Why are there so many red heads in ireland?

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brother_in_magic

Orla has it more or less right. there was never a huge celtic invasion, most of the Irish are descended from pre-celtic tribes and the celtic language has probably been spoken since about 4-5ooo BC. we're technically more Iberian than celtic,and brown hair is more common by far than red.
Some people think the red hair is a legacy from the Vikings in both Ireland and Scotland, but the Romans described the Scots (who were originally an Irish tribe) as having lots of redheads and that was well before the vikings ever arrived. One geneticist suggested it might be associated with the very old Dna haplogroup 'U', the oldest in Europe. There is a small but strong cluster of people in this group in Ireland whose ancestors may have arrived the same time or even before the first settlers from the basque regions of Spain.

Langer

I think you watching to much movies they are some red headed people just like other countries we're mostly browned haired.

Orla C

Jill, the original inhabitants of Ireland were NOT Celts, the Celts did not come to Ireland until about 1000 BC - before them, there were various tribes including the Firbolgs and the Tuatha De Danann.

Celtic tribes brought with them the knowledge of working with iron, and so replaced the Bronze Age in Ireland.

Most Irish are descended from those pre-Celtic tribes, less than 7% of modern Irish have Celtic DNA, compared to 70% of inhabitants of mainland Europe.

Ireland isn't that Celtic! More pre-Celtic.

As for the redheads, it's down to these pre-Celtic tribes - but yes, most Irish are shades of brown, with some black and some blond.

Don't tell my boss I'm on here

There aren't really. I know Ireland and Scotland have more redheads per capita than most other countries and this is down to the Celtic genetics, but it is still the least common hair colour over here. The most common is various shades of brown.

GeeCee

There are not as many as people think there are. I have seen as many in London, Boston, New York.

Sshhhh! It's Podge and Rodge

Because we're beautiful and much sought after in the rest of the world!
(Apart from yer one from Girls Aloud)

Wise_guy

There isn't a significant amount of redheads here , no more so than anywhere else.

alan m

You have been watching the film red Deer too often.

sinead

there are no more than elswhere

wendylilly

that's just part of our colouring!

why would you wanna know that

executioner_bolan

Celtic/Gaelic blood breds true.It`s the same for Scotland.

Tid

Because the Leprechauns, and the Celts, and the 'Vikings' all decided to have a party, and populate the country with red heads....blah blah blah. We don't. We're the same as any other country. Granted there might be a wee bit more, but doesn't necessarily mean all gingers are here. Personally I'd love red hair, think its very unique,I would imagine its probably down to breeding many many moons ago.

hippo

they are evil... evil i tell you

John G

its a disease no hair just red heads

Jill the whipper-snapper

The original inhabitants of Ireland were the Celts who had red hair and green eyes. After them, came the Saxons, the Normans and others, with brown or dark hair. Then came the Vikings, who were pagans and illiterate. They invaded Ireland and wanted gold and burnt books and destroyed monasteries. They were a blond haired people from the place we now know as Norway. The dark haired people despised them for their brutality and ignorance. So when you hear jokes about blonds being stupid, you know where it comes from!

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