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The schedule of DNA Lectures at Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2014 has been announced. This years schedule is even more packed than last year. With presenters from Ireland, the UK, the US, and Canada, this event is truly international reflecting the diaspora of the 80 million people of Irish descent worldwide. All levels of knowledge are catered for, from beginner to advanced, with representatives from academia as well as citizen science. Click to enlarge - and see full schedule for each day at the end of this blog The first lecture each day is devoted to the complete beginner and will help you understand the three main types of DNA test, what they can do for you, and how they can help you break through some of the Brick Walls and Dead Ends in your own family tree research.  The most popular test at last year's Back to Our Past was autosomal DNA (atDNA, the Family Finder test). This helps you connect with genetic cousins to whom you are related within about 7 generations (i.e. you sh...

Dr Spencer Wells of the National Genographic Project is to give the Keynote Address at Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2014. Dr Wells is is a leading population geneticist and director of the Genographic Project from National Geographic.  The Genographic Project is the brainchild of Spencer Wells. First started in 2005, Dr. Wells heads a team of renowned international scientists and uses cutting-edge genetic and computational technologies to analyze historical patterns in DNA from participants around the world to better understand the genetic roots of all humanity.  The project has three components: To collaborate with indigenous and traditional peoples around the world in the collection and analysis of research data To involve the general public in this real-time scientific project and to learn about their own deep ancestry in the process (by purchasing the DNA Ancestry Kit, Geno 2.0) To support community-led indigenous conservation and revitalization projects Dr Wells's own p...

The genetic genealogy community is well represented at this year’s Genetic Genealogy Ireland. The good news is that this year every possible speaker slot has been used up and the packed lecture schedule promises to be both informative and exhilarating.  Returning speakers include some very familiar names: Katherine Borges (US), director of ISOGG ( International Society of Genetic Genealogy )  Gerard Corcoran (IRL), ISOGG Ireland regional representative Debbie Kennett (UK), author, blogger , project administrator, & Honorary Clinical Research Associate at University College London  Cynthia Wells (US), project administrator, Assistant Director of the Reedy Creek Family History Centre Tyrone Bowes (IRL), director of IrishOrigenes Maurice Gleeson (IRL), project administrator and coordinator of Genetic Genealogy Ireland New speakers from our genetic genealogy community include: Paul Burns (US), administrator of the Byrne DNA Project Emily Aulicino (US), project adm...

Following its successful launch event in Dublin last year, Genetic Genealogy Ireland returns for a second year of DNA Lectures at the Back to Our Past event in Dublin, once again kindly sponsored by FamilyTreeDNA and organised by volunteers from ISOGG. Last year's event was a great success and videos of many of the presentations have been viewed on the dedicated GGI YouTube Channel by almost 9000 people for about 100,000 minutes (that's over 67 days). So this 3-day event has already left quite a legacy. This year in Dublin we have two commemorations of intense historical significance - the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, and the start of World War 1 in 1914. Both these historic events are reflected in the lecture schedule for the event, which promises to make this an occasion to remember. Now is the time to make your arrangements for coming to this year's event and below you will find all the information you need to plan your travel and accomodation. In a nutshell … Lo...