Sunday, July 31, 2011

Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill : U106/S21 R1b1b2a1a1a ?.

A short history of Shane " An Diomas " O'Neill
By M.A.O'Neill


Shane "An Diomas" O'Neill, son of Conn “Baccach” O'Neill, born in 1535, Shane lead a rebellion against the English, and a vendetta against Feardorcha O’Neill, and his descendants. In 1567 he was killed by the McDonnell's of the Glenn in Antrim on June 2, 1567, he was hacked into pieces and his body wrapped in a kern’s old shirt, and was thrown in a pit near were he was killed. There was a reward of 1,000 l. for anyone who offered the dead body and head of Shane " An Diomas" to the English crown , or 500 l. for those who would give information that would lead to his death. For some reason the McDonnell's didn't know or cared, but Sir William Piers, the governor of Carrickfergus , did know and managed to get a hold of Shane " An Diomas " head and sent it, pickled in a pip kin, to Sir Henry Sidney , in some accounts Shane "An Diomas" head was placed on top of Dublin Castle ,other accounts say it was placed at the gates. Shane's body was later said to have been privately buried at the Franciscan monastery at Glenram.
Sir. Henry Sidney, later took Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone,at the age of nine to be raised in his castle at Ludlow, Shropshire, and brought up there, at Penhurst in Kent, and in London. At this time Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone , was adopted by the Hovenedan family of the Pale. This was due in part that Feardorcha O'Neill, his father had been killed by Shane 'An Diomas”, and his older brother Brian O’Neill, was also killed on April 12, 1562, by Turlough Luineach O'Neill, somewhere between Newry and Carlingford.
During this period there were basically three to four O'Neill's families involved in vendettas and positioning themselves for power versus themselves, and the English, who many times used these weakness to their advantages. You had Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, the son of Feardorcha O’Neill, the alleged illegitimate son of Conn " Baccach" O'Neill , and Allison Kelly, the wife of John Kelly, the blacksmith of Dundalk. Next was Sir. Turlough Lineach O'Neill, was born circa 1530 and died in 1595, the nephew of Conn “Baccach" O’Neill. Sir Turlough Lineach O’Neill was the son of Niall Conallach O'Neill and Rose O'Donnell, the daughter of Manus O'Donnell. Then the sons of Shane “An Diomas" O’Neill, are said to be six to ten children in total by three different wifes.
Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill , is believed to had six to ten children, there names Shane Og, Hugh " Gaveloch", Henry, Art, Conn, Cormac, Niall, Brian, Turlough , and Edmond. After, he was hacked into pieces by the McDonnell's of the Glenn, his once mistress and now wife Catherine McLean, Countess of Duart, took her sons for protection to the Scottish Isles. Catherine McLean , was once the wife of Calvach O'Donnell, who he kept outside tied up in chains for everyone to see, also he kept Catherine McLean , in chains in a cellar until he was drunk and will go up and have his way with her. Some accounts state that Shane “An Diomas" , had a strange habit of burying himself in sand up to his neck to cool of his blood.
Now, the big question! Are all the McShane's descendants of Shane “An Diomas" O'Neill? The answer is no! There are many origins to the surname McShane in Ireland, years before the sons of Shane “An Diomas" O'Neill. One thing is that many of the McShane's do match allot of the O'Neill's are of the Y-DNA O'Neill Variant.

Lets take a look at the Neely's, O'Neill's of Puerto Rico,the majority of O'Neill's, and McShane's.



Neely's of Pennsylvania.

DYS 393 = 13
DYS 390 = 24
DYS 385 a = 11
DYS 385 b = 14
DYS 389-2 = 29
DYS 459 a-b = 9,9
DYS 447 = 25
DYS 464 a = 15
DYS 464 b = 15
DYS 464 c = 17
DYS 464 d = 17
YCA II a = 19
YCA II b = 23


SNP U106/S21 R1b1b2a1a1a.


MacShane / O'Neill's common haplotype.


DYS 393 = 13
DYS 390 = 24
DYS 385 a = 12
DYS 385 b = 15
DYS 389-2 = 30
DYS 459 a-b = 9,10
DYS 447 = 25
DYS 464 a = 15
DYS 464 b = 15
DYS 464 c = 17
DYS 464 d = 17
YCA II a = 19
YCA II b = 23

SNP R1b1ba2a1a1b



O'Neill's of Puerto Rico.

