Unearthing Polish Roots from My Believed-to-be Purely Irish Lineage: A DNA Genesis
Family name Flanagan
My venture into the exploration of my ancestry was turned upside down when, contrary to my family's belief of being of pure Irish descent, my DNA testing at iGENEA revealed Eastern European, particularly Polish, origins. This journey entailed a shake up of my personal understanding of my identity and led towards a deeper appreciation of multifaceted cultural influences.
My journey to uncovering my Flanagan ancestry began with my decision to take a DNA test at iGENEA, hoping to learn more about my family's origins. The discovery shocked me beyond my wildest belief. Contrary to the family tales suggesting our pure Irish heritage, the results suggested that we could trace our lineage not just to Ireland, but also to regions in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland.
This revelation was initially a jarring one as it demanded the reevaluation of the cultural attitudes inculcated in me through years of believing to be purely Irish. Those Polish influences within our familial customs, previously explained away as quirks, were now coming under a different light. Piecing together these random parts of my identity suddenly made sense. From the traditional Polish dishes during family gatherings to the occasional Polish phrases by my grandmother, all obtained a newfound significance.
I further delved into the family records to validate this DNA revelation and found an intriguing piece of history. I discovered that a certain Flanagan ancestor had immigrated from Poland to Ireland in the early 19th century. That ancestor, a Polish Jew fleeing discrimination, adopted the Irish customs and even changed his surname to Flanagan to assimiliate into the societal fabric.
The new sense of multiculturalism that this discovery has brought to my life has been nothing short of enlightening. My perspective has widened and I now see myself as an amalgamation of distinct cultural influences. This revelation has not only made me cherish my multifaceted genetic diversity but it also made me embrace and appreciate numerous cultures that cascade into creating the current version of me. The former pride in being purely Irish is now replaced with pride in my diversified heritage.
This testing process has been an exercise of rediscovering my identity. Unearthing the layers of my ancestry has nudged me out of my former rigid perceptions and led me towards embracing the fluidity that is inherent in one's identity. The understanding that we are all a part of the vast quilt of humanity, thriving on interweaving threads of different cultural experiences has been transformative.
V. Flanagan