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Subject: [R-M222] M-222 Puzzles
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 12:09:57 +0000 (UTC)
In-Reply-To: <1234366389.32491239278868587.JavaMail.root@sz0128a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>

We now have 30 M222 in the Byrne/Burns/Beirne Project--nine tested and the rest identified by STRs.
Twelve of the 30 cannot identify a place in Ireland where their ancestors live (one believes it was Scotland) while the others list Sligo (6), Donegal (4), Dublin (2), Monaghan (2), and Roscommon, Louth, Meath, and Kildare one each.
The Sligo number is inflated because it includes me, two third cousins, and two Burns who live close to where my family came from and probably are distant relatives. However, one of the Donegals can trace his oral history back seven generations to several brothers who lost their land in Roscommon, moved for a while to Sligo, then continued on to SW Donegal. He shares DYS390=24 with us Sligo Burns. Although the single Roscommon does not, the core of our particular M222 seems to be Roscommon-Sligo-Donegal.
With the exception of our single Kildare wildcard, a common denominator for the others could be the legend of Niall of the Nine Hostages and his brother Fiachra and Brion who came from the Roscommon portion of Connaught. The latter allegedly founded the Ui Fiachrach of Mayo/Sligo and the Ui Briuin of Roscommon/Sligo/Leitrim--areas where M222 is as common as it is where Niall settled. Our Monaghan/Louth M222 have DYS391=10 in common with Leitrim Ui Briuin Briefne and could be offshoots of that group.
Just speculating of course.
Paul

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