This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Brett_Jo Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.fitzgerald/911.1004.1.2.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: With the 3 main companies (Ancestry, 23andme and Family Tree), they allow you to get the technical data of your DNA. Because of these 3 companies DNA kits don't directly talk to each other, we have to use a 3rd party in order to see Cousins from one company, connect with the other cousins on the other 2 companies. This 3rd party is "Gedmatch". You upload your technincal data to Gedmatch and it goes through your files and connects with plausible connections from FTDNA and 23andme. Unfortunately, this DNA stuff is quite a detailed science project. I've spent 8 months on my kit, and a few months on other kits. It is very detailed and very hard to interpret. Up to you how far you go with it. But Gedmatch is a useful tool (for me that is), but it takes a while to get around it. I am using Gedmatch to compare my DNA with certain Fitzgerald factions, to try an identify / eliminate on where I connect. I have a few theories as to what's going on, but I haven't landed anything concrete just yet - still circumstantial. My DNA suggests that there is a connection either in the City or the County of Limerick, but I don't know where and how. Some of the closest DNA matches have mentioned a Limerick tie up, but have not elaborated how. All my handed down information suggests a Cork City link back to 1810. The Y-DNA suggests a West Cork paternal lineage, possibly headed up by a MacCarthy?? I am using these notes to figure out the Limerick tie up. In my most defined Y-DNA (111 marker), I have an O'Hearne person, who I believe maybe linked to the Ahern's (1 of many variants of this name) in Limerick City or Abbeyfeale or maybe Athea? This person is the only person I have at this level and is key to unlocking this mystery. Take a look at Maurice Gleesons Youtube videos. He explains in a video - the above a bit better. Moreso, the difference when comparing Irish Cousins between the 3 companies. Ancestry has a habit of many "slight" cousins, 23andme has a slightly lesser amount of cousins, but it's more quality and closer cousins and FTDNA is just much bettter again than 23andme. I tie up on this Limerick connection, mainly on my 16th Chromosome (a small segment near the middle of the chromosome). So anyone looks at their DNA and finds a link to my GEDmatch kit - F322991 and it's near the middle of the 16th Chromosome, let me know your lineage. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>