Donoghue is an evolution of the Irish, Donnchadha (the Irish alphabet having only 18 letters). Dunaway is a phonetic evolution which seems to have bypassed the Donohue phase - even as many Dunaways are connected to one of the several Donoghue septs; but, perhaps just as many or more Dunaways are not genetically connected to the O'Donoghues. So, neither O'Donoghue or Donnchadha were the variants I was thinking of, rather, the several variants of Dunaway: Dunniway, Donnaway, Dunway... But given that participants will be able to use any of the variants while working among themselves, Dunaway is the only name/tag that will be needed. Many of us already understand that the many variants to be one and the same name (perhaps the result of those who could not read or write adopting spellings that others had given to them).
I will decline the Donohue group offer. Sorting through the Dunaways is a quest to distinguish Dunaways from Dunaways and to see which of the O'Donoghues some of us might belong - but as genetic testing is pointing to a reality in which just as many (or more) Dunaways may not be connected to the Donoghues the Donoghue name/tag would be a complication which could well frustrate that latter group of Dunaways. I see Dunaway as an interim step in the quest to find where our Dunaway lines most likely connect to the Donoghues or Donnchadhas of Ireland circa the 17th century; not unlike how many Donoghues in America now seek out their lost connections to Ireland.
Again, thanks,
David.