Shalom David,
I've read many two-house authors who advocate an Irish-Dan connection (as well as an Irish-Judah-Zerah connection)... and I don't want to flat out disagree with those conclusions... because some of Dan's and/or Judah's descendants may have settled there originally. The problem with making a genetic link is the reality that another Y-Chromosome population pushed aside (i.e., murdered and/or outbred) the original founding population. Bryan Sykes illustrates that reality in his book 'Saxons, Vikings, and Celts' (I believe Sykes is also the one who coined Hg. I as "Iris", in "The Seven Daughters of Eve"). There is a prophecy that indicates Ephraim would push other peoples to the ends of the earth, and I believe that is indeed what his descendents did by various means. In my view, y-Hg. R (and possibly others) represents Ephraim's Y-Chromosome and it is possible they have drowned out even other male Israelite populations (this phenomenon is sometimes called the Genghis Khan effect). "Niall of the Nine Hostages", like Genghis Khan, established a family dynasty that lasted for several hundred years, and his descendants basically outbred their peers via war, rape, and having many wives (beyond having an unusually high birthrate compared to other populations).
Niall is listed with the High Kings of Ireland, of whom some two-house authors have suggested are linked to the lost line of Zerah, son of Judah (the main House of Kings (from David) came through Judah's son Phares). It is believe Zerah's descendants never enjoyed the Land of Israel, but departed the camp very early during their time in Egypt. I know Zarragossa, Iberia (Spain) is named after him... or so it is suggested. His descendants assumedly spread from Iberia to Hibernia (Ireland). Then, much later, it is believed that Jeremiah's scribe Baruch brought a daughter of the Phares line to Ireland, reuniting the Zerah/Phares lines. I'm remembering this mostly from Collins and/or Brooks... where this subject is covered.
So this basically means you may have various ancestors from more than one tribe, but which tribe you're ultimately attributed to (as a male) in the future Kingdom of Messiah, of this I have much reluctance in suggesting. However, I'm not afraid of claiming a close connection to the House of Joseph, where the Tribe of Dan is a close "companion" according to Ezekiel 37.
Take care brother... I apologize for the slow response.
Hanok
