Tuesday 13 September 2016

Maurice Gleeson: Ireland's Superstar Genealogist

Today brought the announcement of the Gold medalists in the Superstar Genealogist 2016 poll, organised by John D Reid's Anglo-Celtic-Connections, and it's great to see Maurice Gleeson – genetic genealogist par excellence – take the Ireland award.

Maurice is a hugely popular researcher and lecturer who has worked tirelessly to extend an understanding of genetic genealogy to beginners and to bring together DNA specialists from all round the world to discuss and share developments in this fast moving field of research.

When he's not organising Genetic Genealogy Ireland or the Family Tree DNA lecture programme at WDYTYA?Live, he's either giving lectures (he really is a natural) on traditional Irish family history or DNA topics, or working out the fiddly bits of uploading videos of lectures (his own and others') to YouTube. He also manages a number of DNA groups and helps organise and publicise the Gleeson Family Gathering.

He really puts in some air miles in the process, and not just between London and Dublin. I can't tell you how many times this year he's emailed me from foreign airports. And today was no different. When I contacted him this morning, he replied from New York with this message: "I am very pleasantly surprised by this award. I’ve spent a fabulous few days in Ottawa at the BIFHSGO Conference (British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa) and this was a lovely way to end the conference. I am also very privileged to have been nominated among such worthy genealogical luminaries and I am very humbled by the award. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me - I am very grateful."

Congratulations, Maurice. You're front of stage again.