Beatles legend Paul has roots that "Get Back" to Scotland

by Tony McConville. Published Thu 25 Dec 2008 06:19, Last updated: 26 Dec 2008

Paul McCartney has stronger links to The Mull of Kintyre than he ever realised when he penned Wings' 1977 hit Christmas single.

His brother, Mike McCartney has been researching the family tree and has found that Macca has Scottish ancestry.

It has long been known that Sir Paul's clan can trace its roots back to an Irish heritage.

But when photoghrapher Mike McCartney delved deeper into the family tree he astonished to find a strong Scottish thread.

Mike, who sang as Mike McGear in the 60s group The Scaffold found the McCartneys "Yesrerdays" saw them move back and forth across the Irish Sea before a branch settled in Liverpool.

The discovery has prompted Scottish Government genealogists to invite the McCartneys to spend more time North of the border uncover more about their Scottish links.

McCartney made the find while compiling a book of photographic images of the Highlands, which will be exhibited in the Scottish Parliament next year.

He said: "I have done some research and traced our roots back to the McIntosh clan. It seems my family came over from Ireland to Scotland about 150 years ago or so � before travelling down to Liverpool."

It is believed that the McCartneys' great-great-grandfather settled in Scotland in the mid-19th century.

There is evidence from other sources to support the idea that the McCartneys moved from Ireland to Scotland.

American-based genealogist John McCartney, who specialises in the history of his famous surname, said members of the "McCarthy Mor" family of Munster left Ireland for Scotland around this time, with many of them starting a new life in Galloway.

The General Register Office for Scotland is staging a geneology festival "Homecoming 2009" and want the McCartney's to join-in.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "Our Scotland's People Centre staff would be delighted to assist Sir Paul or Mike McCartney in tracing their Scottish ancestors."

Mike McCartney's collection features 31 images of the north Highlands, including the world's shortest street, in Wick, the Dounreay nuclear plant, and a remote chocolate factory in Durness.

Mike McCartney's North Highlands book will also be published by Woodland Publishing, and will be available from January 27 on www.cities500.com