Part two

AN UNDISTURBED GENETIC POPULATION

It is relevant to our enquiries here to test the hypothesis that Connaught, in the west of Ireland, has a uniquely placed geographical location, resulting in a centuries old and genetically unmolested population. Genetically, Y-chromosomal haplogroup diversity in Ireland was studied by Emmeline Hill and others (2000). They hypothesised that the principle of associating Y chromosomes with surnames was a valid rationale:

Ireland’s position on the western edge of Europe suggests that the genetics of its population should have been relatively undisturbed by the demographic movements that have shaped variation on the mainland (Hill et al 2000:351).

In their study, the YDNA haplogroup of men with Gaelic and non-Gaelic names were observed and the populations in the west and east of the island were compared. An amazing diversity was found. When the Gaelic named men were further divided it was found that the four counties of Ireland in which these Gaelic names originated 1000 years ago were significantly different again. The western-most group (Connaught) showed near-fixation at 98.3% of haplogroup 1 chromosomes:

When the surname-divided Irish data are appended to this cline, it continues to the western edge of Europe, with hg 1 - the putative pre-Neolithic western European variant – reaching its highest frequency in Connaught (98.3%) (Hill et al, ibid).

In contrast to the eastern seaboard of Ireland, which conveniently looks across to Britain and onward to mainland Europe and has been the target of much historical invasion, Connaught, facing the wide Atlantic Ocean has always been associated with an isolation and ‘exclusion’ which, for Cromwell at least, was equated with ‘hell’ (Berresford-Ellis, 1975). This relatively safe isolation of the west had implications for social and cultural as well as religious change. As late as the eighteenth century the Province of Connaught was regarded as the most Catholic part of Ireland and the nature and characteristics of its places and people were considered ‘individual’. It is said that travellers who ventured to cross the Shannon River in those days had the sensation of entering another world (Simms, 1958). This is significant; for an undisturbed genetic population really matters to our study here.

In the early eighteenth century the ancestral region of the McManus Clan – Tir Thuithal - the area around Kilronan Parish, County Roscommon - was claimed to be; ‘the most impenetrable part of the kingdom’ (Simms, 1958). The 3 main villages in the Parish today; Keadue, Ballyfarnon and Arigna, are all within a couple of miles of each other. In the mid 1700’s a new road system made the district more accessible and further improvements were made in the mid 1800’s to the roads leading from north Roscommon to Sligo and to the developing Shannon River navigation around Lough Allen, situated at the foot of Kilronan Mountain (Weld, 1832-171-2). In 1773 Charles O’Conor’s survey of the Parish of Kilronan calculated that there were about 1480 people in the area, comprised of 370 families – on average, we can visualize mother, father and two children. (O’Conor,1773:178). According to O’Conor, these people, ‘barely procure themselves a subsistence, and are utterly useless to the public’ (O’Conor, ibid:378). In contrast to Arthur Young’s experience of other Irish parishes, O’Conor’s 1773 view of Kilronan displays characteristics of a more ancient way of life than was expected from progressives, such as he – he saw a cultural state of ‘stasis’. While most of Europe experienced the wake of industrial revolution, Kilronan, it seems, was defying progress:

The women are entirely idle, and have no manner of employment. They will not attempt the raising of flax, for which they will give no reason, but that none of their ancestors attempted it, and consequently that their lands are unfit for it; but I have this season shewn them the contrary, having for experiment, sown one peck of feed on the banks of the Argnach, and another on the top of one of the driest hills, in a small plot manured last season with lime, and both grew well; the former best adapted for making fine, the latter course yarn. (O’Conor, ibid:376).

We clearly have here an undisturbed, and resisting, Gaelic population and culture, which was, even at this period of the mid-Industrial Revolution, unprepared to change tradition and was intent on remaining static. But does the genetic evidence support this picture of an undisturbed culture and population? Hill’s findings (Hill et al, 2000) and O’Conor’s survey really matters for a number of reasons. Firstly, they show the population of the western most counties of Ireland, e.g. Sligo, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, represent a genetic purity of the Gaelic DNA haplogroup in Ireland. Secondly, it conforms to the historical reality of that region’s non-incursion by outsiders – ‘To Hell or Connaught’ really expresses this notion. Thirdly, it shows that although a group of surnames carries a strong genetic signal with a place of origin, the correlation between the surname and the Y-chromosomal lineage is more problematic.

