I started this Family Tree on a quest to find my connection to McDonalds of Glencoe and on my journey discovered many Kings, Queens, Prince, Princesses, Ladies & Gentlemen along the way.
I recently discovered through DNA my MacDonald (McDonald)  are belonging to ClanRanald and can be traced back to Somerfled 1113. 
About MacDonald Of Clanranald
Tradition states, the MacDonalds are the descendants of Conn, the Supreme  King of Ireland, and swayed the sceptre at Tara, County Meath, Ireland. This  Conn of the Hundred Battles, reigned in the second century of our Christian  era, and was one of the greatest heroes of 
antiquity. The Poet and and  Scholar, Ewan MacLachlan penned the Royal Lineage of the MacDonalds!
Whilst originally Catholic emigrated due to  land clearance and persecution on the basis of faith in Scotland during the 1700's whilst others converted to other denominations . As protection most births, marriages & deaths were left unrecorded. Registeration of all Births, Marriage, Death became a legal requirement in Scotland in 1841. 


However, I have had more success with my Earls Family which I have  traced family back to 1760 approx in the Creevagh area of Athenry, Co Galway & Kinvara Co Galway.
 They were Tenant farmers according to The Tithe Applotment Books. Because of the Irish Famine many left for foreign shores never to return again to their homeland. Some family members still remain in the Massachusetts Area of USA, and others in Florida and throughout the  USA. My DNA test has greatly assisted me to tracing family members in these areas.

My DNA test has enabled me to trace my Mooney family to that of Daniel Mooney circa 1750 living in County Antrim. Daniel was a Journeyman Tailor. Some Mooney family emigrated to Scotland, America & Australia whilst others survived as tenant famers in Antrim during the Famine years others suffered hard times and it appears my GGGG Grandfather Daniel had been employed as a Railway Surfaceman but ended up destitute and a Beggar in Portglenone, Antrim. After the Potato Crop failure and following the Famine tenants who were unable to pay rent were evicted and set up tents by the roadside, were dependent on the generosity of others for food just to survive. Millions died of disease and starvation. Sadly many who emigrated in the Coffin Ships in search of a better life never made it there.
My GG Grandfather emigrated to Dunbartonshire, Scotland but sadly lost many of his children at a young age from Tuberculosis. My G Grandfather returned to Drogheda early 1900 as a Master Baker with his family including my Grandfather Samuel

My Boylan family can be traced back prior to “The Battle Of The Boyne” 1690 which 4 Boylan brothers fought in, Thomas sadly injured and loosing his life on the first day of Battle. They were large land owners  with their family home at Hilltown House in Co Meath eventually been dismantled brick by brick, later to be sold and rebuilt later. Earliest records of the family line are held in National Library of Dublin. Once again there are many renowned family members included.

My Law family in Antrim have proved difficult to trace because of lack of documentation. However the earliest record is that of the Muster Roll and Edward Law or (Lawe) 1630 as a  tenant of the Earl of Antrim. He immigrated from the Earl’s estate there to Dunluce, Antrim. The next mention is the 1766 Religious Census, 1803 Agricultural Census to the Tithe Applotment of Gortfad 1823 where my family of Robert Law is found. As to whether the earlier families are related can never be truly determined but this certainly seems most likely.

Records in Ireland are extremely if not impossible to trace before 1864 with the added problem of a Custom house fire in Dublin where many records were lost.

My Duthie family can be traced back prior to  1585 in Aberdeen,  Scotland.  All of the earlier family were Gentry, and contributed greatly to improve society for the poor. Aberdeen is full of monuments , parks, roads named in their honour. Lady Elizabeth Crombie Duthie  purchased about 300 acres and employed designers for Duthie Park so that the poor people would have somewhere beautiful to relax and enjoy with their families. Almost all members of Duthie Shipping Company line are distinguished Gentry/Ladies with Sir John Duthie restoring Cairnbulg Castle in Aberdeenshire. William Duthie 1839 Collynie, famous throughout the world for his breeding of Aberdeen Shorthorn Cattle. There are several roads and monuments dedicated to his memory around the Tarves area of Aberdeen.

My Owens family have been  traced to Nicholas Owens 1722.  They come from a long line of Master Mariners in the Merchant Navy. Eventually their life on the open sea ceased as they took up alternative employment. Some family can still  be found in the Drogheda area.