The power of modern science via DNA analysis is a powerful way through which people all over the world can trace where they came from. At Ireland XO, we run a very simple programme to help people locate their parish of origin in Ireland through DNA.

It is a simple two step process that works like this:

(i) STEP ONE - Finding the most local person in your parish

With the help of Ireland XO parish volunteers across Ireland, we are seeking to find the “Most Local Person” in every Irish parish. Who in your parish can trace all of their great-grandparents to the parish or within 20km of the parish? What about great-grand-parents? The simple fact is that someone who can trace all 8 great-grandparents to within 20 km of the parish actually carries in them the “DNA of the Parish” or local area as they are a biological mixture of all the families that live nearby. If we collected a DNA sample like this from every parish in the country, then we would have a complete “DNA” parish map of the country – particularly for those trying to find out what parish(s) their people might have come from.

(ii) STEP TWO - Matching your DNA.

At Ireland XO, we often imagine a forlorn “John Kelly in Alaska”. He knows his people were from Ireland but he has no record of any of his ancestors. Our DNA programme is developed for the likes of John. Once we have a DNA database of the parishes of Ireland, if he takes a DNA test, we can match his DNA to the DNA Map of Irish Parishes and quite literally, the part of Ireland from where he is from will glare out at us! The tests are very accurate and will tell us to within a number of miles where his people are from.

From February 2013, Ireland XO are encouraging parishes across Ireland to identify who might be the “most local” person and persuade them to take a DNA test.
 

Costs of Participation:
The commercial cost for a parish to participate in the programme can be up to $300, however our DNA partner, a company called 23andme is currently offering the same for $100 plus postage costs ($80). Ireland XO receives a small commission on each sale.

What it involves:
Once you have decided who your most local person is, and they have agreed to participate, then we need from them a small sample of spit (yes, just some saliva from that person!). Once they register, our partner will send a small plastic tube to that person or a local Ireland XO volunteer to obtain and return.

Confidentiality:
Our programme is confidential and the information submitted will be used strictly for the purposes of the programme. Full details of the terms and conditions of the programme can be found here.

To purchase click on the purchase link below:
Purchase your DNA kit