The province of Munster has its own unique genetic history. The Munster Irish project hopes to use Y-DNA to gain insight into the heritage of the early peoples who populated this largest of the Irish provinces and compare their genetic relationships with the claims of early genealogical tracts and annals. At least three ancestral haplotypes appear to be particularly prevalent in Munster: Irish Type II (defined by SNP CTS4466), Irish Type III (defined by SNP L226) and a subclade we have identified as Munster I (defined by SNP L362). The surnames listed on our Background page have been identified as in use in Munster in pre-Norman times in various ancient works. Some of these surnames also occur elsewhere in Ireland and/or in the British Isles, where they may be derived from different sources. The intent is to focus ONLY on the surnames of Munster origin. ANY MALE OF ONE OF THE SURNAMES LISTED WHO TRACES HIS ORIGINS TO THE PROVINCE OF MUNSTER (counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford) or belongs to one of the three aforementioned Irish clusters is welcome to join this project. This is not limited to any single haplogroup. Membership criteria are more fully explained on the Background page of the project's website. NOTE: We are only researching Y-DNA of males of the listed surnames. If your results are only autosomal DNA, you do not qualify for participation. FOR THE LADIES, if you have a male relative of an eligible surname that has tested Y-DNA and fulfills the criteria, please ask them to join us.