Project Goals
Although this project is focused specifically on the 9th Century Irish Prince Cléireach Mac Ceadadhach and his son Maolfabhaill Mac Cléirigh (who's sons were Ó Cléirigh), other groups will be spun off in the event we determine certain families originated in other countries with coincidental similarities in name. It is also quite possible that members of the Clan from Ireland are not directly related to Cleireach and his descendants for various reasons even though they are legitimate members of the clan.
Current mysteries we are attempting to solve:
- How many of us are actually directly descended from Cleireach Mac Ceadadhach?
- Are there any living descendants of the last most senior member of the clan who can claim "Chief of the Name" and register the clan arms with the Chief Herald of Ireland?
- Is the popular theory that Desiree Clary, Queen of Sweden, and certain Clary populations in France were descended from Ó Cléirigh descendants who emigrated to France in the 16th and 17th Century true?
- Are any of the 18th Century and later immigrants to America, Canada and other countries from France related?
- Which, if any, of the Clark/Clarke families around the world are related?
- Are the Milesian Genealogies which trace descendants of the early Irish kings to King Galam "Mil Espania" of Spain (Basque or Galicia) possible or even probable?
- Do individuals in the Hines project descendants of the O'Heynes, a family traced to Cléireach's other son Eidhin, match up with our project and can we get a viable haplotype for Cléireach himself using data from descendants of both of his sons?
- More to come...