Jobling, (2001) notes that for a correlation between an individual surname and a Y-chromosomal lineage to hold, a number of conditions must prevail; it must have a unique origin, no illegitimacy and at the time of surname establishment (circa 1000 years ago) chromosomes associated with different surnames must have been unrelated (Jobling, 2001:355). It is worth repeating; these findings really matter here because it is likely that comparisons between the individual YDNA profiles of McManus and O’Conor will reflect the undisturbed haplogroup found by Hill et al, and other studies.

In a study done at Trinity College Dublin of YDNA in Ireland (McEvoy et al 2004) a concentrated area in the north west of Ireland was discovered where 21.5 percent of the men tested carried the genetic fingerprint which could be traced back to one person – Niall of the Nine Hostages.  Niall was a 5^th century King of Ireland whose dynasty lasted for about six hundred years in the family of O’Neill. McEvoy et al included in their sample of men some with the name McManus. The north west area identified was the main powerbase of the Ui Neills who were descendants of Niall. McEvoy commented that the dominant Y chromosome markers found in the survey could be traced back to one person:

There are certain surnames that seem to have come from Ui Neill.  We studied if there were any association between those surnames and the genetic profile.  We found that it was his (Niall's family).

What has now become Niall’s genetic fingerprint is characterized by the following at twelve markers: 13 25 14 11 11 13 12 12 12 13 14 29. As will be seen later, this ancestral fingerprint of O’Neill correlates with the unchallenged family history of O’Conor Don and matches the deduced haplotype our Kilronan McManuses and O’Conor Don.

YDNA STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE BETWEEN KILRONAN MCMANUSES AND O’CONOR DON

In Table 1 we see the statistical YDNA results from samples taken from seven men named McManus. The origins of these McManus men are variously known. 3 and 4 were born in Ireland; 3 in the Parish of Kilronan and 4 was born five miles from Kilronan. 1 and 2 were born in the North East of England and have numerous and varied ecclesiastical and official governmental records in both England and Ireland which, beyond any reasonable doubt, tie their great grandfathers to Kilronan Parish. 5, 6 and 7 were born in the USA. They have various historical records which, beyond any reasonable doubt, are evidence of their great grandfather’s births in Ireland but without clear evidence of region.

The seven McManuses each took a 43 marker YDNA test. Before discussing the significance of matching these markers through individual comparisons it is worth considering the value of a 43 marker YDNA test. DNA Heritage, a testing company in England, says this about understanding the significance when such a high number of markers are tested:

There are some simple rules of thumb for considering participants to be related through a common ancestor: At 43 markers; 39/43, 40/43, 41/43, 42/43 and 43/43 matches. (DNA Heritage web pages, accessed 19.7.11.).

So, a match between testers of 39 of the 43 markers tested shows significant evidence of relationship. This significance obviously increases with incremental relevance up to 43 matches out of the 43 markers.

We see from Table 1 that testers 3 and 5 are identical on 43 markers and that 6 and 7 are likewise. This shows a high significance of relationship in recent generations. For instance, if any father and son, born without a non- paternal event, were each tested, this is the perfect match which would be expected. 1 and 4 are matched 41/43 and 1, 2, 6, and 7 are matched 40/43. Indeed, none of the testers are less that 40/43 matched. Statistically, this shows a significantly high probability that all are genetically related to the same ancestor. It is reasonable to assume by the calculations, therefore, that all the McManus testers can now be identified as ‘Kilronan McManuses’, irrespective of their country of birth.

Table 1 YDNA Haplotypes of 7 McManuses And Their Known Origins Tested To 43 Alles Together With The Deduced Modal Haplotype of Manus O’Conor
	Known Origin of Tester	D Y S 19	D Y S 385a	D Y S 385b	D Y S 388	D Y S 389i	D Y S 389ii	D Y S 390	D Y S 391	D Y S 392	D Y S 393	D Y S 426	D Y S 437	D Y S 438	D Y S 439	D Y S 441	D Y S 442	D Y S 444	D Y S 445	D Y S 446	D Y S 447	D Y S 448	D Y S 449
	1.Kilronan	14	11	13	12	13	29	24	11	14	13	12	15	12	12	15	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
	2.Kilronan	14	11	13	12	13	29	25	11	14	13	12	15	12	13	14	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
	3.Kilronan	14	11	13	12	13	29	25	11	14	13	12	15	12	12	14	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
	4.Kilronan	14	11	13	12	13	29	24	11	14	13	12	15	12	12	14	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
	5.Ireland	14	11	13	12	13	29	25	11	14	13	12	15	12	12	14	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
	6.Ireland	14	11	13	12	13	29	25	11	14	13	12	15	12	12	14	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
	7.Ireland	14	11	13	12	13	29	25	11	14	13	12	15	12	12	14	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
	MODAL	14	11	13	12	13	29	25	11	14	13	12	15	12	12	14	17	13	12	13	25	18	30
		D Y S 452	D Y S 454	D Y S 455	D Y S 456	D Y S 458	D Y S 459a	D Y S 459b	D Y S 460	D Y S 461	D Y S 462	D Y S 463	D Y S 464a	D Y S 464b	D Y S 464c	D Y S 464d	D Y S 635	G A T A A10	G A T A H4	GG AA T1 B07	Y C A II a	Y C A II b
	1.Kilronan	31	11	11	17	16	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	15	16	17	23	15	12	10	19	23
	2.Kilronan	31	11	11	17	15	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	16	16	17	23	15	12	10	19	23
	3.Kilronan	31	11	11	17	16	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	16	16	17	23	15	12	10	19	23
	4.Kilronan	31	11	11	17	16	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	16	16	17	23	15	12	10	19	23
	5.Ireland	31	11	11	17	16	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	16	16	17	23	15	12	10	19	23
	6.Ireland	31	11	11	17	16	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	16	16	17	23	15	11	10	19	23
	7.Ireland	31	11	11	17	16	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	16	16	17	23	15	11	10	19	23
	MODAL	31	11	11	17	16	9	11	11	12	11	24	15	16	16	17	23	15	12	10	19	23

