Ireland’s Old Irish Goat has survived 3,000 years

The research was led by University College Dublin in partnership with Queen's University Belfast and international collaborators. Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the biomolecular and archaeological investigation offers a fresh perspective on Ireland's farming history and strengthens the case for conserving the Old Irish Goat as a living connection to early agricultural communities.

Oldest Goat Remains Found in Ireland

Scientists examined goat bones recovered from Haughey's Fort in Co Armagh, a hillfort dating to roughly 1100-900 BCE, as well as remains from the medieval town of Carrickfergus in Co Antrim.

Using radiocarbon dating along with genetic and protein testing, the team confirmed that the Late Bronze Age specimens are the oldest goat remains yet identified in Ireland.

When researchers compared the genomes of these ancient animals with modern breeds, they found the closest genetic match was the critically endangered Old Irish Goat still surviving 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.

Folklore, Farming, and the Wild Irish Goat

Historically known as 'an Gabhar Fiáin' -- the wild goat -- the Old Irish Goat occupies a unique place in Irish folklore. Today it persists in small wild-roaming (feral) herds. For generations, it has symbolized resilience and rural life, valued for its toughness, ability to graze on marginal land, and nutrient-dense milk that supported small farmers.

While cattle dominate Ireland's mythological traditions, goats tend to appear in local customs, place names, and seasonal practices.

One of the best-known cultural links is Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry, considered one of Ireland's oldest festivals.

Each August, tradition holds that a goat was captured from the mountains and crowned "King Puck," presiding over three days of festivities. Although historians still debate how the celebration began, the festival reflects the goat's deep ties to Ireland's landscape and community identity.

"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," said Dr. Jolijn Erven, co-lead author of the study.

Professor Eileen Murphy, co-lead author from Queen's University Belfast, explained that goats are often underrepresented in archaeological research because their bones are difficult to distinguish from sheep remains. "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," she said.

Protein Fingerprinting and Genetic Analysis

To make certain they were studying goat remains, researchers first used protein fingerprinting (ZooMS), which identifies species by analyzing tiny traces of preserved collagen.

They then extracted and sequenced ancient DNA, comparing the genetic material from Bronze Age and medieval goats with hundreds of modern breeds from around the world.

The results showed that both prehistoric and medieval Irish goats are most closely related to today's Old Irish Goat. This points to a striking continuity of goat populations on the island for more than three millennia.

Modern Genetic Bottleneck Raises Concerns

The research also highlights more recent changes in the breed's genetic diversity.

Medieval goats displayed a broader range of genetic variation, while modern Old Irish Goats show clear signs of inbreeding. Scientists link this pattern to a sharp population decline in recent decades.

This suggests that the current genetic bottleneck is a recent development rather than a long-standing 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."

Co-lead author Dr. Judith Findlater from Queen's University Belfast passed away before the study was published. Portions of the research were conducted as part of her PhD work on Medieval Carrickfergus.