Prize Draw Winner !

Congratulations to Ms Guy from Cork - she is the winner of our first Prize Draw for a Free DNA Test to be given out at the FTDNA stand at Back to Our Past. 

Well done, Cork !!

If you are attending the event, be sure to enter for a chance of winning. The next Prize Draw will take place at 12 noon on Monday October 7th. Good luck!

Ask a question on our Facebook page

We've just set up a Facebook group to make it easier for you to ask your questions about DNA and how it can help with your own family tree research. The group is open to the general public and anyone can join.

The aim of this group is simple - to encourage people living in Ireland today to have a DNA test.


Six million people live in Ireland today and they hold in their DNA the answer that the 70 million people of the Irish diaspora are asking: where did my Irish ancestors come from?

DNA can be a very powerful tool indeed. It can confirm relationships you didn't know existed, it can break through the Brick Walls you hit in your own research, it can take your family tree back beyond 1800, it can even tell you to what Irish Clan you probably belonged.

And this is only the beginning for DNA - the science is moving so fast that the scientists are running to keep up. And that's where you come in ...

The more people living in Ireland who get tested, the more we will find out about our unique genetic heritage.

An army of genetic genealogists have volunteered to help. Giving of their own time, they have set up DNA projects to help you find out more about your genetic signature, discover the origins of your surname, and connect you with cousins you never knew you had. So help is out there and all you have to do is have a DNA test.

So get tested today!

The greatest book of Irish history is written in your DNA.

Any questions?
Are you living in Ireland? Do you have a question about DNA, and how it can help out with your family tree? Then join the Facebook group, post your queries, and get your answers.

There is a huge community of genetic genealogists, both at home and abroad, who are passionate about their calling and enthusiastic about helping. There are many experienced genetic genealogists with Irish expertise and you can benefit from their wisdom and passion simply by joining the group and asking a question. Someone is bound to know the answer!

If you are completely new to DNA testing and how it can help you, our introduction to DNA testing should help answer a few questions. And if you have further queries, then simply post them on our Facebook page. 

You should also check out our new resources page which lists many free online resources that can help you with your research. You may find some that you were not aware of.

Want to have a DNA test?
Are you coming to the Back to Our Past event in October? If so, be sure to visit the FTDNA stand where you can get DNA tests at discounted prices.

And for some lucky people, a Free DNA Test is just around the corner. We're giving some away in the run-up to the Back to Our Past exhibition, and for other people there are free sponsored tests if you have a certain surname - check out the Free DNA Tests page for more details.

The more Irish people who test, the more we learn of our unique genetic heritage.

Dr James Watson unveiling a DNA sculpture
in Dublin's Botanic Gardens (April 2013)

Katherine Borges - The Irish-American DNA Connection

Name - Katherine Borges

Member - I am a member of Southern California Genealogical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Colonial Dames of the XVII Century.

Day Job(s) - Director of ISOGG, President of the Salida Chamber of Commerce

Night Job - I co-founded and became Director of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG), which promotes and educates about genetic genealogy to over 8,000 members in 70 countries. We work to increase professional standards in the practice, research, and discussion of relevant issues in DNA testing, interpretation, and ethics. I now give many presentations on genetic genealogy to groups across the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as administering several surname, regional, and haplogroup DNA projects.

How did you get into genealogy?

I started doing genealogy in 2000 after the passing of my last grandparent. I realized that if I didn't start doing genealogy now, a lot would be lost.

What about your involvement with genetic genealogy?

I learned about genetic genealogy from a speaker at a Daughters of the American Revolution meeting and became a DNA Project Administrator ten years ago this month! (Oct).

So what will you be talking about?

On Friday, I'm going to be talking about the importance of American DNA (and in particular Irish-American DNA) to the Irish public and how it can help you in your own family tree research. And then on Sunday, I'll be discussing the basics of DNA testing and helping people understand what test might be best for them to take.

Where can people get more information about you or your topic?

• Everyone should join ISOGG - there is loads of support and a dedicated community of genetic genealogists just waiting to help you
• The ISOGG wiki is a great place to get up-to-date information about the latest to do with DNA and DNA testing
• One of the projects I administer is the Ireland mitochondrial DNA project

Watch Katherine's presentations here.




Katherine Borges - The basics of DNA testing
Published on 20 Oct 2013

As the Director of ISOGG, Katherine has been heavily engaged in genetic genealogy practically since the birth of this new science. Here she discusses the basics of DNA testing generating a battery of incisive questioning from her Irish audience.

Presented at Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2013 on Sunday 20th Oct 2013. Please note that these GGI2013 videos are copyrighted to the presenter and should only be used for personal study. They are not to be used for any other purpose without the presenters express permission. Also, please note that because this is a rapidly advancing field, the content may quickly become outdated.

Katherine Borges - The Irish American DNA Connection
Published on 30 Oct 2013

Here Katherine discusses how Irish-American DNA can help break through the Brick Walls in the family trees of Irish people researching in Ireland today.

Presented at Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2013 on Friday 18th Oct 2013. Please note that these GGI2013 videos are copyrighted to the presenter and should only be used for personal study. They are not to be used for any other purpose without the presenters express permission. Also, please note that because this is a rapidly advancing field, the content may quickly become outdated.

These lectures were sponsored by FamilyTreeDNA and organised by ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy).

