Sláinte! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Harp

The official symbol of Ireland is the harp, although the Claddagh, shamrock, Irish flag, Celtic cross and leprechaun have long been associated with this country. The tinkling sound of harp strings playing in Ireland has been part of their history since the 10th century and before.

Answer: Saint Patrick

Maewyn Succat was born in Britain at around 387 but was kidnapped and sent to Ireland as a slave when he was approximately 16 years old. His incarceration lasted for six years until he managed to escape back to England. He later returned to Ireland and began to spread the word of Christianity until his death. His name was changed to St Patrick and he became patron saint of Ireland with his feast day celebrated throughout the world each year on March 17th.

Answer: False

It's a load of baloney! Windmills can have sails which rotate either clockwise or anti-clockwise, all depending on which way the blades are placed, and the prevailing wind direction. Many windmills in Ireland have fallen into disrepair, but others, including the Blennerville Windmill in County Kerry, have been renovated and opened up as museums.

Answer: Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson became a barrister in law after studying at Trinity College and King's Inns in Dublin and then at Harvard University in the USA. She was the president of the Republic of Ireland from 1990 to 1997. On her retirement from office, she became a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and also a honorary president of Oxfam International.

Answer: You can hear the angels sing

This famous Irish ditty was written by Irish American, Chauncey Olcott, and American song writer, George Graff, Junior. Published in 1912, the song has been made popular by Bing Crosby and Connie Francis.

"There's a tear in your eye and I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such power in your smile, sure a stone you'd beguile,
And there's never a teardrop should fall,
When your sweet lilting laughter's like some fairy song
And your eyes sparkle bright as can be.
You should laugh all the while and all other times smile,
So now smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure 'tis like a morn in spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay,
And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away."

Answer: Quiz

Many a wager has been made by an Irishman over a pint or two of the black stuff, and one such wager was allegedly made by Richard Daly in 1791. He bet that he could make up a new word, and within 48 hours, all Dubliners would have heard of that same word. The word was "quiz". The story goes that Daly recruited an army of volunteers to graffiti the word all across Dublin city, on walls, doors and anywhere within sight. One slight problem in this tale of old is that the "quiz" word was known to be published at least nine years earlier!

Answer: Trains

In 1966, 15 railways stations in Ireland were renamed after the men who were sentenced to death for their part in the 1916 Easter Rising, a rebellion against British rule. These included Sean Heuston (Dublin station), Roger Casement (Tralee station), Eamonn Ceannt (Galway station) and Thomas MacDonagh (Kilkenny station).

Answer: Pig

The pig has always played a major part in Irish folklore, from forecasting the weather to curing illnesses. They became even more popular during the great potato famine between 1845 to 1852 when country folk could not afford horses or cattle. Their pig, or pigs, were treated to the life of Riley until they were ready for slaughter to bring money into the household, hence the saying, "the gentleman who pays the rent".

Answer: Bacon, sausage, soda bread, potato farl, black pudding, eggs, tomato

An Ulster Fry is very similar to a full English breakfast, but with the addition of soda bread and potato farls. If breakfast was eaten late, it could be soaked up by a pint of the black stuff (Guinness) at the local pub or hostelry. For resident of Donaghade, this could mean a visit to Grace Neill's, the oldest pub in Northern Ireland.

Answer: Muckanaghederdauhaulia

Muckanaghederdauhaulia is a small town in County Galway and is believed to have the longest name at 22 letters long. The place name in English means "piggery between two briny places". There has been some dispute over this as another village, Sliabh Phlochóige agus Leadhb Reannach Thuaidh, meaning "Plughoge and Leabrannagh Mountain North", is 41 letters long, although it has multiple words.