Clan Mac Hale grew from the effort to reconnect branches of the family separated by time, migration and different surname spellings.
Formation of the modern Clan
Clan records date the formal proposal to organize the Clan to July 29, 2017. The six founding members identified in the early Clan record were Shawn McHale, Thomas Daniel “Danny” McHale, Gerald “Gerry” McHale, Jim McHale, Kevin McHale and John V. McHale.
In 2018, Clan Mac Hale was included in the Register of Clans. Shawn McHale served as the first Taoiseach.
Leadership today
At the opening-night dinner of the Westport Gathering on July 17, 2023, Kathleen Blanchard was elected Taoiseach. She had already played a central role in the research network, including beginning the McHale Y-DNA project in 2006 and organizing the 2023 Gathering.
The 2026 Register of Clans continues to list the Mac Hale Clan and names Kathleen as the Clan contact.
The official emblem
The emblem became a visual expression of the modern Clan revival. Its imagery connects the phoenix with renewal, Croagh Patrick with County Mayo, migration across the sea, and the motto Le Chéile, meaning “together.”
Early 2019 correspondence described the design as provisional because universal approval had not yet been obtained. The Clan later formally adopted the emblem through electronic approval. This site therefore treats it as the official Clan emblem.
Registration
Registration with Clans of Ireland is renewed annually. The certificates preserved here document inclusion in 2018, 2019 and 2022, while the current public register provides the up-to-date status.