RootsChat.Com

A DNA test might help you, but may also just lead you to people who live in various parts of the world who know nothing more than you do about your family origins.

Most people test with Ancestry then upload their raw data to other sites in the hope that they might find matches who have tested with other companies.

A DNA test is a worthwhile investment but don’t be disappointed if you don’t find what you are looking for. If the paper trail doesn’t exist none of your matches will have one either.

You might be lucky to find a match who still lives in the part of the world where your ancestors hailed from - and the hope is that they may have family stories or other documentation to help you.

You have nothing to lose. Look out for sales which can save you a few dollars/pounds. All of the DNA companies have them periodically.

Good luck.

You're right, nothing to lose. I'm going for it!

Hi,
Work backwards from you.
Trace each Connolly line back.  You will use several sites but you can do it.
May take a while.
I traced mine back without DNA (wasn't used when I did mine!)
Maggsie

Hey Maggsie, that's what I have been trying to do, but I've hit a roadblock. I have only been able to get to the early 19th century with the Connolly's. They were from Cavan so it's possible the records got lost in a fire, but I won't give up hope and will keep trying!

After searching the Wikipedia for the last name Connolly, it said that there are 5 unrelated families where the anglicized version of Connolly comes from:
Ó Conghalaigh of Iar Connacht (now County Galway);
Ó Coingheallaigh in the Kingdom of Desmond (now west County Cork);
Ó Conghalaigh of Derrygonnelly, Fear Manach (now County Fermanagh);
Ó Conghalaigh of Airgíalla (now County Monaghan and/or County Meath);
Ó Conghaile Muirthemne from County Louth.

Is there any way to know which one my name could come from? As far as I know, no one is from any of those parts exactly, however; my close relatives (20th century) are from Ulster so it could be the last three families. Also, according to my ancestry DNA (not perfect I know), I got marked for strong DNA in Munster, so that could possibly be the second name.

Let me know if there is any more research I could do. I got some good help when I asked a question more than a year ago. I hit a roadblock in the mid-1800s of my Irish/namesake side. I hope everyone is doing well.

Cheers--

New Update that I thought was interesting:
I couldn't find anything to confirm those birth registers we found. However, I did find Ellen's death registry. What's interesting about this is that Sinnan found a census from 1901 that listed Ellen as being 92, but this death registry lists her as being 77  . Weird. But it's definitely the same person since it was at 14 Obin Street and informed by Patrick (Son of Deceased). Other than that it says she was the widow of a saddler, no clue about the name though. I appreciate the help though and I hope you can help me with any other questions I have in the future assuming this isn't a dead end. I will try to help some people too since I learned some more searching techniques thanks to you guys. 

If we could find all the children to this couple and than find marriages to see if the father changed occupation or not would help prove if this is the correct parents or not.

If that Mary is the same aunt Mary, then she married someone named William Murray. Immigrated to the US in 1908 died in 1951.