DYS 393 = 13
DYS 390 = 23
DYS 385 a = 11
DYS 385 b = 14
DYS 389-2 = 29
DYS 459 a-b = 9,10
DYS 447 = 24
DYS 464 a = 15
DYS 464 b = 15
DYS 464 c = 16
DYS 464 d = 17
YCA II a = 19
YCA II b = 21
DYS 456 = 13

SNP L48 / S162 R1b1b2a1a4


The O'Neill's of Puerto Rico are from a totally different SNP than the majority of other O'Neill's currently y-dna tested. So, there is no current relation between the O'Neill's of Puerto Rico and other O'Neill's. The Neely's who claim to be descendants of Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill , are of the SNP U106 / S21 , but are not of the sub clade L48/S162 R1b1b2a1a4. There is no significant relation, or common ancestor between both families, unless the Neely's test positive for the SNP L48 and then it falls into a time period of 2,900 to 3,100.

I have yet to see any McShane's that have tested positive for the U106,or L48,and that will match the O'Neill's of Puerto Rico, or the Neely's of Pennsylvania.

A little lesson to some O'Neill's, since there seems to be allot of ignorance, among many of when it comes to y-dna.

The SNP U106 /M405/S21/ is found at its highest frequency in Frisia, Benelux, England, Austria, and Northern Italy. It's estimated to be found among 25% of those within the R1b SNP, and there are some that have a theory that the SNP U106 is Central European in origin. Some speculate the SNP to be of a Germanic origin, yet its undefined. U106 it is an estimated 3,100 to 3,900 years old, and downstream of U106 are the SNP's U198/S29/M467,P107,P89.2,L1/S26/DYS 439 (Null), L5,L6,L48/S162 with L47 and its L44, L45, and L46 subgroups. The SNP L48 a estimated 2,900 - 3,100 years old, and not commonly found in Ireland, but in areas occupied once by the Germanic tribes.


The Neely's mind you that they are of the U106 / S21, a very different origin than the O'Neill's / McShanes who are of the SNP R1b1ba2a1a1b. There is no relation at all! Or a common ancestor within the time frame of the genealogies.

The majority of MacShane's of Ulster at 12 markers are 1 GD (Genetic Distance), from the O'Neill Variant Haplotype that represents the majority of O'Neill's tested. Are these the descendants of Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill, we can not say 100% , but it looks very likely that they can be the descendants of the 10 sons of Shane " An Diomas".

If the Neely's are the descendants of Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill, then we must have more McShane's that test for the U106 / S21 ,and we do not at the moment. Long ago there was a guy who claimed that he was a descendant of Shane " An Diomas " O'Neill ,and he was tested R1b1c9 , at the early stages of U106, yet a few months later his SNP changed to the SNP M222 by some miracle. So, we do not know whats the true SNP Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill, yet time will tell, what the SNP of Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill truely was.

The genealogy combined with y-dna testing of the Neely's of Pennsylvania say that Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill , was of the SNP U106/S21. The McShane's currently tested in Ulster say a different story, and are genetically equal to the majority of O'Neill's in Ulster.


The O'Neill's of Puerto Rico of the SNP L48 , a sub clade of U106 / S21 , at 35 markers are a Genetic Distance of 19 , to the Neely's of Pennsylvania, that shows that there is no true relation within both families. Now , if the Neely's of Pennsylvania , do end up being L48 the same as the O'Neill's of Puerto Rico , then there was a common ancestor and origin within 2,900 - 3,100 years.

Only time will tell what was the true SNP Shane " An Diomas" O'Neill ,the O'Neill's of
Puerto Rico genealogy and oral history , do not match or is associated in any way with the descendants of Shane " An Diomas" . But it will be a interesting find to have a group of with a genealogy and SNP within the U106/S21 , will it lead to a new discovery among the O'Neill's ? Who knows? When there are plenty of O'Neill zealots that have a agenda to shut down, or discredit any new findings.

Friday, July 29, 2011

U106/S21 Neely's / O'Neill's of Pennsylvania

About a year ago I came across a post, of a man named Neely claiming to have been a descendant of Art Oge O'Neill, and this group of Neely's / O'Neill's were from York, Pennsylvania. The interesting part is that they are y-dna tested and are U106/S21 R1b1b2a1a1a, and I have no knowledge that they have tested for L48 or any subclade of the U106/S21.

The genealogy is given as follows

Art Oge O'Neill (1565 - 1622), father of
Shane O'Neill (1599 - 1643) father of
Thomas O'Neill (1619 - 1670) father of
Tiege O'Neill (1641 - 1690) father of
Henry (O'Neill) Payne (1665 - 1698) father of
Art (O'Neill) Payne (1678 - 1732) father of
Thomas (O'Neill) Neely

DYS 393 = 13
DYS 390 = 24
DYS 385 a = 11
DYS 385 b = 14
DYS 389-2 = 29
DYS 459 a-b = 9,9
DYS 447 = 25
DYS 464 a = 15
DYS 464 b = 15
DYS 464 c = 17
DYS 464 d = 17
YCA II a = 19
YCA II b = 23

Their SNP tested is U106/S21 R1b1b2a1a1a.

The question is these Neely's / O'Neill's the descendants of Art Oge O'Neill that died in 1622?

