I am Scott McGraw, and I have the honor of serving as the Taoiseach (Chief) of the Clan McGrath Society. Talking about myself is not my favorite thing, but I believe it’s important that you know a little about me as I represent you and our Society.
I was born and raised in a small town in the coalfields of southern West Virginia, USA. A town called McGraws, named for my great-great-grandfather John McGraw and his family, who settled there in 1852 when the area was still part of Virginia. West Virginia later became a state during the American Civil War in 1863. My younger brother still lives on the site of John’s original homestead.
My earliest known American ancestor is William Maccraw, who appeared in the Virginia Colony in the early 1700s and died by 1752 – 24 years before the American Revolution, but not before leaving nine children to carry on his lineage. It is through William, my DNA and connection to Ireland and the Clan McGrath flows.
I am married to my lovely wife and partner of 28 years, Marla McGraw. We live near Columbus, Ohio, in the United States with our cats. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration as well as a Juris Doctorate (law degree). I serve as an organizer of the annual John & Mahala McGraw Family Reunion, a role passed from my grandfather to my father, and now to me. Established in 1953, our reunion just celebrated its 72nd year. My grandfather inspired my love of history and genealogy, which I have pursued seriously for more than 30 years. In addition, I also serve on the Board of Directors of the US McCraw Family Association (USMFA), a group for descendants of William Maccraw that supports both historical and DNA research for our members.
I became involved with the Clan McGrath in 2016 and attended my first International Clan Gathering in 2019. During that time, I developed a friendship with the late Dan McGrath, then Chief of the Thomond Sept, and consulted with him about ways to grow the Clan’s international presence. It was also during this time period that I first began to engage with Sean, who was Ulster Chief even then. In 2019, I met Joanne Hickey, who graciously hosted our McGrath tour group at Sleady Castle, one of the few remaining McGrath landmarks in Ireland. Sleady has belonged to Joanne’s family for decades.
After Chief Dan’s passing in 2019 and the long global pandemic that followed, I introduced Sean and Joanne, an introduction that would lead to Joanne’s revival of the Thomond Sept. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the 2024 Clan McGrath International Gathering not only became a reality, but a great success. As Sean and Joanne worked to unite the Ulster and Thomond Septs for the good of all McGraths, I assisted them in drafting and finalizing the Society’s Constitution, which has now been formally ratified.
Being asked to serve as the Society’s first leader has been one of the greatest honors of my life. In August 2024, in the shadow of Sleady Castle, I was called forward before all the assembled McGraths. A cloak was placed across my shoulders and I was handed a White Rod, the ancient Gaelic symbol of legitimate authority since before the 12th century. I then took an oath before the Clan. I cannot express to you the overwhelming emotion of those moments, but you can be assured it is something that I will cherish forever.
We are now looking for members who wish to serve on the Clan Council. Would you like to join the Council, or perhaps even serve as Taoiseach one day? All Council positions are elected by the members attending our Gathering and are up for election/reelection every two years. Early next year, we’ll share details about nominations and election procedures so please keep an eye out for that information.
I am truly honored to serve as your Chief. I do so at the pleasure of our members and will gladly continue for as long as you wish. I look forward to meeting many of you next June in Ireland. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at chiefscott@mcgrathclan.org
CLAN MCGRATH SOCIETY 