Thursday 10 May 2012

Calling all O Byrnes

Clann O'Byrne has just launched a new website at www.clannobyrne.com. It's packed with information about the Byrnes and their history, and the lives of some famous people with the surname, including Charles Byrne of Derry (the Irish Giant) and Billy Byrne, who was executed in 1799 (see video below).

The site also offers some useful articles about the Gaelic Clan structure, genealogical research advice, updates about the Byrne DNA project, and many other goodies that anyone with Byrne ancestry will want to delve into.

While the website is new, the group isn't. It's been around since it was instigated by Wicklow County Council back in 1989 and is a non-profit voluntary organisation that receives no formal funding. Its objectives are to reawaken and promote the history and culture of the most important clan in the Province of Leinster and to provide a connection or starting point for those tracing their Irish past. Clan O' Byrne embraces Byrnes and their various off shoots such as Burns, Burn, O' Byrne, O' Broin.

It's an interesting website. It even has a selection of videos available, one of which can be viewed below




This weekend: "DNA and the Byrnes" a talk with Paul Burns of Tallahassee, Florida, Administrator of Byrne DNA Project, and Val Byrne, Chieftain of Clan O'Byrne.
Venue: Huntington Castle, Clonegal, Co Carlow
Time: Sunday 13 May at 3pm
Cost: Admission is free and open to all (Byrnes and non-Byrnes)