Why do Irish people look so different from Scandinavians if they're so close genetically?

[Septentrion]

No, not from my experience. Swedes are taller than most Europeans, let alone the Irish. The Irishmen range from 5'9-5'11 which is the average male height for most Whites.

Stop dreaming, this is not the beginning of the 20th century.

[Richmondbread]

Oh well, I am much taller than either the Irish or Swedish or Dutch average heights at 6 feet 5 inches.

I don't envy you. I wouldn't ever want to be that tall, tbh.

[Richmondbread]

Stop dreaming, this is not the beginning of the 20th century.

Ugh, I realize that, but in all honesty we haven't changed all that much in terms of height, maybe by 1/2 or 1 or 2 inches at most. On average, they had tall people in those days too. We only increased slightly in height. The Irish are not known for their height. They are known for their beautiful singing.

[Septentrion]

No, not from my experience. Swedes are taller than most Europeans, let alone the Irish. The Irishmen range from 5'9-5'11 which is the average male height for most Whites.

Irish are taller on average than Americans. You guys are not getting taller, but getting bigger!

[Richmondbread]

Irish are taller on average than Americans. You guys are not getting taller, but getting bigger!

Irish and Irish Americans are literally about the same height. Americans are probably slightly taller because of their Germanic influence as well. Sorry, but most Irish are not tall.

[slaog]

Ugh, I realize that, but in all honesty we haven't changed all that much in terms of height, maybe by 1/2 or 1 or 2 inches at most. On average, they had tall people in those days too. We only increased slightly in height. The Irish are not known for their height. They are known for their beautiful singing.

According to a study by economist John Komlos and Francesco Cinnirella, in the first half of the eighteenth century, the average height of an English male was 165 cm (5 ft 5 in), and the average height of an Irish male was 168 cm (5 ft 6 in). The estimated mean height of English, German, and Scottish soldiers was 163.6 cm – 165.9 cm (5 ft 4.4 in – 5 ft 5.3 in) for the period as a whole, while that of Irish was 167.9 cm (5 ft 6.1 in)


Until the middle of the nineteenth century, the [Gaelic] Highland Scots were the tallest and heaviest of the European peoples. The average height of a man was six feet, while seven-foot giants were by no means uncommon.

[Richmondbread]

According to a study by economist John Komlos and Francesco Cinnirella, in the first half of the eighteenth century, the average height of an English male was 165 cm (5 ft 5 in), and the average height of an Irish male was 168 cm (5 ft 6 in). The estimated mean height of English, German, and Scottish soldiers was 163.6 cm – 165.9 cm (5 ft 4.4 in – 5 ft 5.3 in) for the period as a whole, while that of Irish was 167.9 cm (5 ft 6.1 in)


Until the middle of the nineteenth century, the [Gaelic] Highland Scots were the tallest and heaviest of the European peoples. The average height of a man was six feet, while seven-foot giants were by no means uncommon.

Yeah the Scots are definitely taller than the Irish. It isn't necessarily a good thing. Being tall can be a hindrance.

[Creoda]

Yeah the Scots are definitely taller than the Irish. It isn't necessarily a good thing. Being tall can be a hindrance.

Scots have the shortest average height in the UK (obviously due to diet), less than Irish. Maybe stop talking with authority on European ethnicities when you've probably never left Virginia.

[slaog]

Yeah the Scots are definitely taller than the Irish. It isn't necessarily a good thing. Being tall can be a hindrance.

Highland Scots, not lowland.

[CommonSense]

They aren't that close genetically at all except with Icelanders who are part Irish/Scottish (and still distance is above 4)

Distance to: Irish

4.69804215 Icelandic
6.61496788 Norwegian
6.81617195 Danish
10.02400120 Swedish

Distance 6-10 is big in fine scale clustering and populations with such distance won't look that similar at all.
Ethnic groups who look really similar to another population will have distance below 3.

Not necessarily, look at Greeks and Albanians. Anyway, pigmentation and phenotype are highly susceptible to change even in the context of a few generations. Even without a demographic catastrophe. All you need are different living conditions and socio-cultural factors.