”Nasal Profile. Noses in Ireland are most commonly straight in profile(47.6 %), but nearly as often convex(44.9 %). Concave noses are found in only 7.4%. Since a saddle-shaped nose is a primitive and infantile feature - generally represented in old-fashioned caricatures of the type of Irishmen - it is interesting to note the areas in which this nasal profile is commonest. These are, in order, Mayo(9.9%), Kerry(9.4%), West Donegal(9.0%), Tipperary-Kilkenny(8.9%), West Galway(8.5%), Clare(8.2%), and offaly-Leix-Kildare(8.1 %). On the whole, then concave noses are found most commonly in the wester coastal area, with the notable exception of the Aran Islands, which has the lowest proportion(2.2%). They are also common in the Sligo bay area, together with the central block which includes Offaly-Leix-Kildare and Tiperary-Kilkenny. Probably these noses are commonest in the ethnically oldest samples of our Irish population.”
