I have just discovered, due to the tireless research done by my uncle, that I am not, in fact, of Irish descent. I know, I know, this must come as quite a shock to those of you who have known me even casually over the last several years, but it's true. I must admit that I am very disappointed at this news, and yet, through the very same research on Ancestry.com, I have learned that I am, in fact, descended from Welsh royalty through my father's line. Apparently, the Welsh are fantastic record keepers as I seem to have an unbroken line of descent from at least Roman Britain. The earliest record that we can find of an ancestor of mine is of a man named Rhyfedel ap Rhydeyrn born in AD 125 during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. The royalty part comes in during the Dark Ages with the Kingship of Rodhri Mawr or Roderick the Great. Look at this wikipedia entry for details about my 35th Great Grandfather. Also look here and here for info on the places he and his sons ruled.