Future Learn presents online courses from the top universities in Europe. They are free unless you choose an upgrade which entitles you to unlimited access to the course and a Certificate of Achievement. For general information go to https://www.futurelearn.com/courses

 Check out these courses which might be of particular interest to those of us who are interested in Irish genealogy:

 Irish 101: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture
Dublin City University, Dublin
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/irish-language

Irish Lives in War and Revolution: Exploring Ireland’s History 1912-1923
Trinity College Dublin
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/irish-historyIrish Family History Forum

Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/genealogy

Provided by Clare Curtin

From Dick Eastman’s blog March 2020:

DNA Testing Kits: What Are the Privacy Risks?

Warrant Issued Permitting Police Full Access to GEDmatch Database

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/05/business/dna-database-search-warrant.html

Schumer Wants DNA Test Companies Investigated

Nov. 26, 2017 (UPI) — Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on the Federal Trade Commission Sunday to investigate companies that provide ancestry DNA results due to potential privacy concerns. “What many consumers don’t realize is that their sensitive information can end up in the hands of unknown third-party companies,” Schumer said,

A recent  Gizmodo report analyzed the terms and conditions of several DNA test companies  and found that these companies can claim ownership of one’s DNA, that it is unclear who has access to your DNA and that information can get leaked.

An article by Judy G. Russell | Dec 11, 2016  “Read the Fine Print”  http://www.legalgenealogist.com provides another perspective.

New Developments:  Golden State Killer identified through genealogy sites:
Dick Eastman  https://blog.eogn.com/2018/04/26/dna-that-cracked-the-golden-state-killer-case-came-from-genealogy-websites/
Fox News  http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/26/golden-state-killer-caught-using-relatives-dna-from-genealogy-websites-prosecutors-say.html
NBC News Golden State Killer suspect’s capture sparks DNA site privacy fears

Someone Else’s DNA Can be Used to Identify You
Dick Eastman · October 12, 2018 ·
More than 60 percent of Americans who have some European ancestry can be identified using DNA databases — even if they have not submitted their own DNA, researchers reported Thursday.
Enough people have done some kind of DNA test to make it possible to match much of the population, the researchers said. So even if you don’t submit your own DNA, if a cousin does, it could lead people to you.
Details may be found in an article by Maggie Fox in the NBC News web site at: https://nbcnews.to/2CckjVT.

In the May-July 2017 issue of the IFHF’s Newsletter, Barbara Murphy has a wonderful Research Tip.

She recommends John Grenham’s Irish Roots Blog.

A post there is entitled “Why are Irish Records so Weird?”  Grenham recently presented the topic for Legacy software’s FamilyTreeWebinars.com library.  On his blog, his written discussion is featured. See https://www.johngrenham.com/blog/2017/03/16/why-are-irish-records-so-weird/

2016 Family History is a new, free Irish genealogy education website, brought to you by the National Archives and IrishGenealogy.ie. The site is aimed primarily at secondary school students, but can be used by anyone with Irish ancestors to learn how to use the multiplicity of online sources now available for family history.https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/2016-family  Click on “2016 Family History” on the toolbar.