The Miltown Malbay O'Brien connection to the HIGH KING OF IRELAND BRIAN BORU.

The O’Brien’s of Miltown Malbay & Mullagh Parish, County Clare, Ireland

And their DNA Connection to other O’Brien families in the Parish.

By Kevin J. O’Brien

The use of Y-DNA testing with my family history search has opened doors that a few years ago I would have never dreamed.   My grandfather immigrated through Ellis Island in 1900.  His youngest sister stayed on the ancestral farm until 1950 when she sold the farm.  I was fortunate that I had a record of the location for my ancestral home.

This information allowed me to trace my family back to 1855 to my second great grandfather, James O’Brien b. 1793 and d. 1845.  This is documented through property records, church records, civil birth, death and marriage records; gravestone inscription and personal family records.   Patrick’s wife Honoria O’Brien is listed as “Occupier” in the 1855 Valuation of Tenements in Killernan Townland, Parish of Kilmurry-Ibrickane Parish. 

This is the point where many of the records end for the Irish family researcher.  There are five other O’Brien families in this area that I have contacted that are able to do what I have done and identify the Occupier of their O’Brien farm in 1855.  Before this time there is only speculation as to the identity of the previous generation.

The following is a list of the six distinct O’Brien families that live a short distance from each other.  They were neighbors and surely knew each other and from what the DNA tests have shown there is a close relationship between these six O’Brien families just a generation or two before the start of written records.

1855 Valuation of Tenements for Parish of Kilmurry-Ibrickane, County Clare, Ireland

·         Lot 15,16,17        Honoria O’Brien, Killernan Townland, 26 acres

·         Lot  17,18            Michael O’Brien, Killernan Townland, 20 acres

·         Lot 1,2                             Michael O’Brien, Quartermire, Knockanalban Townland, 27 acres

·         Lot 59,60,61,62  James O’Brien, Mount Scot, Knockanalban Townland,  51 acres

·         Lot 15                    Patrick O’Brien, Shanaway West Townland, 41 acres

·         Lot 2                    Michael O’Brien, Knockbrack Townland,  34 acres

 There are still more O’Brien families still living in the area and other O’Brien families  that left Miltown Malbay in the 1850’s after the Irish Famine that probably have a common ancestor before the time of written records. 

If you would like to participate in the O’Brien Group “Y” DNA Project with Family Tree Maker order your test kit from: https://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Obrien

The O’Brien Group is unique in that one of the members is a direct descendant of High King Brian Boru.  Conor Myles John O'Brien, 18th Baron Inchiquin is the holder of a hereditary peerage in the Peerage of Ireland, as well as Chief of the Name of O'Brien and Prince of Thomond in the Gaelic Irish nobility and the O’Brien members from the Miltown Malbay parish that have are participants in the O’Brien Group have the closest match to the Irish nobility.

If you have any questions about the Y-DNA testing, Please contact me with your questions.

Slainte,
Kevin James O'Brien/Caoimhin Seamus O'Briain