Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ryan O'Rourke on April 30, 2014 at 3:33pm

Do you have any brothers, Mary?  Or male cousins that would link back to the generations you want to find?

Permalink Reply by Mary Egan on April 30, 2014 at 3:49pm

Hi Ryan,

I have to think this one through.  hmmm.

My half brother and 5 male cousins are all from my maternal grandmother's side. 

I do have a cousins, whom I don't know, but who's daughter and I have talked briefly via ancestry.com. That would be the Bluett line. The Egan line, so far the only ones I've linked up with are from the female line.

Ultimately though, I would have to find a Bluett and an Egan male. Someone who's line of males are directly descendants, correct? 

Permalink Reply by Ryan O'Rourke on May 1, 2014 at 2:31am

I believe that's correct, Mary.

Permalink Reply by Bernard Raymond O'Brien on April 30, 2014 at 4:07pm

I am Irish on both sides and have traced back to the late 1700s in Ireland.   I could do a DNA swab on myself, but how does one link up to the 1700s.  I don't quite get it.   If someone links to my DNA, I could always share the years of work I have done getting back as far as I have.  That is only on one side.   On the other, its 1800s, ie, 1815 and 1822.  

So, I don't see how someone who linked into my group, via DNA, is going to help me UNLESS they had gotten way back further.   Is that possible.  Ever happen to anyone's knowledge?

My people were OBriens, Kavanaghs (was K in Ireland, C over here), Field (Fihilly), maybe McCarthy over by Killarney; Graham (probably Gormlys) up Antrim way, Togher (Tucker), DELEQUIN (Have long been trying to find some info on Bridget Deleguin (my maternal ggrandmother), Boyle,

Permalink Reply by Bernard Raymond O'Brien on April 30, 2014 at 4:21pm

Thanks for reading etc.

Permalink Reply by Bernard Raymond O'Brien on April 30, 2014 at 4:32pm

Geographically, my O'Briens were said (word of mouth handed down) to be from Co. Cork or Cork, and I have confirmed my Civil War Uncle John O'Brien was from Co. Wicklow.  Micheal's daugher, Mary, was confirmed born back in Co Wexford however, Kavanagh Country.

Kavanagh country, of course, goes back to Strongbow who married a Kavanagh girl.  No issue I am told.

My Kavanaghs were from Co. Wexford, still called Kavanagh country today, but for some strange reason, my ggrandfather, Micheal, was born "by the Lakes of Killarney" in 1815.  I believe it related to Ireland's last battle with England, right near his home, ie, Vinegar Hill.

My Grahams came from Co Antrim, in Rathkenny, a small area, but I cannot make any helpful contact there to check the Protestandand Catholic church recordsl which would easily put these folks back into the 1700s,  The plantation of Protestant Scotch  to N. Ireland is the way I figure my Grahams got up there.  Most of these were good farmers.   Grandpa Graham always said he would fight anyone who said he was not Irish.

Toghers were probably Meath

and Boyles confimed in Co Louth.

Permalink Reply by Ryan O'Rourke on May 1, 2014 at 2:36am

Bernard ... the fact that you've gotten back to the late 1700s is impressive.  Many of us wouldn't be able to do that without some help from DNA testing.  It helped me because I became stuck at one generation in the mid-1800s where I knew a name but could not locate any records.

The DNA test linked me up with one guy with whom I shared a very, very close genetic profile.  He had done loads of research through the years, and I was able to leap over that missing generation and see my connection all the way back to my last Irish-born ancestor.  

The DNA may not help you at all.  You never really know.  I will say, however, that if you do go the DNA route, there is a good chance that Dr. Tyrone Bowes at IrishOrigenes.com would be able to pinpoint the exact area in Ireland from which your ancestors came based on the DNA reports.

Permalink Reply by michael dunne on December 20, 2015 at 7:52pm

You are in a good position if you can talk to your grandparents and when doing so bring a bottle of Irish Mist or at least nice biscuits. Seriously, the most important thing is to speak with and listen very carefully to the living. They may impart snippets that could be huge as you progress and link up with the various recorded sources.

A name like Murphy brings problems unless you are researching your tree in Russia or East Africa. There are too many 'Spuds' (Murphys) There are many excellent and Free sources now available on line and they include the following

Census Records of Ireland 1901 & 1911.

Griffith Valuations 1857?

And Irish Genealogy.ie for people born in Dublin Cork Kerry and Carlow. these counties are most fortunate as the Government ran out of cash and couldn't do any more. These records are comprehensive and cover 1900 back to 1700 for those four counties and are inclusive of both religious persuasions RC and COI.

As you become more experienced you will come across occasional free offers of Ships Manifests, Immigration records etc. Local libraries often have a genealogy section in their history section and is worth joining.

If you visit the official government site at The National Archives Bishop Street Dublin you will find all these sites referenced and more. Try keeping away from paying sites as the best experience and means to familiarize yourself with Local and Family History is to follow the advice of the fowl "I'll do it myself said the little red hen"

Happy hunting and " Go nÉirghidh an t Ádh Leat"

Permalink Reply by Marjorie Baker on April 22, 2014 at 7:19pm

I have been thinking about DNA for some time, how did it help you Ryan?

Permalink Reply by Ryan O'Rourke on April 24, 2014 at 5:34am

Hi, Marjorie.  

Please see my reply to Brendan's similar question just above.  Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Permalink Reply by Bit Devine on April 18, 2014 at 10:53am

Also helpful, if known, are sibling names... as sometimes when you are stumped moving back in a straight line, coming at it from a different angle may give you the answers you are seeking.  If you have sibling names, especially when looking at census records, you can sometimes narrow it down quicker ...

Permalink Reply by Bernard Raymond O'Brien on April 22, 2014 at 10:37am

Could someone explain to the neophyte what this DNA is all about.  Hopefully not having to dig anyone up!

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