castle Proper.
• 3rd Or - a lymphad (galley) sail furled, oars in action Sable (Black) flagged Gules.
• 4th Or - A dexter hand (The Red Hand of Ulster) erect couped (cut off) within a orle of nine fetterlocks (manacles) Gules (representing Naill of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland).  The Shield is supported by --

COMPARTMENT:  Flowers of Dryas 

Make no mistake.  The arms displayed on this page belong ONLY to The Macneil of Barra.  They should not be used or displayed by members of the clan in the mistaken belief that these arms belong to the clan as a whole.

In Scotland, unlike some other countries, arms can only belong to one person at a time.  Therefore, the "Arms of The Macneil" belong only to the Chief (i.e. they are his Personal arms).  A real grant of arms is heritable property.  You will not find real Scottish family arms at a kiosk in a shopping mall or at your local fair or craft show.  Beware of those who would try to sell you your "family coat of arms!" 

In order to bear your own Scottish arms, you must have them granted, or matriculated to you by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Scotland.  If you use another's arms, you are "usurping arms," and if you make up your own, you are bearing "bogus arms."  Both are crimes under Scottish law.  The Lyon Court in Scotland is a true court of law, and is responsible for all legitimate arms (personal and corporate) in Scotland.