The DNA Signature of the Dál gCais We are merely the present-day custodians of our Ancestor’s genes. © Dennis Wright

My Paper Genealogy Researching for 40 years 2

My Paper Genealogy Researching for 40 years Brickwall in New Zealand 3

My Paper Genealogy Researching for 40 years Brickwall in New Zealand Bryan Sykes – Seven Daughters of Eve 4

My Paper Genealogy Researching for 40 years Brickwall in New Zealand Bryan Sykes – Seven Daughters of Eve Genetic testing sounded like a tool I could use 5

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy ‘Wright’ surname project 6

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy ‘Wright’ surname project Tested 12 markers with Family Tree DNA 7

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy ‘Wright’ surname project Tested 12 markers with Family Tree DNA No matches 8

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy ‘Wright’ surname project Tested 12 markers with Family Tree DNA No matches 12 Markers insufficient for meaningful matching 9

Further Genetic Testing 43 marker testing with DNA Heritage 10

Further Genetic Testing 43 marker testing with DNA Heritage R1b Haplotype 11

Further Genetic Testing 43 marker testing with DNA Heritage R1b Haplotype Common in Western Europe – Spain to Ireland 12

Further Genetic Testing 43 marker testing with DNA Heritage R1b Haplotype Common in Western Europe – Spain to Ireland AMH – Atlantic Modal Haplotype 13

Further Genetic Testing 43 marker testing with DNA Heritage R1b Haplotype Common in Western Europe – Spain to Ireland AMH – Atlantic Modal Haplotype. My values at DYS459=8,9 and My values at DYS464=13,13,15,16 14

DNA forum at Rootsweb 15

DNA forum at Rootsweb Questioned my DYS459 and DYS464 values 16

DNA forum at Rootsweb Questioned my DYS459 and DYS464 values Dr Ken Nordtvedt – had seen these values before 17

DNA forum at Rootsweb Questioned my DYS459 and DYS464 values Dr Ken Nordtvedt – had seen these values before Appeared to be Irish – a third cluster 18

A Name for this Cluster Previously identified Irish clusters 19

A Name for this Cluster Previously identified Irish clusters NW Irish – the Ui Néill South Irish – Eóganacht? 20

A Name for this Cluster Previously identified Irish clusters NW Irish – the Ui Néill South Irish – Eóganacht? Irish Type III as a name for this third cluster 21

Irish Type III How common was this signature? 22

Irish Type III How common was this signature? Ysearch database –

Irish Type III How common was this signature? Ysearch database – 8 Irish Type III matches, of which 4 were Irish, then 50 with 17 Irish from Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, 3 English and 1 Scottish. 24

Irish Type III How common was this signature? Ysearch database – 8 Irish Type III matches, of which 4 were Irish, then 50 with 17 Irish from Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, 3 English and 1 Scottish. Names found – O’Brien, Casey, Crow 25

Irish Type III website Set up in December

Irish Type III website Set up in December 2006 By June 2007 – 200 haplotypes in database 27

Origins of Irish Type III? O’Brien was a commonly found name together with variants Bryan and Bryant as were Hogan, Kennedy, Casey and Crow. 28

Surnames seen in current database O’Brien 50 (O’)Bryan(t) 42 Casey 33 Crow(e) 29 Kennedy 29 Hogan 28 McCraw McGra(w)(th) 26 (O’)Mahony Maloney 20 Kelly 19 Butler 15 Hart(igan) 14 Carey 13 O’Neill Neal 13 Lynch 12 McNamara 11 Cain(e) Kane Keane 11 29

Origins of Irish Type III? O’Brien was a commonly found name together with variants Bryan and Bryant as were Hogan, Kennedy, Casey and Crow Study the Irish Pedigrees – Dalcassian surnames 30

Origins of Irish Type III? O’Brien was a commonly found name together with variants Bryan and Bryant as were Hogan, Kennedy, Casey and Crow Study the Irish Pedigrees – Dalcassian 85% from Ireland – 70% from Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Cork when county known 31

Origins of Irish Type III? O’Brien was a commonly found name together with variants Bryan and Bryant as were Hogan, Kennedy, Casey and Crow Study the Irish Pedigrees – Dalcassian 85% from Ireland – 70% from Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Cork when county known “The O’Brien”, Lord Inchiquin is Irish Type III 32

