Counties of Ireland Trivia Quiz

Answer: Waterford

In ancient times, the Copper Coast was the center of mining. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist attraction. When crystal and glass started to be made in Waterford is unclear but in 1783, there was a popular glass business operated by the Penrose Brothers. Waterford Crystal Co. went bankrupt in 2009 and closed.

It was acquired by a Finnish company in 2015. Waterford Crystal makes the glass panels for the New Years' Ball in Times Square. It also made several famous chandeliers that hang in Westminster Abbey and the Kennedy Center.

In addition, the company makes many sports trophies.

Answer: Donegal

County Donegal is located in the very far northern corner of Ireland. On the map, it barely looks connected to the rest of the country but it does border County Leitrim for a short distance. Pictured is Donegal Castle which was the seat of the O'Donnell Clan for over a millennium.

The O'Donnell Clan was one of the most powerful in Ireland. The castle is made of limestone and has been renovated and restored several times.

Answer: Galway

About 1/5 of Galway's people speak the Gaeltacht language, more than another county in Ireland. Because of the Gulf Stream, Galway is one of the warmest places in Ireland, especially during the summer when temperatures reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit or 30 degrees Celsius. Lough Corrib is the Republic of Ireland's largest lake, however, Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is the largest on the entire island.

Pictured is Dunguaire Castle, also called Kinvara Castle. It was built in the 16th century for Connacht King Guaire. It is the subject of many local legends and has been seen in a number of motion pictures.

Answer: Cavan

The drumlin hills of County Cavan (and elsewhere in Ireland) have been described as half egg in shape and are generally not very high. They are usually grassy and perfectly rounded. County Cavan is home to the Shannon Pot, a small pool of water that is the source of the Shannon River.

In Irish mythology, it is so named because the area was once home to the Tree of Knowledge. A girl named Sionnan ate from the tree and was swallowed up into the pool.

During the Great Famine of 1845-49, the area was struck by potato blight and saw thousands of deaths due to disease caused by the famine. County Cavan was one of the worst, if not the worst, areas hit by the famine.

Answer: Kilkenny

County Kilkenny is full of gently rolling hills, most of which are low-lying. Even though it is landlocked, Kilkenny has access to the seas via its many rivers. It has a wide variety of plant and animal life, many of which live in protected areas.

Kilkenny Castle is pictured to the left. It was built during the 12th century in a place where many important routes ran through. Thus, it was seen as a strategic place for such a fortress.

Answer: Wexford

Archaeological evidence has shown that large civilizations lived in County Wexford in ancient times and that they were advanced for their time. When Vikings invaded in the ninth century, they burned down the many of the buildings but kept some of the larger castles for themselves.

County Wexford had a history of rebellions against the British. One in 1641 was quashed by Oliver Cromwell. The more famous rebellion, the Irish Rebellion of 1798, also took place in County Wexford and again the rebellion failed. There were also some smaller rebellions at various times in history. The Wexford Pikeman Statue pictured commemorates the 1798 rebellion.

Answer: Tipperary

County Tipperary is one of the largest counties in Ireland. Although it is landlocked, there are plenty of lakes and rivers, including Lough Derg. The Golden Vale is the center of Tipperary's economy which is mostly agriculturally based. However, Tipperary also has a large horse breeding industry.

The Rock of Cashel is said to be the place where St. Patrick removed the devil from a cave. As such, it became the seat of Munster kings until the Normans invaded Ireland. Cahir Castle is another famous site and was used for a scene in the movie "Excalibur." There is a famous song called "It's a Long Way to Tipperary."

Answer: Roscommon

Although the geographical center of Ireland is in a farm in County Roscommon, until 2007 the Hill of Uisneach in County Westmeath was celebrated as the center and festivities honoring such took place there every May 1st.

The Strokestown Park House hosts a potato famine museum. During the Great Famine the owners of the building, the prominent Mahon Family, evicted over 3,000 tenants in the area and many died. In return, starving peasants killed Major Mahon. The situation was tragic for Major Mahon's daughter, Grace, who never returned to the Strokestown Park House, though she and her husband continued to manage the grounds and force thousands more tenants to flee to the United States.

Answer: Sligo

The Carrowmore Megalithic Complex is now home to about thirty tombs, but there were more at one point. It is nearby the Knocknarea, a hill that is believed to contain more tombs but that hill has not been excavated for conservation reasons. County Sligo is also known for the home and resting place of William Butler Yeats who had lived in the area during his childhood before he moved to England.

He is buried in Drumcliff. The last lines of "Under Ben Bulben" are inscribed on his headstone.

Answer: Meath

County Meath is called the Royal County because of its connection with the past High King of Ireland. The Stone of Destiny is said to be the specific place where the kings were crowned. The stone is also said to have powers and that kings would touch it and become instantly rejuvenated. The entire Hill of Tara is threatened, according to activists, because of a system of motorways built since 2006. The World Monuments Fund lists it as one of the most endangered monuments in the world.

Trim Castle is the largest Norman castle of its kind in Ireland. It was built in the 12th century by King Henry II of England. It later fell into the hands of Hugh de Lacy, a powerful and wealthy man who was considered by many to be the de facto ruler of Meath in the late 12th century.