Posted on 01/19/2006 8:02:19 AM PST by mjp
DUBLIN (AFP) - Up to three million men around the world could be descended from a prolific medieval Irish king, according to researchers at Trinity College Dublin.
A genetics study suggests that the fifth-century warlord known as "Niall of the Nine Hostages" may be the ancestor of about one in 12 Irishmen.
He established a dynasty of powerful chieftains that dominated the island for six centuries.
In a study of the Y chromosomes -- which are only passed down through the male line -- scientists found there is a genetic fingerprint hot-spot in northwest Ireland where 21.5 percent carry it, TCD research fellow Dr Brian McEvoy, told AFP.
This was the main power-base of the Ui Neills, which literally translated means "descendants of Niall".
McEvoy said the Y chromosome appeared to trace back to one person.
"There are certain surnames that seem to have come from Ui Neill. We studied if there was any association between those surnames and the genetic profile. It is his (Niall's) family."
The study says that Niall "resided at the cusp of mythology and history but our results do seem to confirm the existence of a single early medieval progenitor to the most powerful and enduring Irish dynasty".
The results also lend support to surviving genealogical and oral traditions of Gaelic Ireland and are a "powerful illustration of the potential link between prolificacy and power".
The study says the chromosome has also been found in 16.7 percent of men in western and central Scotland and has turned up in multiple North American population samples, including in two percent of European-American New Yorkers.
"Given historically high rates of Irish emigration to North America and other parts of the world, it seems likely that the number of descendants worldwide runs to perhaps two to three million males," the study says.
It compares the result to similar research that suggested that Mongol emperor Genghis Khan has 16 million descendants after conquering most of Asia in the 13th century.
Though medieval Ireland was Christian, people married earlier, divorce was allowed and concubinage was practised. Illegitimate sons were claimed and their rights protected by law.
"As in other polygynous societies, the siring of offspring was related to power and prestige."
The study points out that one of the O'Neill dynasty chieftains who died in 1423 had 18 sons with 10 different women and counted 59 grandsons in the male line.
Niall of the Nine Hostages, who became high king of Ireland, got his name from using the taking of hostages as a strategy for subjecting his opponent chieftains.
He is known in folklore as a raider of the British and French coasts.
Supposedly slain in the English Channel or in Scotland, his descendants were the most powerful rulers of Ireland until the 11th century.
Modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include (O')Gallagher, (O')Boyle, (O')Doherty, O'Donnell, Connor, Cannon, Bradley, O'Reilly, Flynn, (Mc)Kee, Campbell, Devlin, Donnelly, Egan, Gormley, Hynes, McCaul, McGovern, McLoughlin, McManus, McMenamin, Molloy, O'Kane, O'Rourke and Quinn.
INCEST PING!
From moasicwolf
"I wonder if the genetics of this find may have some significance to the high level of alcoholism in that culture?"
Careful buddy, those are my people
Child Support?
Kinda cool doing research on your descendents. Thankfully we were not part of this motley crew.
For most of us, doing research on our descendants doesn't go very far...but on our ancestors, now that's a different issue....
Did I say "descendats" instead of ansestors? Quick what's the phone number to Art Bell - do I have a story for his show.
Wow. It didn't take long for anti-Irish bias to show up.
Funny that you thought that way. I didn't.
I was thinking this meant there were three million other prosperous, well-h**g lovers out there.
I read a long time ago that Ireland has the highest percentage of alcohol abstainers in Europe and does not have the highest alcoholism rates there. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was the then-premier who said it, in a similar angry retort to bias.
"Ever read Born Fighting?"
Not yet - But I did hear about it and it's on my list of books to get. Thanks for the reminder.
Robb Roy scot here.
I do lots of genealogy, too...I've said the same thing!
My hubby and I met because we both had ancestors in the same yankee POW camp during the civil war. Talk about genealogical connections!
Irish people like to drink - the drunks tens to be 25% Irish and they blame their drinking on that 25%. Most 75-100% Irish can handle their booze.
Like Damien,no one really knows who Beelzeflubba's father really was..
You wrote:
"Irish people like to drink - the drunks tens to be 25% Irish and they blame their drinking on that 25%. Most 75-100% Irish can handle their booze."
You drinking now?
Modern surnames tracing their ancestry to Niall include (O')Gallagher,
Drop the O and there I am!
I don't think that is what black Irish means. That is an American term along with shanty Irish and lace Irish.
Whoo hoo! I'm royalty! You may all bow down before me and call me Princess.
"I don't think that is what black Irish means." That is an American term along with shanty Irish and lace Irish.
Google it, it is true. Also refered to as Dark Irish. Though there are other meanings of "Black Irish" and you mentioned a few, In Ireland though they do not use the term Black Irish at all. It is an American term and the meaning may vary by the part of the country it's used.
My little brother was so dark I remember my Dad arguing with a Mexican border guard who thought he was sneeking a little Mexican boy accross the border.
LOL!
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