Irish Towns Lost In Translation Quiz

Answer: Omagh

Omagh is the county town of Tyrone - and hometown of a certain funtrivia author who I will call darksplash, since that is his name.

The town was built around the confluence of the rivers Drumnragh and Camowen where they join to become the Strule.

Famous natives of the town include actors Sam Neill, Gerard McSorley and Patrick McAlinney; poet Alice Milligan; playwright Brian Friel; and author Benedict Kiely.

Answer: Limerick

Limerick is a city on the banks of the River Shannon. It is the fourth largest city on the island of Ireland in terms of population and is close to Shannon airport.

Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt was born in Limerick, as were fellow novelists Kate O'Brien and Michael Curtin.

The town was also birthplace of Terry Wogan, who became one of the best TV and radio broadcasters of his generation after moving to England.

The Cranberries is one of many musical acts from town.

The town is also associated with the famous five-live poetry genre known as 'limerick".

Answer: Drogheda

Drogheda is in Louth, Ireland's smallest county, and is located on the River Boyne close to where it meets the sea. It dates to 1194.

Drogheda is the hometown of actors Colin O'Donoghue and Pierce Brosnan.

Answer: Strabane

Strabane is in Co Tyrone and is located close to where the rivers Mourne and Finn meet to form the Foyle.

The town was established by Scottish settlers in the early 1600s.

Well known natives of the town include John Dunlap, printer of the American Declaration of Independence; writer Brian O'Nolan (aka Flann O'Brien); Sir Guy Carleton, Governor General of British North America; and singer/songwriter Paul Brady.

Answer: Galway

Galway is situated on the River Corrib in the west of Ireland and its establishment dates to 1124.

Michael D. Higgins, ninth president of the Republic of Ireland, was born in Galway. Other natives of the city are musician Dolores Keane and actor Pauline McLynn.

American singer/songwriter/actor Steve Earle wrote the song "Galway Girl" while living in the city.

Answer: Dublin

Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland and of the island of Ireland prior to independence from Great Britain.

It is the largest city on the island and is located on the River Liffey.

Dublin is synonymous with the brewing of the stout "Guinness". (Contrary to rumour, the stout is not brewed using water from the river as it passes through the city.)

Dublin was settled by the Vikings and was the main focus of the 1916 Easter Rising, which was a catalyst for independence just six years later.

Famous natives of the city include the writers Samuel Beckett, Brendan Behan, Maeve Binchy, and Roddy Doyle; actors Gabriel Byrne and Colin Farrell; and singers Bono, Bob Geldof and Samantha Mumba.

Answer: Letterkenny

Letterkenny is a cathedral town and is the largest in Co Donegal in terms of population. It is also a busy commercial town, but is not the county town. (That is the smaller Lifford.)

Letterkenny lies on the River Swilly and is a gateway to the wild and rugged beauty of north west Ireland's Atlantic coast.

Answer: Longford

Longford lies on the banks of the River Camlin, a tributary of the Shannon.

Frank Butler, a noted rifle marksman who was married to the wild west sharpshooter Annie Oakley, was born in Longford.

Answer: Wicklow

Cill Mhantáin is one of those names of Gaelic origin that does not have the looks of an obvious translation into English.

It is the county town of Co Wicklow, and its proximity to Dublin makes it a popular place for commuters to live.

In 2010, bronze age artefacts were found near the town, suggesting settlement there from about 900 BC.

Answer: Belfast

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the second largest on the island.

It has been settled since Bronze and Iron age times.

The Industrial Revolution made Belfast an important hub for shipbuilding and linen making.

Belfast is located on the River Lagan and has important air and seas links with Great Britain.

Many famous ships were built in the yards of Harland and Wolfe, including the ill-fated RMS Titanic. ("She was all right when she left here", as Belfast folk are wont to proclaim.)

Well-known natives of the city include actors Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Rea; writers C.S. Lewis, Brian Moore and Ian McDonald; and musicians Van Morrison, Katie Melua and Sir James Galway.

The city's most famous sporting son was the footballer George Best.