We have a collection of information - Australian pedigrees, Irish records and DNA on the following Ballarat pioneers:

Denis & Bridget Cain (later Keane) of Ballarat;
Thomas & Bridget Cain (previously Kean) of Bacchus Marsh;
Coleman & Catherine Kean of Warrenheip;
John & Jane Kean of Ballarat;
John & Ellen Kean of Bungaree, later of Dean;
Michael Fury Kean & Catherine Kean of Ballarat;
Coleman & Bridget Keane of Warrenheip;
Patrick & Bridget Keane of Ballarat;

Most of the above have proved to have Co Galway origins (in many cases we know the specific location). One family had a son who married the sister of Prime Minister John Scullin. Another family founded CJ Keane & Co real estate which still operates. We have pedigrees back to the Famine. To overcome the lack of pre-Famine records, we have used DNA to tie several of these families together in the Cain DNA project at www.familytreedna.com