Why do most Irish people have red hair?

This is a common misconception. People are fascinated by red hair because it is so rare yet quite common among certain populations. read more

TLDR: Most Irish people do not have red hair. Most Irish people have brown or blonde hair with a significant minority of redheads. Red hair is more common in Ireland because of Celtic genes and pale skin as an adaptation to less sunlight. read more

Irish Red Hair - Some Truth Some Myth. Like with many other stereotypes, there is some truth and there is some myth. Let us begin with the myth part. The notion that all or most or a majority, or even a sizable minority of people in Ireland north and south have red hair is a myth. read more

We must therefore look for the source of red hair, elsewhere. unsurpisingly, the answer lies with the R1b people - thought to have recolonised Central and Western Europe during the Bronze Age. The origins of haplogroup R1b are complex, and shrouded in controversy to this day. read more