WELCOME TO THE MCGINLEY CLAN WEBSITE

This is the Official McGinley Clan website... run by the Clan... for the Clan

If your surname is McGinley, or any of its variants, we hope that this website will be of help and interest to you. The main aims of this website is to give those of the surname McGinley (and its many variants) information regarding the origins and history of the clan along with some general information about the lifestyle and culture of the clan before they were dispersed around the world. The other main aim is as an ‘Information Board’ for McGinleys around the world to connect with each other and to help each other in developing their family trees etc. This history is the history of the surname McGinley, a small clan who originate in the north of Co.Donegal, Ireland. Other spellings include:

 

Mag Fhionnaile, Mag Fhionnghaile, Gainley, McGeanely, McGeanly, McGeenley, Geenley, McGenley, Genley, McGennell, Gennell, M'Gennely, McGennelly, Gennelly, McGennowlie, McGhinly, McGhunly, McGienley, McGilnay, McGimbley, McGimby, McGimlay, Gimlay, McGimley, Gimley, McGimly, McGinaly, Ginaly, McGindlay, Gindlay, McGindley, Gindley, McGindle, McGingley, Gingley, McGinlaey, MacGinlay, McGinlay, Ginlay, McGinleay, MacGinley, Ginley, MacGinly, McGinly, Ginly, McGinnally, Ginnally, McGinnaly, Ginnaly, Ginneley, McGinnell, Ginnell, MacGinnelly, McGinnelly, Ginnelly, MacGinnely, McGinnely, Ginnely, McGinnery, Ginnery, McGundle, McGuindlay, Guindlay, McGuindle, McGuindley, Guindley, McGuinlay, Guinlay, McGuinley, Guinley, McGuinnell, Gumelly, McGumlay, Gumlay, McGumley, Gumley, McGunlay, Gunlay, McGunley, Gunley, McGunly, Gunly, McGynley, McGynnillye, McKinlay, McKinley, Magenelly, Magenley, Magennelly, Maginally, Maginlay, Maginley, Maginly, Meginelly, Meginlay, Meginley, Meginly, Weginley

 

FROM THE SEED OF ANCIENT NIALL WE SPRUNG

Born 353 A.D.

Died 405 A.D.

For many years now, it has been felt important among those surnamed McGinley (and its varients), that an authorative history of the clan be written and recorded. While many gifted genealogists and historians have written short pieces on the clan, nothing of great length or value has been put into print, until now. This project, covering many years of research, is officially approved by the clan itself. It is indeed surprising that a surname so numerous in the north west of Ireland has not, until now, been properly documented. They say that it's the quiet ones that you should watch, and that certainly pertains to the McGinley Clan. Throughout history the McGinleys have made their mark, both in Ireland and in America, in a very quiet, laid back and unassuming way. The McGinleys have many achievements, most of which are overlooked today. The McGinley name has made a difference to the lives of many without asking for a 'pat on the back'.

Here are a few examples......

It has been stated elsewhere in this clan history that the great House of Sweeney was started by Murchadh Óg Mac Suibhne and 'the daughter of Mag Fhionnghaile'. From that marriage sprung all branches of the powerful Sweeney clan including those in south Donegal, north Connacht and south Munster, but she is hardly ever mentioned by historians even among the Sweeneys!. One of the 'forgotten men' in Irish history was Patrick McGinley from Gola Island off the Donegal coast. He was a pivotal figure in the early IRA in Donegal. He was specifically chosen as the navigator to control the yacht Asgard which was responsible for introducing, secretly, into Ireland weapons and ammunition ready for the 1916 Easter Rising. He very probably took part in similar operations in Lough Swilly in the same year. Another almost forgotten hero was Laurence Ginnell. In his time he was one of the best known figures in Ireland, a true Irishman. When we read of his achievements, comments and actions, it is clear to see how influential he was and how much the English disliked him, yet he is almost forgotten in modern Ireland.

In America too, our presence was felt at an early date. The first McGinleys arrived there in the early 1700's. From that branch (Fairfield, Pennsylvania) sprung some of the most important early American McGinleys. The McGinley name was largely responsible for the developing of the greater Fairfield area, especially during the time of Amos McGinley, the celebrated Presbyterian Minister who started work on churches and schools in Fairfield. Readers of this history will also discover the McGinleys links in the development of Jersey City and of Monroeville in Pennsylvania. Other persons, almost falling off the modern radar include Phyllis McGinley the Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, who was once regarded as among the very top female American poets of the 20th century. We should remember Walter McGinley who was a pioneer in the understanding and development of Movie Theatres in the early American Film Industry. He saw the future for this baby industry and took chances when other scorned. Walter in later life was a multi millionaire yet worked as an estate-keeper and groundsman for a family friend! Even ordinary people can make a difference and that is exactly what Sheriff Ed McGinley of Kansas did. He was an ordinary family man who loved his job as a sheriff and had an impressive record for catching criminals. His successes were often recorded in crime magazines and he is said to have influenced the acting style and characters portayed by the iconic Humphrey Bogart.

To further exemplify the McGinley nonchalant attitude to fame and the limelight, we should look no further than Jack R. McGinley the casual unassuming Vice President of the American Football team Pittsburgh Steelers. In the 1990's, on a team tour of Ireland, Jack travelled with the players and staff and no one had a clue who he was. The players thought he was a groundskeeper! There must be something in the genes as this casual, laid back attitude perfectly reflects the way of life of the people today in the north and west of Donegal.