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From:
Subject: Re: "Irish Type III" Haplotype
Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 18:12:08 EDT


I've followed the discussions on the Forum about this unusual Haplotype.

I am of the "Irish Type III", a GD of 4 from the estimated modal and from
the closest surname, CASEY, and also possess the only known documented
conventional pedigree from the Ulster O'CAHANs, known as the "Warrior Clan" of the
O'NEILLs. On that basis I have asserted my right to the chiefship of that
clan. I have some observations to make based on the Y-DNA data to date.

(1) We do not have a Y-DNA result from either of the Chiefs of the two
branches of the O'NEILL clans - neither O'NEILL Mor, nor O'NEILL 'Buidhe'. The
former is a resident of Spain, the latter of Portugal.

(2) The traditional O'CAHAN pedigree claims descent from the early 8th c.
O'NEILL royal line.

(3) DNA results to date tend to be inconsistent with the traditional
pedigree, though the O'CAHANs in Ulster were gone some centuries ago (".. not a
single descendant of Coey 'na Gall' O'CAHAN remains in Ulster.." - Mullin &
Mullan, "The Ulster Clans"). So it is not likely to obtain many close matches
from Ulster-derived families, especially given a relatively small database.

(4) Except for surnames anglicized so as to be unrecognizable (BROOKS,
READE, JOHNSON), and an Anglo-Norman family (BUTLER), all Type III matches to me
(4 to 6 GD) appear to be Dalcassian families (CASEY, HOGAN, O'BRIEN,
KENNEDY, McGRATH). The latter also has a probably separate Ulster origin, though
the Thomond family were by the 11th C. hereditary historians and poets to the
O'BRIEN dynasty, while an 18th C. member of the Thomond branch took part in
the 1798 Rising (MacLysaght, "Irish Families" - McGRATH ); HOGAN is a
Dalcassian family , descended from a uncle of King Bian 'Boru'. One of the most
appealing to Irishmen was "Galloping Hogan", the hero of SARSFIELD's exploit at
Ballyneety in 1690 (see CASEY marriage link at my website -
_http://hometown.aol.com/dolmenx/myhomepage/index.html_
(http://hometown.aol.com/dolmenx/myhomepage/index.html) ).

(5) I'm also analyzing a KENNEDY and a CROWE, both having the "Irish Type
III" Haplotype. The former family is said to be a descendant of a nephew of
King Brian 'Boru', thus also a Dalcassian line. I'm compiling a brief
article on CROWE which I will publish on my website.

Briefly, I am now thinking that the unique "Irish Type III" Haplotype may be
the modal for the Dalcassian tribe, if my own lineage is valid beyond Bryan
O'CAHAN (1520 to Clare from Ulster). It would seem logical that such
prominent families as the O'NEILLs, O'CAHANs and O'BRIENs would be showing up as
the MAJORITY of families of the same name, but such is clearly (based on what
we now know) NOT the case! The preponderance of Dalcassian families appearing
to match the "Irish Type III" Haplotype seem to be in the distinct MINORITY,
suggesting the dynastic lines are near extinction (as I have maintained in
my own case). Others would be followers, adoptees, or false paternal events
of various explanations.

I am also tentatively thinking that the O'CAHAN ("descendant of the Warrior"
- whoever he may have been) was NOT of an UiNEILL line but rather a
Dalcassian line brought to Ulster during the recruiting efforts of High King Brian
'Boru', and after the defeat of the Danes and death of King Brian (1014), one
or more of his Dalcassian relatives/followers founded the O'CAHAN clan as
mercenaries to the O'NEILLs in the 11th Century and NOT the 9th Century.

Given the ongoing rivalries between the O'NEILLs and southern clans,
especially one claiming the High Kingship, the political motivations by the O'NEILLs
for a falsified lineage seems quite logical. Also, the continuing contact
between the Ulster O'CAHANs and the Thomond O'CAHANs down to the 18th Century
(as discussed and documented in my own book) seems entirely credible and
coherent!.

It is ironic that such a deception might be detected in the 21st Century by
Y-DNA, but such seems to be the case, subject to any further evidence to the
contrary.

Leonard M. Keane, Jr.
The O'Cahan

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