In reply to your message, my family originally came from Ballymackey and moved to North Kilkenny, where I live now. The Mackeys were evicted from their lands in Scotland around the time of Queen Elizabeth I and sent to Ireland, where they quickly integrated with the local communities, being both Catholic and Scottish (eventually Irish speakers). Incidentally, Ballymackey means "Mackey's Town" in English, Bally being an Anglicization of the Irish word Baile, meaning town.
My ancestors came to Geatabawn in North Kilkenny where we still live. On my house at home hang wrought iron gates from the farm they owned in the 1850's. We have a fairly interesting history which I'm trying to piece together at the moment. Write back with the name of your ancestor and we'll go from there!
Yours
Sarah Mackey