The history of the name
McHale is woven into the fabric of Irish History. Researchers have
isolated Historical parish records, and ancient land grants. Historical
research found that the family name McHale was first found in county Mayo
from before the 12th century.
Your name, McHale occurred
in many references, from time to time the surname was recordeds MacHale,
McHale, MacHail, McHail, McCale, MacCale, and these changes in spelling
even occurred between father and son.
This great Gaelic family of
McHale emerged in later years in Mayo where they were an ancient and
distinguished Irish Family of Killala, where they were scholars attached
to the local church, and appeared in the "Annals of Loch Ce". They later
branched to Tirawley in Mayo in the 13th century and still later to county
Connacht. They moved north into Scotland where they achieved a
relationship in Galloway with the Scottish Clan MacDougall. Notable
amongst the family at this time was Reverend John MacHale who was 47years
the Archbishop of Tuam.
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