Genetic Genealogy and Cork Families

About the Project

The following details have been contributed by Matthew Barry, Co-administrator of the Barry and Flanagan DNA Projects, and Administrator for the Peter Robinson’s Settlers DNA Project.

Thanks to technological breakthroughs the Irish diaspora over the past ten years has employed DNA evidence to identify roots in Ireland. The genetic relationships identified help to break through the well-known brick walls erected by the scarcity of documentation. With the volume of results already available it is possible in many cases today to narrow down family ties to particular clans and families with distinct DNA signatures in Ireland. Test contributors then identify cousins living all over the world. For example there are the Irish Type II, Irish Type III signatures that distinguish ancestral lines in Ireland and Munster specifically, and the Sons of Aodh that distinguish the northern Uí Néill. Meanwhile, the Irish DNA Atlas project for over ten years has been developing its population study of the island using DNA, traditional documentation, and co-location of the contributor’s great-grandparents.

The Earls of Barrymore DNA Project had the great fortune in 2015 to obtain sampling of mausoleum remains at from the Barrymore vault at Castlelyons to establish a Y chromosome DNA signature for Earls of Barrymore and their paternal ancestors. The Barry DNA Project — now including over 540 members — has identified distinguishing markers for several Barry family lines in addition to the Anglo-Norman Barrys. A link to a comprehensive report is found on the results page of the project’s web site.

During the past 20 years the cost of sequencing the human genome has declined from $100,000,000 USD to under $1,000 USD. Recently a Y chromosome DNA test for paternal line use in genetic genealogy reaching back thousands of years costs between $100 and $400. A tests of autosomal DNA good for identifying ethnicity and five generations or more of cousins on both maternal and paternal lines can cost less than $50.

It is these consumer DNA test results that have led to the impressive record of growth in genetic genealogy results. The Ireland yDNA Project currently boasts over 11,000 members, the Munster Pre-Great Famine Project has over 500 members, and the Corca Loígde group has over 200 members. Alongside the regional and tribal results the DNA surname projects are quite popular. The O’Connor surname project has over 440 members; McCarthy over 480; O’Connor over 550; Cummings over 440; and O’Mahony over 320. The project administrators and participants typically organize Y chromosome DNA results into distinct groups (by DNA haplotype) and associate pedigrees, stories, and supporting documentation to distinguish each line.

Readers interested in their own genetic genealogies are welcome to join these projects. Family Tree DNA hosts most of the regional and surname projects and offers all of the necessary DNA tests. Contact the administrators of the projects of interest there for recent reports or with any testing questions. For some additional education there are over 100 video presentations ranging from introductory to expert level topics offered through the Genetic Genealogy Ireland conférence sessions chanel on YouTube.