LETTERS: If you're an O'Shea, check your DNA
Related Articles
Wednesday January 13 2010
Sir, Several of us, all dedicated O'Sheas, are involved in a DNA project to study Individuals with our surname. Being one of the earliest families ever to settle in the Kingdom, our matches cover a large spread. Individuals both at home and abroad have connections from Tralee to Dingle, Cahersiveen to Kenmare and beyond.
Although most of us have willingly paid for our own DNA kits; some have gone further and sponsored kits for others. We now would like to announce that we have several free kits available.
We note from the 1911 Census and Catholic Church records for Kerry (all available online) that most families in the 1800s, and presumably before, had up to 10 children. Generally, only two or three remained at home due to the economic situation in Ireland. All the rest emigrated worldwide. It is now possible for O'Sheas and others, both at home and abroad, to find their missing relatives with these DNA tests. We have 99 O'Sheas in the Project for comparison so far. Would anyone like to be the 100th?
The test involves a simple mouth swab and then the sample is sent to the USA for analysis. About six weeks later, the result arrives and the excitment of finding family matches begins!
Anyone interested should be male, an O'Shea and have a reasonable idea of their exact origin. Further Information on our project is available on our website www.osheaclan.org
You can contact Brian O'Shea at 'Heathcliff', Myrtleville, Co.Cork. Email: brianos1@ eircom. net or Margaret O'Shea-Jordan at 27 The Clositers, Ballincollig, Co. Cork. Email: m.jordan246@gmail.com
This DNA project and others like it deserve to be supported as they encourage tourism and our economy in the south west at this difficult time.
Your past is your future.
Sincerely,
Brian O'Shea and Margaret (O'Shea) Jordan,
O'Shea yDNA Project.
