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What's surprising about this is that Viking dna would turn up in Co. Mayo which is in the West. Vikings were know on the East Coast where they established Dublin and Waterford. I'm very surprised that any Scandinavian dna would turn up so far west.
Huh?
The Norse arrived in Ireland over 1200 years ago. You're surprised that their genetic legacy managed to move 150 miles to the west, across country with no significant barriers whatsoever, in that time span? All it would take is a few individuals moving a dozen or so miles to the west once every few generations.
It would be inexplicable were there not Viking DNA in County Mayo.
The Norse arrived in Ireland over 1200 years ago. You're surprised that their genetic legacy managed to move 150 miles to the west, across country with no significant barriers whatsoever, in that time span? All it would take is a few individuals moving a dozen or so miles to the west once every few generations.
It would be inexplicable were there not Viking DNA in County Mayo.
I'm Irish and was always under the impression that Viking power in Ireland was limited to the east coast. Even when they were testing for dna in the past the west was always thought to be very indigenous Irish. Castlerea in Co Roscommon has been used as a blue print for very Irish people. Yes it is strange that Viking dna is so far west. It is not just my opinion.
My father said that there was a Viking settlement in Loughrea in Co. Galway but I didn't think it would have too much impact on the surrounding population.
The west of Ireland has always been a bit isolated from the influences of the Engish and other invaders.
They do appear to have a presence further inland. I'm just surprised they would leave so much dna around.
A Viking base was founded on Lough Ree in 845 and soon afterwards a major settlement was established at Limerick. The Athlunkard longphort may be related to this campaign.
It would be inexplicable were there not Viking DNA in County Mayo.
You know a source, the Annals of Ulster note that the Vikings (Northmen) were striking all along the west coast from Mayo to Kerry in the year 812. A decade laer they were on the east coast as far south as Wexford. And in the Annals of the Four Masters it's recorded that they were plundering the coast of Cork. From the looks of it, the evdience shows that the Vikings encircled Eire in their voyages.
You know a source, the Annals of Ulster note that the Vikings (Northmen) were striking all along the west coast from Mayo to Kerry in the year 812. A decade laer they were on the east coast as far south as Wexford. And in the Annals of the Four Masters it's recorded that they were plundering the coast of Cork. From the looks of it, the evdience shows that the Vikings encircled Eire in their voyages.
All those Vikings still didn't make as much an impact as the Irish Chieftain Niall.
I'm Irish and was always under the impression that Viking power in Ireland was limited to the east coast. Even when they were testing for dna in the past the west was always thought to be very indigenous Irish. Castlerea in Co Roscommon has been used as a blue print for very Irish people. Yes it is strange that Viking dna is so far west. It is not just my opinion.
My father said that there was a Viking settlement in Loughrea in Co. Galway but I didn't think it would have too much impact on the surrounding population.
The west of Ireland has always been a bit isolated from the influences of the Engish and other invaders.
If they built a settlement, they brought in farmers, and often when the raids ceased, they merged into the population. This is why norse linage is very strong on the eastern side of Britan, where the Danelaw existed since the Danes who lived there mostly stayed working their farms. I would be surprised in in Ireland where there were Viking settlements if there wasn't a measureable influence in the DNA.
I remember a documentary on the escavation of one of their settlements in costal Britan. They found graves where the funeralry symbols of both Scandanivan and locals are intermixed, and even the clothing was combined, and evidence of numerous intermarriages. In essense, once they were done plundering in came the farmers, and many of the raiders would have been as well. In places where the Angles and Saxons had earlier settled, they were close enough they shared much in their cultures and could understand each others languages.
I traced the family names I have, which on my main line is all, and found all are either anglo or other mixed with scandanivan or derivites of scandanavian. The closest Scots line, my great grandmother, origionated as scandanivian, and my g grandfather's is anglo-scandanivian.
One time I was discussing ancestry with someone who was from Britan and was told I LOOK Scots...
When I do Ancestry testing, I'm very interested in how much scandanivian they find.
If they built a settlement, they brought in farmers, and often when the raids ceased, they merged into the population. This is why norse linage is very strong on the eastern side of Britan, where the Danelaw existed since the Danes who lived there mostly stayed working their farms. I would be surprised in in Ireland where there were Viking settlements if there wasn't a measureable influence in the DNA.
I remember a documentary on the escavation of one of their settlements in costal Britan. They found graves where the funeralry symbols of both Scandanivan and locals are intermixed, and even the clothing was combined, and evidence of numerous intermarriages. In essense, once they were done plundering in came the farmers, and many of the raiders would have been as well. In places where the Angles and Saxons had earlier settled, they were close enough they shared much in their cultures and could understand each others languages.
I traced the family names I have, which on my main line is all, and found all are either anglo or other mixed with scandanivan or derivites of scandanavian. The closest Scots line, my great grandmother, origionated as scandanivian, and my g grandfather's is anglo-scandanivian.
One time I was discussing ancestry with someone who was from Britan and was told I LOOK Scots...
When I do Ancestry testing, I'm very interested in how much scandanivian they find.
It wouldn't be a surprise if there was some Viking ancestry around a place like Waterford and Wexford where they had a settlement but what is unexpected is that the west coast of Ireland would have any Viking ancestry. The east coast of Ireland wouldn't be a surprise as they had a few settlements and of course Dublin but they weren't known for going so far west. That is why it is surprising.
This was part of The National Geographic Genographic Project and only Co. Mayo was sampled. Co. Mayo is as far West as you can get in Ireland. It is in the province of Connaught where the Gaelic Irish are.
My wife believes in the Viking blood in the Scots line. Probably where she got her red hair. She definitely follows the celtic line in her family tree.
Im trying to find out more about my family history wondering if i have viking blood in me my last name is O'Kelley
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