We assume that all this is 100% true, and there are no doubts about any NPE. Then are we are looking at my theory of the core O'Neill's being of the SNP U106 / S21 and L48? This Art Oge O'Neill was the son of Conn O'Neill, who died in 1598, son of Shane “The Proud" O’Neill, and these O'Neill's were mainly of Strabane and Dungannon. Let’s look at these O'Neill's /Payne/ Neely alleged genealogy.

Conn O'Neill, married Nuala O'Donnell parents of

Art Oge O'Neill
CuUladh O'Neill, descendants possibly in Scotland).
Mor O’Neill, became a nun.
Eoghan O'Neill, had children but it's not known of them.
Brian O’Neill was killed by an Englishman.
Flann O’Neill died in Strabane.

Art Oge O’Neill married Sinead Ni Art (Joanna O'Hart) from this marriage there were four children born.

1. Conn Ruadh died descendants unknown.
2. Shane O’Neill, born in 1599 and married Kathleen O'Donnell of Tirconnell.
3. Rose
4.Aodh Dubh , A Major - General in the Austrian Army married Sibylla , the daughter of a German Prince in 1641.

Shane O’Neill, the second son of Art Oge O’Neill, was the father of six children.

1. Thomas O'Neill
2. Art O'Neill
3. Conn O’Neill, lived in Munster, Ireland.
4. Eoghan O’Neill immigrated to North America.
5. Robert O'Neill, whose descendants are believed to be extinct?
6. Meadhbh O'Neill, married a French Officer.

Thomas O’Neill, was born 1619, married Angelina O'Neill, the daughter of Aodh Dubh O'Neill. They became the parents of four, later on in 1670 Thomas found dead on Lough Foyle, and stabbed in the back with a dagger.

1. Tiege O'Neill
2. Shane O’Neill entered the Spanish Army.
3. Mor O’Neill married a Scotch Laird.
4. Kate O'Neill

Teige O'Neill (1641 - 1690), buried at Ardstraw, married Mary O'Donnell and became the parents of five.

1. Henry O'Neill
2. Brian O'Neill
3. John O'Neill
Both Brian and John O'Neill ended up mercenaries in France, and then in Portugal. They are believed to have had eight decendants that immigrated to Brazil in South America.
4. Robert O’Neill married Miss Stuart of Argyle.
5. Rose O’Neill married a MacCallum of Scotland.

Henry O'Neill, born in 1665 at Dungannon,Ulster. Married Fionualla O'Gormley and they became the parents of ten children. Henry O’Neill, was also the cousin of Colonel Sir. Neill O’Neill, died in 1690 at the Boyne. This Henry O’Neill, changed his surname to "Payne" , he lived in various areas of Ireland , but finally ended up under the shelter of Neal O'Neal of Cloon, Co. Leitrim. At the end he ended up being assassinated by his hereditary O'Neill enemies in 1698, at Co.Mayo.

1. Art O'Neill
2. Judith O'Neill
3. Kate O'Neill
4. Aodh O'Neill
5. Shane O'Neill
6. Roderic O'Neill
7. Nora O'Neill
8. Cu-Uladh O’Neill, Entered the English Army under an alias, and was later found strangled in London.
9. Delia O'Neill married a George MacCarthy.


Art (O'Neill) Payne (1687 - 1732), married Kate O’Toole, the daughter of Kate O'Toole, and they became the parents of nine. Art (O'Neill) Payne is buried at Ardstraw, Ireland.

1. Niall (O'Neill) Payne.
2. Thomas (O'Neill/ Payne) Neely, who immigrated to the North America, and it's the progenitor of the Neely's of Pennsylvania.
3. Francis (O'Neill) Payne.
4. Lawrence (O'Neill)Payne, married a woman named Collins and two sons and one daughter.
5. Nuala (O’Neill) Payne.
6. Rose (O'Neill) Payne.
7. Ada (O'Neill) Payne.
8. Mor (O'Neill) Payne married a Henry O'Cahan of Co.Derry.
9. Joan (O'Neill) Payne.


Neely Y-DNA project








Again, assuming there are no NPE, and all the genealogy is 100% correct. Then we are looking at the progenitor of the Neely's / O'Neill, Thomas Neely born 1695 , being of the SNP U106/S21, and in turn this means that Shane " The Proud " O'Neill ,and the progenitor of the Royal O'Neill's , Niall Glundubh MacAedo, was of the SNP U106/S21 , and it's not known if also L48. This somewhat confirms my theory that the Royal Bloodline O'Neill's were of the SNP U106/S21, and possible L48 SNP this will be known until further test are made, or acquired by this group of Neely's / O'Neill's , and other O'Neill's.


