An Irish family history expert has revealed that some of the craziest and bravest rebels in Tyrone were all descendants of the current-day Poots family name, going back to the start of mankind 4000 years ago.

Jackie McCafferty (77), who was able to trace the Poots roots back to the last batch of dinosaurs in Ireland which probably died when Lough Neagh flooded, maintains that current-day Poots are probably brilliant at Gaelic football and has urged Mickey Harte to look into it if he wants to win anything.

“Yes, Phelimi Mad Red Dog O’Poots was a thorn in the side of the British in the 1300s and even massacred a whole party of visiting tourists from Essex in a field in Carrickmore by himself. But he wasn’t a patch on Mrs Saoirse McPoots from Cappagh who was apparently the best sniper in Ireland in 1955. Fr Poots said a good long Mass too. “

McCafferty claims that several of the current Tyrone panel have some Poots DNA but that a pure-bred Poots would be like the Messi or Ronaldo of the GAA world if introduced to the squad.

The Omagh historian has asked for any Poots to come forward for DNA testing as the Gaelic Lord of Tyrone title is still vacant.