In Digging, one of Seamus Heaney’s most memorable poems, he writes about watching his father “stooping in rhythm through potato drills” and concludes: “By God, the old man could handle a spade/Just like his old man.”

Groups supporting unmarried parents have called for urgent reform of the law on the guardianship rights of single fathers.

Irish mothers who refuse to believe their cherished sons have fathered illegitimate children are among the most popular users of DNA paternity services, it was revealed today.

PARENTS should avoid doing paternity tests through the internet as many of these laboratories aren’t approved and results may not be reliable for use in court.