Origins of the Dál gCais 33

non-Dalcassian surnames Why do non-Dalcassian names carry this signature? 34

non-Dalcassian surnames Why do non-Dalcassian names carry this signature? Not all are NPEs 35

non-Dalcassian surnames Why do non-Dalcassian names carry this signature? Not all are NPEs Allegiance to the leader 36

non-Dalcassian surnames Why do non-Dalcassian names carry this signature? Not all are NPEs Allegiance to the leader Adoptions 37

non-Dalcassian surnames Why do non-Dalcassian names carry this signature? Not all are NPEs Allegiance to the leader Adoptions Taking wife’s name on Property Inheritance 38

non-Dalcassian surnames Why do non-Dalcassian names carry this signature? Not all are NPEs Allegiance to the leader Adoptions Taking wife’s name on Property Inheritance My personal explanation 39

non-Dalcassian surnames Why do non-Dalcassian names carry this signature? Not all are NPEs Allegiance to the leader Adoptions Taking wife’s name on Property Inheritance My personal explanation John O’Brien, convict  John Wright, blacksmith 40

Age of the Irish Type III cluster Initial mutation rate calculations – 1,000 years old 41

Age of the Irish Type III cluster Initial mutation rate calculations – 1,000 years old Anatole Klyosov calculated Irish Type III as 1175 ±135 years old – so originated 690 – 960AD 42

Age of the Irish Type III cluster Initial mutation rate calculations – 1,000 years old Anatole Klyosov calculated Irish Type III as 1175 ±135 years old – so originated 690 – 960AD Could be Centuries older? 43

Significant Irish Type III Markers As well as DYS459 and DYS464 several other markers differ from the AMH 44

The DNA Signature of Dál gCais 45

McEvoy, Simms and Bradley paper “Genetic Investigation of the Patrilineal Kinship Structure of Early Medieval Ireland” – 2008 Am J Phys Anthropol Aug;136(4):

McEvoy, Simms and Bradley paper “Genetic Investigation of the Patrilineal Kinship Structure of Early Medieval Ireland” – 2008 The data used consisted of only 17 markers 47

McEvoy, Simms and Bradley paper “Genetic Investigation of the Patrilineal Kinship Structure of Early Medieval Ireland” – 2008 The data used consisted of only 17 markers Definitive Irish Type III markers DYS459 and DYS464 were not used 48

Journal of Genetic Genealogy “A Set of Distinctive Markers Defines a Y-STR Signature for Gaelic Dalcassian Families” 49

Journal of Genetic Genealogy “A Set of Distinctive Markers Defines a Y-STR Signature for Gaelic Dalcassian Families” Dál gCais signature known since

FTDNA “Walk the Y” Extended SNP test over 100,000 bases in

FTDNA “Walk the Y” Extended SNP test over 100,000 bases in Irish Type III men contributed $75 each to have a member tested 52

FTDNA “Walk the Y” Extended SNP test over 100,000 bases in Irish Type III men contributed $75 each to have a member tested Kevin O’Brien selected as he:- –Matched the Irish Type III modal at 25 markers –Was an O'Brien, the principal family of the Dalcassians –Could demonstrate his pedigree originated in Co. Clare, Ireland –Had tested 76 markers 53

New SNP found – L226 At position , Thomas Krahn found Kevin O’Brien to be derived “T” rather than ancestral “C” He named this SNP, L226 54

Was L226 Definitive for Irish Type III? L226 available to order – October

Was L226 Definitive for Irish Type III? L226 available to order – October 2009 Three possibilities:- –L226 is a 'private' marker found only in Kevin O'Brien and his immediate family (perhaps back years). –L226 is a defining marker for the Irish Type III cluster and appears in no other clusters. (so perhaps ,200 years old) –L226 is downstream of L21 but occurs more generally, across several clusters. (Perhaps 1,500- 3,000 years old) 56

Was L226 Definitive for Irish Type III? L226 available to order – October 2009 Those with Irish Type III signature all L226+ Those non-Irish Type III all L

L226 is Definitive for Dál gCais L226 available to order – October 2009 Those with Irish Type III signature all L226+ Those non-Irish Type III all L226- L226 is shown to be defining for the Dál gCais 58

R-L226 Project started at FTDNA In Dec 2009 the R-L226 project was started L226_Project/default.aspx L226_Project/default.aspx Or Google R-L226 FTDNA 59

R-L226 Project started at FTDNA In Dec 2009 the R-L226 project was started L226_Project/default.aspx L226_Project/default.aspx Or Google R-L226 FTDNA 200 members in

R-L226 Project started at FTDNA In Dec 2009 the R-L226 project was started L226_Project/default.aspx L226_Project/default.aspx Or Google R-L226 FTDNA 200 members in 2014 Results separated into STR clusters/branches 61

