Monday 25 February 2013

DNA, slaves, and breaking down brickwalls: Lecture

The Irish Genealogical Research Society will hold its Spring Lecture at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin on Wednesday 20 March, as follows:

Title: DNA - Brick Wall Buster?, with Dr Maurice Gleeson.

Many people researching their Irish family trees will hit a Brick Wall around 1800. The paucity of records beyond this point make it difficult to know where to turn next. However, the advent of DNA testing has created the possibility of connecting with our genetic cousins and working together to break through those Brick Walls.

Dr Maurice Gleeson will describe the different types of DNA tests (Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and autosomal DNA) and gives practical examples of how each can be applied to help us in our own family tree research. The particular challenges and opportunities in relation to Irish genealogy will be highlighted, including an exciting new project which aims to reconnect the descendants of Irish slaves sent to the Caribbean in the 1600's with their distant relatives living in Ireland today.

Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Time: 7pm
Cost: Free. All welcome.