http://mctiernan.com/10mysteries.htm   2-10-12         Not all of these may be solved still ....

1. Locate Reverend Stephen's "copybook"    He was interested in historical and Gaelic matters for which he was made a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1884. In addition, Rev. Stephen McTernan was a member of the Societe Generale in Paris, France for which he received an annual sum of money. Reverend Stephen's personal papers were uncovered in 1907, by Rev. Charles Comey, curate of Cloonclare, Manorhamilton. The papers were found in St. Claire's Chapel in Manorhamilton. Cloonclare was in the ancient parish of Cloonloger, now included in the Catholic parish of Drumlease, Co. Leitrim.  More on his personal papers which are called the "Copybook"   Finding this may be a key to unlocking the wider McTernan family history as Rev. Stephen kept this diary from childhood.  Rev Stephen is my 1st cousin, 3 generations removed in the T Group.

2.  Understand the O'Rourke and McTernan connection in the Chapel of Creevelea as it was the traditional burial place of the McTernans of Rockfield, Mount Allen and Heapstown [and Sheskin] where large recumbent flagstones mark their final resting places. In close proximity another memorial links the families of O'Rourke and McTernan and is inscribed as follows: Here lyeth the bodye of Hugh O'Roirk and Catherine McTernan who departed this life May 22, 1721. This is the mysterious gravestone that has the symbols of playing cards, heart, spade, diamond and club along with the etching of a cat.  Tie one of the future DNA testers to  The O'Ruairc of Bréifne whose family were the past kings of Drumahaire in Co Leitrim

3. Tie one of the DNA  testers to the James McTernans, of the Rockfield McTernans a British naval surgeon who was in the squadron which protected St. Helena during the residence there of Napoleon, and was present on the island at the death of that distinguished, but unfortunate monarch in 1821.  In historical documents the Rockfield McTernans and the Heapstown McTernans [ Rory's line in the T group baseline ] are called kinsmen and are related via the maternal line with the paternal link still unknown.

4. Solved: the pamphlet written in 1845 by James MacTernan, <1815--1855, of the Mount Allen McTernans that settled at Heapstown, in Co. Sligo entitled:  "An Address to my Fellow Countrymen", in which James claimed descent from Tiernan O'Rourke, Prince of Breffni. Found by John C. McTernan.  This James McTernan also invented a new breed of horse called the Buckshot Chestnut.  This is Rory MacTiernan's family in the T Group baseline.

5. Understand the meaning of the 4,000 year old Cairn   located on Rory's Heapstown family estate. What might be the connection to Rory's McTernan family who are in the T Group baseline.

6. The McTernan School: located in Waterbury, CT.  In 2005, St. Margaret's-McTernan school changed its name to Chase Collegiate School. The new name honors the Chase family, which helped to found both St. Margaret's and the McTernan School.  Charles McTernan from Foxbourgh, MA founded the school.  Charles' son Donald married and lived in France having two daughters.  Male line may descend from Charles' uncle, Patrick, 1863--,  who was born in Boston. This family immigrated to the Boston area from Co Leitrim. Long shot for DNA match.

7. Solved: The McTernan Street in Cambridge, MA, USA formerly Lake St. right outside of County Boston.  This is Myles McTernan's family in the Te DNA Group

8. Solved: McTernan Road, Tinderry, NSW, Australia 2626: is named after the pioneering McTernan family of the area, descending from Hugh and Mary McTernan of Michelago of which Scott (AU) is a descendent in the Ta DNA Group

9. Origin of McTernan Place, Worrigee, NSW, Australia 2540: is probably named after Barney McTernan, Hugh's son who lived down there and had a stagecoach business of which Scott (AU) is a descendent in the Ta DNA Group

10. Origin of McTiernan Close, Wilsonton, QLD, Australia 4350: is probably named after Sir Edward McTiernan who is related to Leo McTiernan in the T3 Group baseline.

11. Origin of Lac McTiernan, a lake in Quebec, Canada, a 7 hour drive  north of Ottowa and about 5 hours north of Montreal.  Why was it named Lac McTiernan?  Western Canada had the custom to name natural resources like lakes after those killed in WW II.  M. McTiernan worked for the Canadian International Paper Company which may have bought out E B Eddy Company.  He had a home in the Mason Lumber camp operated be the E. B. Eddy Company. 

12. Do we genetically relate to The O'Conor Don, whose family were the past kings of Ireland as stated in the Annals of the 4 Masters.

13. What might be our connection to Rathmacternane, a townland in Killoran parish, Co Sligo listed in the Hearth roll of 1665 with a person named Cahill McTanist? listed as living there. 

14. Whereabouts of the McTernan Stone, an excessively heavy mill stone lifted and carried to the front of the Abbey Manor Hotel in Drumahaire by Thomas McTernan, the grandfather of John-Rev in the T Group baseline.  The stone thereafter was known as the McTernan Stone. 

15. Tirmactiernan, Co. Leitrim on the banks of the Shannon/Erne canal system in South Leitrim.  About 7.1 KM from Carrick on Shannon. Why was it named Tirmactiernan and any connection to any in the DNA test.

16. A horse by the name of MacTiernan is racing in Dublin for the 2010 & 2011 season.  He is running well, owned by Christine Kiernan.  Why did she name the horse MacTiernan ?

If anyone has any information on any of the remaining mysteries above please let me know