Old Irish Goats Are Ireland’s Only Indigenous Breed, and Trace Back 3,000 Years

In the wilds of Ireland lives a fascinating but declining breed of goat known as the Old Irish Goats. The species is the only breed native to the Emerald Isle, and new research may have uncovered the origins of the goat’s genetic lineage.

Write in the Journal of Archaeological Sciences, Researchers from University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and other international partners have identified a genetic link to goats living 3,000 years ago, during the Late Bronze Age.

These findings suggest that ancient Irish goats have a continuous lineage stretching back thousands of years, a rare and living link to ancient agriculture in Ireland.

“This research is an important milestone for the Old Irish Goat and provides powerful scientific validation of what local communities and conservationists have long believed: that the Old Irish Goat represents a living part of our ancient heritage. It also highlights the urgency of protecting this critically endangered breed, which carries within it a living genetic record of Ireland’s ancient past,” said Sinead Keane of the Old Irish Goat Society, in a press release.

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Encountering Old Irish Goat Remains

For this study, the research team used radiocarbon dating as well as genetic and protein analysis of goat remains dating from 1100 to 900 BCE. The remains were found around Haughey Fort, County Armagh.

Dating confirmed that the goat remains dated from the Late Bronze Age and were the oldest goat remains identified so far in Ireland.

“The combination of genetics, proteomics and archaeological science has allowed us to gain insight into our animals hundreds and thousands of years ago – and how their descendants likely still live with us, as part of our biocultural heritage,” said study co-senior author Kevin Daly, an assistant professor in the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, in a press release.

According to co-lead author Professor Eileen Murphy from Queen’s University Belfast, “goats tend to be overlooked compared to sheep in the archaeological record because it is notoriously difficult to tell their bones apart.”

What DNA Reveals About Today’s Old Irish Goats

To determine that the remains came from goats, the research team used a technique known as protein fingerprinting, which identifies a species based on microscopic traces of collagen. The team then extracted the ancient DNA and sequenced it against the genomes of late Bronze Age and medieval goats, as well as modern goat breeds.

The results revealed that Bronze Age and medieval Irish goats shared DNA with the few surviving modern herds of Old Irish goats. A remarkable continuation of this species spanning over 3,000 years.

From their analysis, the research team also discovered that although current populations of Old Irish Goats date back thousands of years, the breed has changed, including inbreeding, which is linked to a dramatic population collapse in recent decades.

The team explains that this genetic bottleneck is not a traditional characteristic of this species, but rather a modern phenomenon.

A legendary goat

The Old Irish Goat is an important breed in Ireland’s rich history, including its folklore. According to the study, known as “Gahar Fiáin” or wild goat, these animals symbolize wisdom, resistance and rural life. These goats are hardy and can survive on marginal land, making them invaluable for small farms.

Although cows feature prominently in Irish myths, these goats appear in many local legends and traditions, including the Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry, one of Ireland’s oldest festivals. Traditionally, during the festival – which takes place in August – someone would catch one of the mountain goats, bring it back and crown it “King Puck”. The goat remained king for the duration of the festival, which lasted three days, before being taken back to the mountain.

There is no concrete evidence as to why the festival was started; However, according to the Puck Fair, one of many theories suggests that a goat alerted the locals to the approach of Oliver Cromwell and his men, and now they are paying homage to the goat who alerted them to the danger.

Learn more: Meet the Dublin Fire Goats

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