But we have seen only one McDermott surname under the R1b-BY18115 clade, and his position on the Y-Haplotree indicates he is likely an SCE (Surname Change Event) of the Cathal Crobderg line of the Ó Conchobair. The validity of R1b-BY18115 being the Ó Conchobair clade was recently confirmed by the BigY 700 test results of a member of the O’Conor Don family who graciously participated in the Dál Cuinn Group research. It is these results that strongly indicate the one R1b-BY18115+ McDermott gentleman is an SCE.
I noticed last year, or possibly the year before, that a McDermott and a McDonagh gentleman were R1b-A6925+, which is a subclade of the R1b-FGC5939 clade that appears to contain families of the Uí Briúin Seóla vassals listed in the Muinter Murcháda Tract. But it also appears to contain more than this. It seems to have families listed in the Uí Maini genealogies, but this is very unclear as of yet. It also has a large cluster of Ó Mainnín gentlemen, who are supposed to be non Dál Cuinn Sogáin. Regardless, with only 2 Cland Maíl Ruanada surnamed gentlemen, it was easy to suppose these were either unrecorded families or possible SCEs.
Then a second McDermott gentleman showed up as R1b-A6925+. Although he lists his MDKA as Cooke now, he originally listed his MDKA as a McDermott. We also have a mystery gentleman who gives his surname as Desertspring. This is most likely a pseudonym. He also lists his MDKA as unknown. He has been on The Big Tree for several years now, and his previously unique monolithic phylogenetic node was split by the most recent McDermott gentleman.
That caused a suspicion to awaken. Maurice Gleeson had diligently tried to recruit men from the McDermott chieftain line to test after the O’Conor Don gentleman's test results became available, but he could not get any traction. Sadly, we learned of The McDermott's, Rory McDermott, recent death earlier this year, and that may have contributed to the slow responses to Maurice, who in turn had assumed new duties that took up his time.
Tim McEvoy took up the recruiting task and with his invaluable efforts we began to recruit more McDermott and McDonagh men to test. He has been able to recruit both a McDermott and a McDonagh gentleman. The McDonagh gentleman is currently having a WGS400 test done at YSEQ. His genealogical research places his MDKA as originating in Kiltamagh, Killedan Parish, Co. Mayo. This is not unreasonably far from the Cland Maíl Ruanada Mac Dondcháda territory in the Barony of Tirerrill, Co. Sligo.
The McDermott gentleman did an A6925 Individual SNP test at FTDNA and his results came back on Saturday, June 12th, as A6925+. This gentleman's MDKA is a McDermottroe, or Mac Diarmata Ruad, and was born in 1896 AD in Annagh/Drumanilra, Kilbryan Parish, Co. Roscommon. This is an excellent indication he is almost certainly a descendant of the Cland Maíl Ruanada Mac Diarmata. The lack of any other McDermott surnames under R1b-BY18120 other than the one highly likely SCE, and the complete lack of any McDonagh surnames there, raises a strong possibility in combination with the growing numbers of McDermott and McDonagh gentlemen under R1b-A6925, that the Cland Maíl Ruanada were never genetically related patrilineally to the Ó Conchobair. Whatever the cause was for this, it is an exciting discovery if it holds true.
Also, looking at the dates from Dr. Bart Jaski's genealogical tables, Tadc in Tuir ua Conchobair died in 956 AD, and Máel Ruanaid's son, and thus Tadc in Tuir ua Conchobair's grandson, Muirchertach, is shown as dying in 967 AD. Unless Muirchertach died fairly young, those dates do look hinky. That is only 11 years between the deaths of a grandfather and grandson. So, did this apparent genetic break occur in Maél Ruanaid Már mac Taidc in Tuir, or one of his immediate descendants? And the precise nature of this apparent genetic break may never be known. Was it a political expediency to forge a familial relationship to what was merely a political alliance originally? Was there an unknown bastardy involved? There is a whole range of reasons for this apparent genetic break; and we may never learn the true one.
Looking at the Uí Briúin Seóla genealogy starting with Dau Tengae Umae:
- Dau Tengae Umae, d. ~ 500 AD
- Senach
- Áed
- Colgán
- Cend Fáelad, d. 682 AD
It is not set in stone that R1b-FGC5939 men be descended from Dau Tengae Umae. His brother Fergnóe has 4 sons recorded: Áed Find (R1b-BY3338 clade), Brénaind (R1b-A5902 clade), Dícuill, and Feradach. No clades have been identified as possible descendants of either Dícuill or Feradach, so it is conceivable that one of them could be the progenitor of the R1b-FGC5939 clade. However, it seems more likely that the apparent missing generation in the Dau Tengae Umae genealogy consisted of at least 2 brothers, one of whom was the progenitor of the dominant R1b-BY11724 clade and the other who was the progenitor of the R1b-FGC5939 clade that seems to have become quite diverse in nature. This apparent missing generation allows for many of the R1b-FGC5939 clade peculiarities to be swept under the rug.
If anyone has any comments or ideas, or spots any errors, please share them. It is only by working together synergistically that we can benefit everyone's research and advance the knowledge of the Dál Cuinn dynasties.