Prof Dan Bradley - Speaker Profile

Presentation - Prehistoric genomics at the Atlantic Edge

Affiliation - Professor of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

Membership 

• Member of International Society of Animal Genetics 
• Member of the Royal Irish Academy
• Five times juror in the European Contest for Young Scientists 
• Fellow of Trinity College Dublin

Position - Dan holds a Personal Chair in the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, and has written or co-authored over 110 publications including many in premier journals (e.g. Science, PNAS, Nature) – see Publications below.

Involvement with genetic genealogy?

Dan has researched in the following areas: 

• Y chromosome diversity, Irish medeival genealogies, and the genetic architecture of Irish surnames
• Irish human population structure
• Ancient DNA
• Detection of signatures of selection in human, bovine, salmon and chicken genomes
• Origins of livestock as discerned using genetic diversity
• Genetic basis of disease resistance in cattle

So what will be the topic of the presentation at GGI2017?
It is now known from ancient genomic investigation that massive migrations were part of cultural transitions in European prehistory. It is interesting to discover if Ireland and Portugal underwent these massive migrations. This lecture explores the evidence for such migrations and discusses the implications of the results for understanding the origins of modern populations and the languages they speak.

This year, the four lectures on Friday afternoon (including Dan's lecture) were made possible by the kind support of CITIGEN, a HERA Project. CITIGEN is an international collaborative research project that looks at the uses of modern and ancient genomic data in shaping public understandings of the past and our individual and collective identities.

Previous presentations

Each year since the inception of Genetic Genealogy Ireland, Dan has spoken about the ground-breaking work of his lab on ancient genomes and the relevance of the research to anthropology, genetic genealogy, & the study of disease.

Many ancient Irish skeletons are currently undergoing ancient DNA analysis. They vary in age and some are up to 6000 years old. 2016 saw the publication of the first of several papers reporting on the analysis of four such skeletons which were found in Rathlin Island and Ballynahatty. Further research is ongoing and Dan returns annually to GGI to give us an update on his team's research.

Where can people get more information?

For more information just click on the links below:

Publications relevant to genetic genealogy - 

• Busby GB, et al. The peopling of Europe and the cautionary tale of Y chromosome lineage R-M269. Proc Biol Sci. 2011 Aug 24. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID:21865258Direct link
• Tong P, et al. Sequencing and analysis of an Irish human genome Genome Biol. 2010 Sep 7;11(9) PMID: 20822512.
• Mattiangeli V, McEvoy B, Bradley DG. Irish genetic affinities : the mosaic genome.Ir Nat J Spec Suppl. 2008; pg127-133.
• McEvoy B, Simms K, Bradley DG. Genetic investigation of the patrilineal kinship structure of early medieval Ireland. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2008 Aug;136(4):415-22. Epub 2008 Mar 18. PMID: 18350585
• Bauchet M, et al. Measuring European population stratification with microarray genotype data. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 May;80(5):948-56. Epub 2007 Mar 22. PMID: 17436249
• Norton HL, et al. Genetic evidence for the convergent evolution of light skin in Europeans and East Asians. Mol Biol Evol. 2007 Mar;24(3):710-22. Epub 2006 Dec 20. PMID: 17182896
• McEvoy B, Brady C, Moore LT, Bradley DG. The scale and nature of Viking settlement in Ireland from Y-chromosome admixture analysis. Eur J Hum Genet. 2006 Dec;14(12):1228-94. Epub 2006 Sep 6. PMID: 16957681
• Mattiangeli V, Ryan AW, McManus R, Bradley DG. A genome-wide approach to identify genetic loci with a signature of natural selection in the Irish population.Genome Biol. 2006;7(8):R74. Epub 2006 Aug 11. PMID: 16904005
• McEvoy B, Bradley DG. Y-chromosomes and the extent of patrilineal ancestry in Irish surnames. Hum Genet. 2006 Mar;119(1-2):212-9. Epub 2006 Jan 12. PMID: 16408222
• Moore LT, McEvoy B, Cape E, Simms K, Bradley DG. A y-chromosome signature of hegemony in gaelic ireland. Am J Hum Genet. 2006 Feb;78(2):334-8. Epub 2005 Dec 8. PMID: 16358217
• McEvoy B, Richards M, Forster P, Bradley DG. The Longue Duree of genetic ancestry: multiple genetic marker systems and Celtic origins on the Atlantic facade of Europe. Am J Hum Genet. 2004 Oct;75(4):693-702. Epub 2004 Aug 12.PMID: 15309688
• Edwards CJ, Connellan J, Wallace PF, Park SD, McCormick FM, Olsaker I, Eythorsdottir E, MacHugh DE, Bailey JF, Bradley DG. Feasibility and utility of microsatellite markers in archaeological cattle remains from a Viking Age settlement in Dublin. Anim Genet. 2003 Dec;34(6):410-6. PMID: 14687070
• Hill EW, Jobling MA, Bradley DG. Y-chromosome variation and Irish origins.Nature. 2000 Mar 23;404(6776):351-2. PMID: 10746711
• Rosser ZH, et al. Y-Chromosomal Diversity in Europe Is Clinal and Influenced Primarily by Geography, Rather than by Language. Am J Hum Genet. 2000 Dec;67(6):1526-1543. PMID: 11078479
• Helgason A, et al. Estimating Scandinavian and Gaelic ancestry in the male settlers of Iceland. Am J Hum Genet. 2000 Sep;67(3):697-717. PMID: 10931763

Publications from the unit at TCD - http://www.gen.tcd.ie/molpopgen/publications.php

The lectures were sponsored by FamilyTreeDNA and organised by ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy).