Old Irish Goat Breed Has An Ancient Pedigree

New research has revealed that the Old Irish Goat shares a 3,000-year genetic link with goats living in Ireland during the Late Bronze Age.

The findings suggest the rare indigenous breed represents a continuous Irish lineage stretching back millennia. Led by University College Dublin, in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and international
partners, the new biomolecular and archaeological study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science reshapes the understanding of Ireland’s agricultural past and supports conservation of the Old Irish Goat as a living link to ancient farming communities.

Oldest goat remains in Ireland

Researchers analysed goat remains from the hillfort at Haughey’s Fort in Co Armagh, dating to around 1100–900 BCE, and the medieval town of Carrickfergus in Co Antrim. Radiocarbon dating, genetic and protein analyses were used to confirm that the Late Bronze Age animals are the oldest goat remains identified in Ireland to date. Genomic comparisons revealed that these ancient animals share their strongest genetic affinity with the critically endangered Old Irish Goat population that survives today. “Combining genetics, proteomics, and archaeological science has allowed us a glimpse of our animals hundreds and thousands of years ago - and how their descendants likely still live with us, as part of our biocultural heritage,” said co-lead author Assistant Professor Kevin Daly, School of Agriculture and Food Science.

Deeply rooted in Irish folklore

Known historically as 'an Gabhar Fiáin' - the wild goat - the Old Irish Goat is deeply rooted in Irish Folklore. Surviving today in small wild-roaming (feral) herds. It has long been viewed as a symbol of resilience, wisdom, and marginal rural life, where their hardiness, capacity to survive on marginal land, and nutrient-dense milk made them invaluable to small farmers. Unlike cattle, which dominate Ireland’s ancient myths, goats appear mainly in local traditions, placenames and seasonal customs. The most famous cultural expression of this connection is Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry, regarded as one of Ireland’s oldest festivals.

Traditionally, each August a goat would be captured from the mountains and crowned "King Puck" where it would preside over three days of celebration. Though its exact origins remain debated, the festival reflects the goat’s long-standing association with Ireland’s landscapes and community life. “Despite thousands of years, changing farming practices, and recent decline, these goats have retained a remarkable genetic connection to their ancestors, and to the island’s agricultural past,” Dr Jolijn Erven, co-lead author of the study.

“Goats tend to get overlooked compared to sheep in the archaeological record because it is notoriously difficult to distinguish between their bones. There is an assumption that sheep would have been more important than goats in the past but historical sources suggest that herds of goats may have been kept to supply a trade in skins from ports such as Carrickfergus,” said co-lead author Professor Eileen Murphy, Queen’s University Belfast.

Studying ancient DNA

To identify definite goats, the team first had to use protein fingerprinting (ZooMS), a technique that identifies species through microscopic traces of preserved collagen. Ancient DNA was then extracted and sequenced, allowing researchers to compare the genomes of these Late Bronze Age and medieval animals with hundreds of modern goat breeds worldwide. The study found that both prehistoric and medieval Irish goats share their highest genetic affinity with the still surviving Old Irish Goat, pointing to a remarkable continuity of goat populations on the island over three millennia. The research also sheds light on more recent changes in the breed.

While medieval goats showed varied genetic profiles, Old Irish Goats today display clear signs of inbreeding linked to a dramatic population collapse over recent decades. This hints that today’s genetic bottleneck is a modern phenomenon rather than a long-term feature of Irish goat populations. "This research is a huge 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 piece of our ancient heritage. It also underscores the urgency of protecting this critically endangered breed, which carries within it a living genetic record of Ireland’s ancient past,” said Sinead Keane, from The Old Irish Goat Society. “The advancements in biomolecular and genetic analysis are very exciting, and have now opened up a new opportunity to revisit Ireland's archaeological and archaeogenetic records, which may in time reveal that Ireland’s early goat history is even richer than currently understood,” Keane said.

The study's co-lead author, Dr Judith Findlater, from Queen’s University Belfast, passed away prior to publication. Aspects of the study were undertaken as part of her PhD research on medieval Carrickfergus.