Tuesday 24 May 2016

Update on plans for Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2016

Maurice Gleeson, organiser of the Genetic Genealogy Ireland (GGI) conference, tells me that this year's lecture programme is almost finalised and should be announced fairly soon. As previously, it will be sponsored by Family Tree DNA.

The conference forms a distinctive feature of the annual Back To Our Past (BTOP) show in Dublin but its plans are typically confirmed some months in advance of BTOP's because the high-calibre of its DNA experts attracts a large and enthusiastic international audience, many of whom need to organise travel and accommodation arrangements.

While the full line-up can't yet be revealed, Maurice  told Irish Genealogy News that Dennis O'Brien has confirmed his attendance as a speaker. Dennis is the Administrator of the O'Brien Surname Project, which has been running for many years and has 485 members.

"Dennis will summarise the results of the project so far and what they tell us about this ancient Irish dynasty," says Maurice. "There will be some surprises when we look at the correlation between the DNA results and the genealogies described in the Ancient Annals. Not to be missed...!"

GGI2016 will be held over the three days (21–23 October) of BTOP in the Serpentine Hall at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. 

While we wait for the final GGI2016 programme, the last of the recorded DNA lectures from April's Who Do You Think You Are Live in Birmingham (also co-ordinated by Maurice) have now been uploaded to the dedicated YouTube channel, where they can be freely viewed. (I've also updated my blogpost from earllier this month so that it, too, lists all the individual talks.)