Identical ladies had to have DNA test to see if they are related

These girls may look like identical twins, but it has been scientifically proven that they are NOT sisters - and it is very unlikely they are even related.

Niamh Geaney tracked down her doppelgänger Irene Adams using her websiteTwinStrangers.com, and the pair decided to see if their uncanny resemblance was more than skin deep.

Surprisingly the results revealed they had just a 1.1 percent chance of being half sisters but showed no other signs of actually being related - despite looking identical, and both being Irish.

The results showed their families were not even related because Niamh's ancestors originated from South West Asia 20,000 years ago whilst Irene's came from Mesopotamia.

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Bizarre: There is no chance they are related as even their distant ancestors came from different places

Niamh, 27, said: "We both always had this natural curiosity to find out if we were related at all.

"It was the comments on YouTube and social media that finally made us go for the test, everyone was just so curious and wanted us to prove we weren't related.

Mercury Press

Shock: They may look like twins, but these girls are not related

"I mean we just wanted to know if there was something more behind us being identical, I thought at least 200,000 years ago there might have been a connection.

"When we got the results we weren't too surprised, we didn't expect anything to come of it really, it would have been really special if we had but the whole point of a doppelgänger is that you're not supposed to be related."

Niamh has so far found three of her doubles and now devotes her time to helping other people find theirs.

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Uncanny: The girls had only a 1.1 per cent chance of being half sisters

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Discovery: Niamh has so far found three of her doubles including Irene

She started out with an online appeal to find her twin stranger as a project with her friends, and had already been matched with lookalikes Karen Branigan and Luisa Guizzardi before meeting Irene.

Niamh and Irene, who now both live in Dublin, thought the prospect of being related was really exciting but were both happy their similar looks are completely coincidental.

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Swab: The pair did a DNA test after their similarity became a YouTube sensation

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Coincidence: The pair both live in Dublin

Niamh said: "I'm so lucky to have already found three of my doppelgängers and they're all such awesome girls too.

"Anyone who meets someone who looks identical to them should take a DNA test if they're curious - I find it fascinating that there could be more to it than just looking the same.

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Unlikely: Niamh now helps others track down their doppelgängers

"The whole DNA test was so exciting for us, just the possibility that something was going to come of it was really cool.

"I think I might try and do another test with my other doppelgängers to see if there's anything there - we're supposed to have seven people in the world who look identical to us so my main focus is finding my other four."