Comparing the O'Neill's of Puerto Rico y -dna of the SNP L48 , and if we say that the Neely's / O'Neill of Pennsylvania turn out to be L48+,then it will be interesting to see circa what year the nearest common ancestor between these two groups is believed to have lived. What we do know is that U106/S21 is believed to be a Germanic SNP,an estimated 3,100 to 2,900 years old.

What we do know of Art Oge O’Neill, is that his descendants must be in Brazil, Portugal,Ireland,United States, and Scotland. They must be O'Neill's of the SNP U106/S21 or its subclade, and not of the coined O'Neill Variety which most O'Neill's are part of.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Enri Mac Eoghain Ui Neill

Henry O'Neill, also known as Enri Mac Eoghain Ui Neill, died in 1489, chief of the Cineal Eoghain,he was the son of Eoghan O'Neill and Caitrions, the daughter of Ardghal MacMahon.Henry O'Neill, in 1431, was taken prisoner by Neachtan O’Donnell, who released him as one of the conditions of peace with Eoghan O'Neill. This peace did not last long, since in 1435, Neachtan O'Donnell and Brian og O’Neill, decided to start an alliance and attack Eoghan O’Neill. When Eoghan O'Neill and his sons Henry and Eoghan og O'Neill, found out about the Brian O'Neill and O'Donnell alliance, and plans to attack his territory. Eoghan O'Neill and his two sons marched into O'Donnell's territory. At the start O'Donnell attacked and drove them out, of his territory, and occupied it again with his forces of MacSuibhne of Fanad galloglasses’ and his clansmen. Henry O’Neill was not satisfied of what had happened, and he made a speech to rally his O'Neill clansmen and the MacDonnell gallowglasses. They went back into O'Donnell's territory and drove them out,during the battle the O'Donnell gallowglass clan the MacSuibhne of Fanad, held their ground this gave time,for the O'Donnell's and Brian O'Neill to retreated eastwards with the possible intent to reach the Fanad, but they were defeated and taken prisoner by Henry O'Neill. Brian O'Neill and his two sons went to Henry O'Neill to gain favor from him by offering the O'Donnell castle of Ballyshannon. Henry O'Neill greeted Brian O’Neill by cutting off one foot and one hand from each, of Brian O'Neill's sons, and both of his sons died at once. In 1439, Henry O'Neill marched to Portora on Lough Erne, and released the chief of the Maguires that had been made a prisoner in his own castle. In 1442, Henry O'Neill allied himself with the English, and again went to war, defeating Neachtan O'Donnell then taking castle Finn, in Co.Donegal from O'Donnell. This same year he allied himself with the MacQuillin's, and fought against Aodh Buidh O'Neill of the Clannaboy, but was severely defeated by the Clannaboy O’Neill’s, and had to give up his son Aedh as a hostage. In 1450 with his strong alliance with the MacQuillin's again went against the Clannaboy O'Neill's this time loosing his son Nial, who was slain by his cousin Henry, the great grandson of Henry Aimhreidh O'Neill. Two years later in 1452, Henry O'Neill goes to help his father versus the McMahon, who had slain the McDonnell, chief of the O'Neill galloglasses. Even marriage involved war, Henry O'Neill, was married the daughter of MacMurchadha, a step sister of the Earl of Ormonde, but Henry O'Neill, for some time had been living with Baintreabhach O'Donnell, the widow of Neachtan O'Donnell, who was also the daughter of MacWilliam Burke. This did not fair well with the Earl of Ormonde, and then marched to O'Neill's territory and demanded he take back his step sister. In 1455, he deposed of his senile father, and was inaugurated the O'Neill at Tullahoge, in the presence of the O'Neill's and the Archbishop of Armagh. In 1456, yet again went to war with the O'Donnells,and established Toirdhealbhach Cairbrech as their new chief, with whom he now allied himself with and they both plundered the lower areas of Connaught and Breifne. In 1459, with an English alliance he tried to take over castle Omagh from Sliocht Airt Ui Neill, but they failed and instead made peace. In 1463, King Edward the IV, King of England, recognized Henry O’Neill, chief king of Ireland, and sent him forty eight yards of scarlet cloth, a chain of gold, and various other presents. From 1464 to 1470, Henry O'Neill, with his MacQuillin alliance plundered and burned Donegal, as far as the Ballyshannon, in 1467 ravaged the O'Cahan territory in Co. Derry, in 1470; Henry O'Neill and MacQuillin invaded the Clannaboy O'Neill's and captured the castle of Sgathdierge on Skettrick Island. In 1471, Henry O'Neill seized the castle of Omagh, and then in 1476, plundered Tirbreasail, Co.Donegal. Then again attacked the Clannaboy O'Neill's and demolished their castle in Belfast. Then in 1479 and 1480, he spent his time plundering Donegal, and in 1483, he retired and had his son Con, inaugurated chief of the Cineal Eoghain. In 1489, Henry O'Neill died in retirement after countless years of wars. - By M.A.O'Neill