Barra's People

It would be impossible not to feel the strength of Barra's tight-knit local community. A genuine warmth and feeling of self-sufficiency are tangible from the moment you arrive. Barra's people produce their own local newspaper, they fight to provide their children with the best of everything, and they are adept at providing their own entertainment. It's all a far cry from the mainland.

From regular live music in the bars and hotels to annual extravaganzas like Barra Live, Feis Bharraigh and the legendary Potato Competition, there is always something to do - all of it organised by dedicated locals. At the annual Fisherman's Mass, held on the pier in Castlebay, the community celebrates the island's most important traditional industry and prays to keep all the crews safe through the coming year.