I thought this was interesting... Scientists discover most fertile Irish male DUBLIN (Reuters) – Scientists in Ireland may have found the country’s most fertile male, with more than 3 million men worldwide among his offspring. The scientists, from Trinity College Dublin, have discovered that as many as one in twelve Irishmen could be descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 5th-century warlord who was head of the most powerful dynasty in ancient Ireland. His genetic legacy is almost as impressive as Genghis Khan, the Mongol emperor who conquered most of Asia in the 13th century and has nearly 16 million descendants, said Dan Bradley, who supervised the research. “It’s another link between profligacy and power,” Bradley told Reuters. “We’re the first generation on the planet where if you’re successful you don’t (always) have more children.” The research was carried out by Ph.D. student Laoise Moore, at the Smurfit Institute of Genetics at Trinity. Moore, testing the Y chromosome which is passed on from fathers to sons, examined DNA samples from 800 males across Ireland. The results – which have been published in the American Journal of Human Genetics – showed the highest concentration of related males in northwest Ireland, where one in five males had the same Y chromosome. Bradley said the results reminded the team of a similar study in central Asia, where scientists found 8 percent of men with the same Y chromosome. Subsequent studies found they shared the same chromosome as the dynasty linked to Genghis Khan. “It made us wonder if there could be some sort of Genghis Khan effect in Ireland and the best candidate for it was Niall,” Bradley said. His team then consulted with genealogical experts who provided them with a contemporary list of people with surnames that are genealogically linked to the last known relative of the “Ui Neill” dynasty, which literally means descendants of Niall. The results showed the new group had the same chromosome as those in the original sample, proving a link between them and the Niall descendents. “The frequency (of the Y chromosome) was significantly higher in that genealogical group than any other group we tested,” said Bradley, whose surname is also linked to the medieval warlord. Other modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include Gallagher, Boyle, O’Donnell and O’Doherty. http://www.thedailyjournalonline.com/article.asp?ArticleId=218242&CategoryId=13003 Chris

I have followed this report with interest. Too bad that Niall himself, according to history, was childless. He did however have 11 brothers and dozens of cousins. That record in reality would have to go to Niall's ancestors. One never knows for sure what they can believe in can they. My only relative in that bunch was O'Donnell, and that relationship was by marriage. Not even close. Don ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christina Hunt" <filidh@carolina.rr.com> To: <IRL-TIPPERARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 10:45 AM Subject: [TIP] DNA - Ireland >I thought this was interesting... > Scientists discover most fertile Irish male > DUBLIN (Reuters) - Scientists in Ireland may have found the country's most > fertile male, > with more than 3 million men worldwide among his offspring. > > > The scientists, from Trinity College Dublin, have discovered that as many > as one in twelve > Irishmen could be descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 5th-century > warlord who was > head of the most powerful dynasty in ancient Ireland. > His genetic legacy is almost as impressive as Genghis Khan, the Mongol > emperor who > conquered most of Asia in the 13th century and has nearly 16 million > descendants, said Dan > Bradley, who supervised the research. > "It's another link between profligacy and power," Bradley told Reuters. > "We're the first > generation on the planet where if you're successful you don't (always) > have more > children." > The research was carried out by Ph.D. student Laoise Moore, at the Smurfit > Institute of > Genetics at Trinity. Moore, testing the Y chromosome which is passed on > from fathers to > sons, examined DNA samples from 800 males across Ireland. > The results - which have been published in the American Journal of Human > Genetics - showed > the highest concentration of related males in northwest Ireland, where one > in five males > had the same Y chromosome. > Bradley said the results reminded the team of a similar study in central > Asia, where > scientists found 8 percent of men with the same Y chromosome. Subsequent > studies found > they shared the same chromosome as the dynasty linked to Genghis Khan. > "It made us wonder if there could be some sort of Genghis Khan effect in > Ireland and the > best candidate for it was Niall," Bradley said. > His team then consulted with genealogical experts who provided them with a > contemporary > list of people with surnames that are genealogically linked to the last > known relative of > the "Ui Neill" dynasty, which literally means descendants of Niall. > The results showed the new group had the same chromosome as those in the > original sample, > proving a link between them and the Niall descendents. > "The frequency (of the Y chromosome) was significantly higher in that > genealogical group > than any other group we tested," said Bradley, whose surname is also > linked to the > medieval warlord. > Other modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include Gallagher, > Boyle, O'Donnell > and O'Doherty. > http://www.thedailyjournalonline.com/article.asp?ArticleId=218242&CategoryId=13003 > > > Chris > > > > > > ==== IRL-TIPPERARY Mailing List ==== > IGP County Tipperary Message Board: > http://pub14.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=1200795777 > >

This is very exciting research, especially for those who possibly have a link to this Irish Warlord as my McHenry family possibly have with their links to O'Kane from Dungiven as I have found through using DNA. I am anxious to see the results & comparing them. I have spoken to Professor Bradley. Think of the benefits of this type of research if it was widely done!! Mind blowing! Regards, Robyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christina Hunt" <filidh@carolina.rr.com> To: <IRL-TIPPERARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 4:45 AM Subject: [TIP] DNA - Ireland >I thought this was interesting... > Scientists discover most fertile Irish male > DUBLIN (Reuters) - Scientists in Ireland may have found the country's most > fertile male, > with more than 3 million men worldwide among his offspring. > > > The scientists, from Trinity College Dublin, have discovered that as many > as one in twelve > Irishmen could be descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 5th-century > warlord who was > head of the most powerful dynasty in ancient Ireland. > His genetic legacy is almost as impressive as Genghis Khan, the Mongol > emperor who > conquered most of Asia in the 13th century and has nearly 16 million > descendants, said Dan > Bradley, who supervised the research. > "It's another link between profligacy and power," Bradley told Reuters. > "We're the first > generation on the planet where if you're successful you don't (always) > have more > children." > The research was carried out by Ph.D. student Laoise Moore, at the Smurfit > Institute of > Genetics at Trinity. Moore, testing the Y chromosome which is passed on > from fathers to > sons, examined DNA samples from 800 males across Ireland. > The results - which have been published in the American Journal of Human > Genetics - showed > the highest concentration of related males in northwest Ireland, where one > in five males > had the same Y chromosome. > Bradley said the results reminded the team of a similar study in central > Asia, where > scientists found 8 percent of men with the same Y chromosome. Subsequent > studies found > they shared the same chromosome as the dynasty linked to Genghis Khan. > "It made us wonder if there could be some sort of Genghis Khan effect in > Ireland and the > best candidate for it was Niall," Bradley said. > His team then consulted with genealogical experts who provided them with a > contemporary > list of people with surnames that are genealogically linked to the last > known relative of > the "Ui Neill" dynasty, which literally means descendants of Niall. > The results showed the new group had the same chromosome as those in the > original sample, > proving a link between them and the Niall descendents. > "The frequency (of the Y chromosome) was significantly higher in that > genealogical group > than any other group we tested," said Bradley, whose surname is also > linked to the > medieval warlord. > Other modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include Gallagher, > Boyle, O'Donnell > and O'Doherty. > http://www.thedailyjournalonline.com/article.asp?ArticleId=218242&CategoryId=13003 > > > Chris > > > > > > ==== IRL-TIPPERARY Mailing List ==== > IGP County Tipperary Message Board: > http://pub14.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=1200795777 > >