Advertisement

Andrea Gilligan finds out just how 'Donegal' she is

'Borders are fuzzy, your DNA doesn't know what county borders are'
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

17.52 14 Sep 2023


Share this article


Andrea Gilligan finds out just...

Andrea Gilligan finds out just how 'Donegal' she is

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

17.52 14 Sep 2023


Share this article


Presenter Andrea Gilligan is not shy of talking about her native county of Donegal.

So much so that the Lunchtime Live production team challenged her to take a DNA test to see just how Donegal she is.

It comes as Thursday marked the fourth #LoveDonegal Day, giving everyone with a connection to Donegal an opportunity to enjoy and celebrate.

Advertisement

The aim is to encourage people to participate and engage from all corners of the world and spread the word to the diaspora about the many opportunities in the county.

Andrea Gilligan was joined on the show by Dr Jennifer Doyle, a historian from ancestry.com.

Dr Doyle dropped a bombshell on Andrea earlier.

"I can tell you that you're not from Donegal," she said.

"You're 95% Irish, 5% Scottish and most of your Irishness comes from Co Leitrim.

"A little bit of Monaghan and Fermanagh came in."

Lunchtime Live presenter Andrea Gilligan reacts to her DNA news Lunchtime Live presenter Andrea Gilligan reacts to her DNA news

Andrea said Monaghan and Fermanagh did not surprise her.

"My Dad's family are all from Fermanagh, so I would expect that there is a huge Fermanagh connection," she said.

"A lot of connections on my mum's side from Monaghan... but I cannot believe you're telling me that I'm actually from Leitrim?"

'Your DNA doesn't know borders'

Dr Doyle said the test matches users DNA to others that most closely resembles their own.

"You're from south Donegal, so it's not actually that far from the border with Co Leitrim," she said.

"What the Ancestry DNA test does is it matches you to populations whose DNA most closely resembles your own.

"If you think about it the borders are fuzzy, your DNA doesn't know what county borders are.

"So Ballyshannon isn't all that far from Leitrim."

Dr Doyle said it all comes down to the movement of people.

"People move into towns like Ballyshannon, they come up searching for work," she said.

"Your ancestors moved from Leitrim up into Donegal."

Listen back here:


Share this article


Read more about

#LoveDonegal Day Ancestry.com Andrea Gilligan Ballyshannon DNA Test Donegal Dr Jennifer Doyle Leitrim Love Donegal Lunchtime Live

Most Popular