The values mentioned earlier expressed as a fraction, e.g. 32/34, can also be expressed in the form of ‘genetic difference’. A genetic difference of two, for instance, is the same as the fraction 32/34, that is, two markers mismatched on comparison. Thus, the two people being compared are said to have a genetic distance of two, or whichever fraction applies in the comparison being made. When applied to the calculations shown in Table 1 we are able to apply relationships to these seven McManus testers. The closest matches are between 3 and 5 who have a perfect match, therefore, a genetic distance of 0. Testers 6 and 7 also have a genetic distance of 0. The genetic distance of the others shows a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3.

We now turn to the statistical significance between these seven McManuses and O’Conor Don. Table 2 shows the statistical YDNA results from the same seven McManus men compared to 34 markers tested by O’Conor Don. Accordingly, we are able to calculate the statistical significance between the ancestral fingerprint of these Kilronan McManuses and O’Conor Don. According to DNA Heritage, a match using 33 markers (one marker less than this test) is statistically highly significant at 30/33, 32/33, 32/33 and 33/33. Similarly, one would assume that this aligns too with a test at 34, which this is. When we compare McManus testers with O’Conor Don at the 34 marker level shown in Table 2 we see the closeness of matches to his genetic fingerprint in order of significance as follows: 6 and 7 are 32/34 and 3, 5, are 31/34 with O’Conor Don; 4 is 30/34 and 1and 2 are 29/34. The statistical parameters of the seven McManus testers can, therefore, be expressed as a genetic difference to the ancestral fingerprint of O’Conor Don, ascending thus: 1and 2 = a genetic distance of five; 4 = a genetic distance of four; 3 and 5 = a genetic distance of three and 6 and 7 a genetic distance of two. Using the interpretation scale provided by Family Tree DNA it can be seen that the various genetic distances calculated above for the McManus testers, i.e. two, three, four and five from O’Conor Don are respectively, Related, Related, Probably Related and Possibly Related. Family Tree DNA have also provided an interpretation of the relationship in respect of genetic difference. I have taken interpretation at 37 markers, which is 3 markers more than our comparison and, thus, holds good for our purposes - I apply it to the analysis. A more detailed interpretation for each is also given by Family Tree DNA and, with regard to the ‘Possibly Related’ category they state:

A 32/37 match between two men who share a common surname (or variant) means that they may be related within the genealogical time frame, but additional evidence is needed to confirm the relationship. If several or many generations have passed since the suspected common ancestor, it is possible that these two men are related. That would require that each line had experienced separate mutations and line would have experienced at least two mutations. The only way to confirm is to test additional family lines and find where the mutations took place. By testing additional family members you can find the person in between each of you. This 'in betweener' becomes essential for you to find, and without him the possibility of a match exists, but further evidence must be pursued.

I want to concentrate some time to this category as it is the minimum end of the grouping, however, I argue that it should effectively be seen as one of the higher categories. The reference to ‘.....additional evidence is needed to confirm the relationship’, really matters here because the relationship between the seven Kilronan McManuses has been demonstrated historically and scientifically and ‘...each line (has) experienced separate mutations.....’. With regard to this one category of ‘Possibly Related’, the scientific relationship with the other group members is, accordingly, positively identified. It is argued that this affects all seven relationships between the Kilronan McManuses and a more reasonable category for the whole group is ‘Related’.

Part one

This is part two.

Part three