You are more than welcome to join this project if one of your ancestors carried the surname RILEY, REILLY, O'REILLY or one of its many variants. All genders and all DNA test types are welcome, but the focus of the project is on Y-DNA. The recommended test to start with is the Y-DNA-37 test (which tests 37 STR markers). This can be ordered via the project for $129 (as of Feb 2021). Additional testing may include: a) upgrading to 67 markers or 111 markers; b) SNP testing (such as the Big Y test). Only men have a Y chromosome so only men can do these tests. But women can ask a male Riley relative to test on their behalf. In order to get the most from their DNA test, there are several things that participants can do to help themselves and each other. 1) Fill in your MDKA information (Most Distant Known Ancestor) for both your maternal line and (especially) your paternal line. Surname spelling & birth location are the most important details. Simply click on your name in the top right of your home page after logging in - click on Account Settings - Genealogy - Most Distant Ancestors. Use the following format and be sure to include the BIRTH LOCATION of your MDKA (this is ESSENTIAL) if you know it: ... ... ... John Riley b.c1802 Dromore, Cavan d.c1876 2) Post your Reilly / Riley Pedigree to the Activity Feed - we will then copy & paste it to the NEWS section (making it publicly visible). This will potentially help other people to connect with you. It would be best if you could provide it in the following format (be sure to include the word PEDIGREE at the start so that searching for it is easier): PEDIGREE 1. James Reilly / Riley b c1835 Shallee, Co. Tipperary, d 12 Nov 1879 Longstone, Co. Tipperary, m 13 Apr 1860 Maria FARRELL, Silvermines, Co. Tipperary 2. Joshua O'Reilly b 1866 Shallee, Co. Tipperary ... xxxxx 3. Brendan xxx 4. xxx … to protect your family's privacy, do not include dates for a) births <100 years ago, b) marriages <75 years ago, or c) deaths <50 years ago; use initials for living people (not full names) the DNA kit owner (you can use initials, the last 4 digits of your kit number, or simply say "kit owner"). Be sure to protect other people's privacy. You can also include your email address if you wish to be contacted by fellow researchers - I recommend to take the @ sign out and replace it with AT (for added security). And also please include a link to any online family tree that you have. Any pedigrees submitted will be placed on the News page and will be open to view by the general public.