Secret link between Irish and Scots

THEY will stare across the field of battle at Murrayfield today with hostile intent. But the opposing forces in the blue of Scotland and the green of Ireland are brothers under the skin.

According to new DNA research, at least one Scottish player and three Irish players in this afternoon's Six Nations clash are direct descendants of a 5th-century Irish king.

Winger Sean Lamont, say the authors of a new book on Scotland's genetic history, is the most likely candidate to be related to the first High King of Ireland, Niall Noigiallach, a powerful ruler who was so promiscuous that today 150,000 Scots, or 6 per cent of the population, are genetically-related.

On the Irish side, Rory Best, Tom Court and Paddy Wallace are likely to carry the king's genes, as do 40 per cent of all men from Ulster and 20 per cent of Irishmen as a whole.

DNA is inherited, but flaws develop as the genetic material is passed down through the generations. These become known as markers and the researchers have found that marker 222 on the Y (male) chromosome can be traced back to the Irish king, who lived in the fifth century. Dr Jim Wilson, of the centre for population health sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: "The only possible candidate for this fecund paternal figure is Niall Noigiallach, the first High King of Ireland who was believed to have ruled between 430 and 455 AD. According to later accounts in the 11th century, Niall beat his brothers to the crown in feats of endurance, intelligence and romance.

"When sent to obtain water from a hideous hag, his brothers retreated when she demanded a kiss, while Niall puckered up and so revealed her to be a beautiful maiden in disguise, who then granted him and his future generations the sovereignty of Ireland."

While the story may be myth, the genetic code inside Scots and Irish men appears to reveal that Noigiallach made multiple female conquests, resulting in 12 legitimate sons and many more illegitimate offspring.

The political reach of Niall was reflected in his second name "Noigiallach", which means "of the nine hostages" and refers to the sons of lesser kings, including a sub-kingdom in Argyll, who were kept in his retinue to ensure their father's continued obedience.

What is now clear is that his power and DNA spread across the Irish sea.