Number of Dál gCais haplotypes 940 distinct haplotypes in the database 740 viewable in public database TRMarkersResults2007.xlsx TRMarkersResults2007.xlsx The balance are, Sorenson, Ancestry and Surname projects without FTDNA Kit Numbers 62

Next Generation Sequencing, NGS FTDNA launches ‘Big-Y’ in November

Next Generation Sequencing, NGS FTDNA launches ‘Big-Y’ in November 2013 Searches 12 million bases on the ‘Y’ 64

Next Generation Sequencing, NGS FTDNA launches ‘Big-Y’ in November 2013 Searches 12 million bases on the ‘Y’ Checks 36,564 known SNPs 65

Next Generation Sequencing, NGS FTDNA launches ‘Big-Y’ in November 2013 Searches 12 million bases on the ‘Y’ Checks 36,564 known SNPs Finds new or novel SNPs 66

Next Generation Sequencing, NGS FTDNA launches ‘Big-Y’ in November 2013 Searches 12 million bases on the ‘Y’ Checks 36,564 known SNPs Finds new or novel SNPs Six Irish Type III men signed up for testing 67

Big-Y Results 20 SNPs parallel to L226 68

Big-Y Results 20 SNPs parallel to L226 Are they before or after the emergence of L226? 69

Big-Y Results 20 SNPs parallel to L226 Are they before or after the emergence of L226? Two new Branching SNPs FGS5628 and DC1 70

Big-Y Results 20 SNPs parallel to L226 Are they before or after the emergence of L226? Two new Branching SNPs FGS5628 and DC1 FGC5628 an early branch as five of the six +ve 71

Big-Y Results 20 SNPs parallel to L226 Are they before or after the emergence of L226? Two new Branching SNPs FGS5628 and DC1 FGC5628 an early branch as five of the six +ve DC1 a later branch with two of the five DC1+ 72

Big-Y Results 20 SNPs parallel to L226 Are they before or after the emergence of L226? Two new Branching SNPs FGS5628 and DC1 FGC5628 an early branch as five of the six +ve DC1 a later branch with two of the five DC1+ 5 to 29 Private SNPs 73

Big-Y Results 20 SNPs parallel to L226 Are they before or after the emergence of L226? Two new Branching SNPs FGS5628 and DC1 FGC5628 an early branch as five of the six +ve DC1 a later branch with two of the five DC1+ 5 to 29 Private SNPs Some may be found to be further branches 74

Position of L226 Under L21 there is a chain to L226 L21 > DF13 > Z253 > Z2534 > L226 75

Time of separation from Z2534 Average 15.7 Private SNPs from L226 in our 6 men 76

Time of separation from Z2534 Average 15.7 Private SNPs from L226 in our 6 men 1175 years to MRCA / 15.7 SNPs is 74.8years/SNP 77

Time of separation from Z2534 Average 15.7 Private SNPs from L226 in our 6 men 1175 years to MRCA / 15.7 SNPs is 74.8years/SNP 21 SNPs parallel to L226 x 74.8 is 1,570 years 78

Time of separation from Z2534 Average 15.7 Private SNPs from L226 in our 6 men 1175 years to MRCA / 15.7 SNPs is 74.8years/SNP 21 SNPs parallel to L226 x 74.8 is 1,570 years MRCA for Dál gCais lived 690 – 960AD so Dál gCais branched from Z2534, 1,000 – 500BC 79

Time of separation from Z2534 Average 15.7 Private SNPs from L226 in our 6 men 1175 years to MRCA / 15.7 SNPs is 74.8years/SNP 21 SNPs parallel to L226 x 74.8 is 1,570 years MRCA for Dál gCais lived 690 – 960AD so Dál gCais branched from Z2534, 1,000 – 500BC This may well explain the distinctive STR signature of the Dál gCais 80

The Year of Brian Bóruma The most famous Dalcassian – Brian Boru Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig

The Year of Brian Bóruma The most famous Dalcassian – Brian Boru Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig 941 – 1014 Battle of Clontarf 23 April

Brian Boru Millennium Many re-enactments in 2014 Born at Killaloe Ruled Ireland from palace at Kincora, Killaloe Anointed King of Ireland at Rock of Cashel Killed at Clontarf, Dublin 23 April 1014 Buried at Armagh 83

The DNA Signature of the Dál gCais Dál gCais DNA lives on in thousands of men throughout the world 84

The DNA Signature of the Dál gCais Dál gCais DNA lives on in thousands of men throughout the world I am truly proud to be part of this significant clan 85

Thank You We are merely the present-day custodians of our Ancestor’s genes 86