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From: "Tony O'Shaghnessy" <>
Subject: [R-M222] M222 Topics, Blood of the Irish & alternative Tara
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 03:00:15 -0000


from
Tony O'Shaughnessy

Reference items in recent Topics

BLOOD OF THE IRISH
Reference the topic on the " Blood of the Irish" TV programme
broadcast by RTE Irish Television.
I saw the first Episode (1st of 2) on Monday last, 5th. January.
Such a Programme will encourage interest in Irish DNA testing
and therefore can only be helpfully good for those already engaged
or interested in ancestral DNA research.
However, my personal reaction was not one of over-excitement.
One of the Trinity College Team (Bradley) made a very brief cameo
appearance and referred to their discovery of a unique DNA group,
ie, the Niall of the None Hostages Group. However, that was very
much as far as it went in relation to special interest for M222
enthusiasts. It was indicated fairly casually that the hugely popular
(and equally unpopular) Donegal based Irish Singer / Entertainer
Daniel O'Donnell was part of this DNA Group, ( as he should be).

Not any given facts but some Inferences could be said to be
potentially misleading in relation to the relationship of Irish DNA
with other European DNA, eg. an overemphasis on the relationship
with the Basques and to Modern as opposed to Ice Age Spain.

Nevertheless I look forward eagerly to the next Episode, which is
scheduled for next Monday night January 12th.
Anyone else see it ?

ANOTHER TARA (re Paul Conroy et al)
The name and location of Tara has been subjected to numerous
controversial interpretations and meanings.
Current Gaelic scholarship derives Tara ( Teamair / Teamhair)
from the ancient Indo European root TEM, meaning to CUT and
thus related to the Latin "templum" or Greek "temenos" and by
associative inference a place set aside or enclosed as a sacred
place, cut off or spiritually different from the ordinary world.
Not "Gone with the Wind".

There are numerous references to different Tara locations in
ancient Irish literature, some of which are still identifiable today.
The most famous Tara is Teamair Brega to distinguish it from the
others. Brega was an ancient Irish territory covering what is today
modern County Meath. Brega means fine or pre-eminent.
Finding a different Tara (Teamair) reference does not necessarily
therefore indicate that Teamair Brega was not the rich
pre-eminently desirable Tara landscape coveted and made their
own by the aggressive expansionist Condos / Connachta lineages.
Intriguingly, the locations of most of the other known Tara Sites
appear to be also located in areas strongly associated with the
very early Eoganacht and Connachta origin stories.

Tony







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