I thinks we need to look at a bit of history here. It has long be known that the Irish settled in South West Scotland, hence the Celtic iron-age Ulster-Scots, and the origin of the name Scots, they did not defeat the Picts although there are a few recorded battles, they united under one leader Kenneth McAlpine he is given the credit for this but there were many pacts made in the past especially against the Romans and then laterally the attempts at a unification. It was McAlpines son who married the Pictish Princess (or the other way round cant remember at the moment) this is supposed to be what took place and brought about peace.

If they defeated anyone it was the Britons who occupied the south west. Stirling (Argyle) at the time would have been the outer reaches of the Pictish Kingdom,

As for the North East it wasn't until the 11- 12c that the Irish Scots Brought religion to the North East with the formation of Deer Abbey recorded in the Book of Deer now in York University (which is annoying to say the least).

After reading some of Dr.Wilsons work in the past I would not rely on the accuracy especially on DNA of any bones of that period as the Picts cremated their dead (a parctice I am sure picked up from the bronze-age Scandinavian Beaker People, who settled in the East of Scotland) and there are few if any DNA evidence in the few surviving bones there is.

As for the Norse and Danish they raided up and down the coast and often joined forces with the Picts to have a go at the Romans. Hence the legend of the Scottish Thistle emblem of Scotland http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/...e/thistle.html

All great Stuff Folks

John