LOUIS, 5XW7C, DEDU6, 8ZJMY and N0PETE have some close similarities and have, therefore, been classified in one group. With 22/25 matches in some instances, there is likely to be a link between them all, but it is difficult to be certain. It is possible that a closer match between them (i.e. a 'bridge' haplotype) could be found by testing other cousins. The best way to compare people is by the single copy markers first (e.g. those without a number after them), as these locations are the same for each person.  By looking at these, there is only a two marker difference in the case of 5XW7C and LOUIS.  Then you overlay the multi-copy marker information on top. This shouldn't change the conclusions of the single-copy information, but may be used to show up finer branching. The DYS464 change could have happened at any one of the locations, but it would appear as though it is just the one marker difference. So, these two are likely to be related biologically. Further proof would be preferred. A similar3 marker mismatch occurs between DEDU6 and LOUIS.

With regard to LOUIS, there is apparently some dispute as to his geographical origins. In relatively recent history, these may lie in Fermanagh, while the other two participants have a paper-trail back to Roscommon. However, the haplotypes can be seen as dissimilar to the Fermanagh Groups; but are hardly so dissimilar as they also represent a common origin in Ireland.

5XW7C claims documentary evidence that his great grandfather, John McManus and his brother, Thomas, were born in Keadue and Ballyfarnon, County Roscommon, Ireland, respectively (stated by them in the 1871 Census of England and Wales at the village of Crook, County Durham). The birth date of John corresponds with baptism records held by the RC Church at Keadue and these correspond with the name of his father, James McManus, a deceased farm labourer, and in John's subsequent marriage lines and brother Thomas' marriage lines, held by the Registrar General at Bishop Auckland, County Durham in 1866. John's wife, Bridget Kearns, stated in the 1871 Census that she was born in Roscommon. In 1868, the records of the RC Church at Boyle, Roscommon (less than 10 miles from Ballyfarnon) show a baptism of Thomas McManus and parents, John McManus and Bridget Kearns, residing at that time in the town of Boyle. This record fits oral information within the family that  5XW7C's great uncle Thomas was born in Ireland (and if fact, the 1871 Census confirms this) and correlates precisely with his birth date. By 1871, John and Bridget and family had returned to County Durham, where they continued to reside. In 1871, 5XW7C's grandfather, James, was born and in 1902 his father, Michael. There is a continuously unbroken registration of birth, death and marriage relating to 5XW7C, his father, grandfather and great grandfather (marriage and death) with the Registrar General of England and Wales. Any doubt to the geographical origin of John McManus must rest with the 1871 Census record and the baptism record in Keadue Church. Enumerator's census transcriptions can be inaccurate and church records can often be repetitive of some Irish surnames and first names. In this case, the doubt factor could be estimated at 5%. More can be seen at 5XW7C's web pages.

An interesting example concerning 5XW7C and DEDU6  can be given of contrast between assumptions made from paper/oral based evidence and genetic profiles. After about twenty years of discussing the likelihood that their individual great grandparents had a recent common ancestor around the time of the Irish Famine: the paper trail for both showed both families having come to County Durham, England, in the mid 1840's from the Keadue/Ballyfarnon area, of North Roscommon, Ireland, 5XW7C and DEDU6 were finally compared genetically in December, 2004. In fact, the result showed both are mismatched by one number at 5 markers: 390, 439, 441, 458 and 468b. It's an imprecise science, but it is possible to attempt to work out the Most Recent Common Ancestor of these two. If you go to http://66.235.201.45:8085/relativegenetics/blue.jsp?p=114 and to the bottom part of the page, where it looks at a 37 marker test, you can get some idea about this calculation, and the uncertainty of it too. Consider our comparison to be 32/37; that's 5 mismatches. They suggest that 5XW7C and DEDU6 would not be related in fewer than 20 generations. You take a generation to be 25 years and then multiply this number by the 20 - the answer is 500 years. The fact is, however, that the MRCA could be any period prior to 20 generations.

If you apply the same calculation to LOUIS, who is only 3 mismatches from 5XW7C and DEDU6, then you could say that both share a common ancestor with him about 400 years ago. LOUIS believes his McManus ancestor left Ireland for America in the mid 1700's. Perhaps he was a soldier and decided to stay in the colony. So, when we take the paper evidence, and we look at this group of three individual McManuses and compare the profiles, I think it is reasonable to say that irrespective of mismatches, there is a connected family group. It may not be connected in the recent past, but they are distant 'cousins'. Phil McManus of the McManus Clan Association, has calculated the MRCA of this group and has prepared a cladogram showing their possible pedigrees at the Association web pages on DNA.

A 12 marker test held by three Flanagan men (2 claiming Fermanagh origins (12/12) and the other South Roscommon (11/12)) was found comparable with 12  and 11 markers of 5XW7C's 43. It has been suggested that this has some significance, as O'Flanagan, like McManus, was a sub-family of the O'Connors.  However, 10-12 markers are described as 'fairly inaccurate' by the DNA Heritage Laboratory:

Too few test markers, e.g. 10 or 12, can often give inconclusive results. These 'low-resolution' tests can really only confirm that two people are NOT related, thus the vast majority of genealogists find they need to upgrade to a more accurate test anyway.

20 plus is a safe number of markers to compare with accuracy. In view of this, no significance can be attributed to these comparisons unless the number of markers is increased.

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