The Best of Times, The Worst of Times Quiz

Answer: 433 AD

It is widely accepted that Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. However, Patrick was not a native of Ireland. In fact, Patrick was born in Scotland in 387 AD. His parents were of Roman descent and were stationed with one of the Roman colonies based in Scotland. Patrick's first visit to Ireland was not one that he had much choice in.

At the age of fourteen he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland and sold as a slave to tend sheep. At the age of twenty Patrick escaped Ireland and returned to Scotland, but by this time he had found God.

He studied to become a priest under Saint Germanus, who was the Bishop of Auxerre. Soon after his ordination he was made a Bishop himself and was asked to return to Ireland to help convert its people to Christianity. From the time he arrived back in Ireland in 433 AD tll his death in 461 AD, he dedicated himself to spreading Christianity across the island of Ireland.

When he died, he was buried in Downpatrick, County Down, on the site of the first church that he had helped build in Ireland. (Question by Dolano)

Answer: The Battle of Clontarf

The name Brian Boru was not the name that Brian was born with. He was born Brian Mac Cennétig (Brian, son of Cennetig). He acquired the name Brian Boru which means Brian of the Tributes from all the various tributes that were collected by him from minor rulers across Ireland.

These tributes (monies) were used by Brian to restore monasteries that had been destroyed by the Norsemen. Brian Boru came to prominence after his brother Mahon, who was king of Munster, was killed by the Ostermen (Norsemen) in 975 AD. Brian avenged his brother's murder by killing the king of the Ostermen of Limerick, King Ímar.

This triumph led to Brian becoming leader of all Munster. This led to him becoming High King of all Ireland in 1002 AD after he had conquered Connaught and parts of Leinster. (Question by Dolano)

Answer: Potato blight

Known as the "Great Famine", these were the years in which Ireland suffered a catastrophic failure of the potato crop, the staple diet of many households in the country at the time. This was caused by "potato blight", a disease causing the crop to rot in the ground.
Approximately one million people died of starvation and disease, while another one million emigrated, many to America. This terrible episode in Irish history is now recognised as a defining moment, with many historians referring to pre-famine and post-famine as distinct historical periods.
(Question by Christinap)

Answer: Drogheda

The town of Drogheda is located on the east coast of Ireland, about midway between Dublin and the border with the north. It straddles the River Boyne.
(Question by tadpoles_uk)

Answer: Rome

Soon after the Protestant Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1558, an Act of Supremacy was passed making her the head of the Irish Church. This required all office holders of State and Church to swear allegiance to the Queen of England. Many however remained staunchly loyal to the Roman Catholic Church.

The "Flight of the Earls" denuded Ulster of its Gaelic aristocracy and provided the opportunity for England to confiscate lands and seize more power in Ulster, introducing Protestant settlers from Scotland and England which laid the foundation for a divided island along sectarian lines.
(Question by dutty4eva)

Answer: Thomas Francis Meagher

'The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the 'Orange' and the 'Green', and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood.'

Thomas Francis Meagher: On presenting the flag to the people of Dublin April 1848

However, it was not until 1916, when the tricolour was raised above the General Post Office in Dublin, that the flag was adopted and accepted as the flag of Ireland.

(Question by Merrymas)

Answer: James Joyce

The statues around Dublin are great, they make history fun. Think about it - 'The Hags with the Bags' is the Dublin wits' name for a statue of two Dublin women with shopping bags at their feet. There is a buxom statue of Molly Malone at the bottom of Grafton Street, known as the 'Tart with the Cart'; and a sculpture in the west of the city of Joyce's character 'Anna Livia Plurabelle', from his novel 'Finnegan's Wake', is commonly known as 'The Floozie in the Jacuzzi'! Isn't history great!
(Question by em1958)

Answer: General Post Office

The English occupation of Ireland, which had begun in the 12th century, was marked by constant resistance and uprisings. After the failed 1798 rebellion, the English enacted the "Act of Union" in 1801. Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Gaelic revival of the late 19th century and the emergence of political groups such as the Irish Republican Brotherhood and Sinn Féin fanned the nationalistic spirit. The most militant groups planned armed insurrection to achieve their goal of complete independence for their country.

The rebellion began on Easter Monday, 24th April 1916. The General Post Office was the headquarters of the rebels and other public buildings were successfully occupied. Due to various mix-ups, events did not go according to plan, and the failure to capture Dublin Castle, the seat of government, proved fatal. Within a week the rising had been put down.

The actions of the British Army towards civilians during this time, and in the aftermath, plus the imprisonment of 1,800 suspected rebels in England and the passing of 100 death sentences on the leaders, hardened attitudes against the British. General Maxwell's enthusiasm for quickly carrying out the executions was another factor in building anti-British sentiment. Thus, the Easter Uprising of 1916 proved to be a pivotal event in Ireland's modern history. Before this event, a minority in Ireland were overt supporters of the rebels. After the 1916 Uprising, those involved achieved the status of heroes.
(Question by Calpurnia09)

Answer: The Twelve Apostles

In the midst of the Irish war of independence, and in order to counter the activities of British Intelligence operatives whose aim was to wipe out Republican activists, the IRA's Director of Intelligence, Michael Collins asked Dick McKee to select a small group to carry out assassinations.

Their most significant action was on Bloody Sunday, 21st November 1920, when fourteen MI5 operatives were killed and six were wounded. Only one Republican was captured. In 1921 the squad was made part of the Dublin Guard, most of whom joined the Irish Army during the Irish Civil War of 1922-3. (Question by gracie3)

Answer: Chris de Burgh

Rosanna Davison was nineteen when she won the Miss World title during the finals held in the southern Chinese city of Sanya. Her father was born Christopher John Davison, but later took his mother's surname de Burgh as his stage name. Chris de Burgh's song 'For Rosanna' was included on his 1986 album 'Into The Light', which also carries his best known song, 'The Lady in Red'.
(Question by dsimpy)