The genetic links of one of Australia’s most notorious and controversial outlaws – Ned Kelly – will be the focus of the next Kelly clan gathering in Dundrum, Co Tipperary, in May.
Kelly was born in Australia about 1854 and earned a reputation as both a cold-blooded murderer as well as a freedom- fighting folk hero. He was captured and hanged in Melbourne in 1880 for his crimes.
Key speaker at the May 17th- 19th gathering will be Australian Aidan Kelly, the clan’s chief recorder on genetic genealogy, who will be presenting the latest analysis of the Kelly Y-DNA study (the genetic links of the male line).
Mary Kelly, one of the event organisers and a spokeswoman for the Kelly Clan Association said: “The purpose of our event is not to condone his reputation but to share the importance of genetics in tracing family connections.”