2019

• Shelley
  • Contents

• Fitton
  • Contents

• Gerard
  • Contents

• O'Callaghan
  • Contents

• Carmody
  • Contents

• Pigott
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National Library of Scotland allows non-commercial use of historic maps.

• NLS maps in the family tree.

• Things to do

2018

• How to read these family trees

• The structural links have a new, more obvious, style.

2017

My mother's first cousin Liam Cosgrave and I discuss our family history in 2013. Liam recalled times spent with his grandfather (my great-grandfather) Alderman Michael Flanagan, who lived through the Famine of 1845-50. It is incredible to think that Liam knew a man who lived through the Famine.

2016

Aodhagán Ó Rathaille mentioned in accounts dated Sept 1727.

2015

Me at the launch with one of the other contributors.
From Joe Travers.

• The poet Aodhagán Ó Rathaille
• The 1722 Manuscript has signatures of the poet dated 7 July 1722 and 9 Sept 1722.

Signature of Aodhagán Ó Rathaille dated 9 Sept 1722.
See full size.

I gave a talk on the O'Rahilly family history at a seminar on The O'Rahilly in Ballylongford, Co.Kerry, on 11 Apr 2015.

• "The Rahilly and O'Rahilly family". Talk, 11 Apr 2015.

The topic of my talk.
See full program.

2014

I gave a talk on how we all descend from Brian Boru at the Brian Boru Millennium Commemoration Weekend, Killaloe, Co.Clare, 12 Apr 2014.

• "Ryan Tubridy descends from Brian Boru. And so do you". Talk, 12 Apr 2014.

• Irish Times article, 2010.

Brian Boru weekend, Apr 2014. Left to right:
Genealogist John Hamrock (of Ancestor Network).
Historian Grania Weir (dau of 16th Baron of Inchiquin).
Genealogist Paddy Waldron.
And myself.
See full size. From Ancestor Network. Used with permission.

2013

Finns Leinster Journal, 28 Sept to 2 Oct, 1799.
My ancestor Joseph Donovan of Lisgordan signs a statement in favour of the proposed Act of Union.
See full size.

2012

I previously had Kitty Hunter's ancestor Sir Charles Somerset listed in error as son of the 4th Earl of Worcester. In fact, he is son of the 2nd Earl. (Thanks to Hal Bradley for pointing this out.) Fixing this required wiping out many, but not all, of Kitty Hunter's Royal Descents.

I also took the time to check thoroughly the line from Sir Charles Somerset down to Kitty Hunter. This descent is now definitely proved:

• Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester
• Sir Charles Somerset

• Gerard of Lancashire
• Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield

• Sir Thomas Orby, 3rd Baronet

• Barack Obama descends from Edward III.
• Joe Biden has no known Royal Descent.

• Mitt Romney descends from Edward I.
• Paul Ryan has no known Royal Descent.

• I am quoted in: Ancestry.com's Genealogical Juggernaut, Bruce Falconer, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, September 20, 2012.

I talked about my genealogy work on "Coleman at Large", Newstalk radio, 14 Aug 2012.

• You have to grab Newstalk shows while they are there. The first part of the show used to be from 28:43 to the end (53:00) in this: This URL no longer works. It points to another show.
• The second part of the show is missing. It was never online.

• The celebrity who discovered to his shock that he was not Irish was indeed John Hurt.

4th Viscount Fitzwilliam.
Portrait 1700. Used with permission.

2011

Obama's visit to Ireland does in fact make genealogical sense. His Irish-born ancestor, his 3-greats grandfather Fulmoth Kearney (died 1878, many different spellings) is actually his most recent ancestor born outside America on his mother's side. So apart from Kenya (his father's side), Ireland would be his first stop outside America.

The Queen's most recent Irish-born ancestor, her 3-greats grandfather Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley (died 1842).

2010

This is an image, not an embed:

Street view of James O'Mara's house,
30 Maida Ave, Maida Vale, London.
Click to rotate and see location by canal.

• Royal Descents of famous people

• David Cameron descends from William IV.
• Samantha Cameron descends from Charles II.
• Nick Clegg descends from Henry III.
• Gordon Brown has no known Royal Descent.

• Tony Blair descends from Henry VII.
• Margaret Thatcher descends from Edward III.

• Brooke Shields descends from:
  • Henry IV, King of France (died 1610).

• The show focused very much on France. But she also descends from:
  • Philip II, King of Spain (died 1598).
  • James I, King of Scotland (died 1437).
  • Edward III, King of England (died 1377).
  • Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (died 1014).

• Unfortunately, they seem to be working from an old article, since they name-check Daniel Boone, whose Royal Descent has since been disproved. It is a shame, since there are so many other famous people they could have mentioned.

• This is the short version. In the extended version ("QI XL") there is nothing extra on our section.
• QI Blog, 13 Jan 2012.