Tuesday [Irrrrrrrish] Trivia

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On this day, my eyes are greener, because me Irrrrrrrrish bloooood turns green! How 'bout you? I know, I know .... we're all Irish on St. Paddy's Day.

Here is my favorite version of "May the Road Rise Up To Meet You" sung by Dolan Ellis, the Official Balladeer for the State of Arizona. If you can multi-task, listen to it while you read the trivia.



Here is a bunch of trivia I scraped up about the Emerald Isle and the Jewels who live or have bloodlines back there. Have fun!

IRISH TRIVIA

Did you know that ...

The Harp is the official Emblem of Ireland, not the Shamrock. The handheld Harp was played by our Celtic Forefathers.

It was Saint Patrick who made the Shamrock so popular.

The potato - Potato is not native to Ireland. It was originally brought to Ireland from the American Continent.

Ireland is not the only place Gaelic is spoken. It is also spoken on the Isle of Man, and in Scotland.

The Book of Kells, an ancient illustration of the Bible, is over 1000 years old. Beside it at Trinity College, Dublin The Book of Durrow. It was created by Irish Monks.

Over 40% of the United States Presidents had Irish ancestors.

Eamon De Valera was the first President of the Irish Republic. He was born in Manhattan, New York City.

Hibernia (Latin) and Éire (Gaelic) mean "Ireland". [i.e. Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH)]

Irish & Irish-Americans laid the ground work for America's Bridges, Tunnels, and Subways. Many lost their lives as Sandhogs.

Mike Quill (b.1905, d.1966) born in County Kerry, Ireland was the founding president of the Transport Workers Union of America. During his tenure the U.S. labor movement made great strides.

Irish Triads are the arrangement of ideas in groups of three. Many of these triads are witty, with an amusing climax - or anticlimax - in the third item.

Ceide Fields is the most extensive Stone Age Monument in the world. It is in, North Mayo, a farming community that is fifty centuries old.

70 Million people, worldwide, can claim Irish ancestry.

St. Brendan, an Irish Monk, was a 5th century sailor. It is alleged that he discovered America before Christopher Columbus.

St. Patrick's Day, the way we celebrate it, is more American than Irish. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday-shops and businesses are closed to give everyone a day off to be spent with family and friends.

Catholics begin their day by attending Mass. Families gather for celebratory meals and spend the day at popular sporting events-Gaelic games, championship rugby matches or a steeplechase. There are big parades in Dublin and Belfast to celebrate national pride.

It is said there are more Americans of Irish descent in America than there are Irishmen in Ireland. Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day with such fun and wild abandon that many people in Ireland tune in their televisions to watch celebrations and parades in the U.S..

The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in America was in 1737 hosted by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston. The second was established in 1780 by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in Philadelphia.

It is not known if March 17 is celebrated because it is the date of St. Patrick's birth or his death. Some claim it is both, others say neither. As to St. Patrick's birthplace, the only definite statement is that he most certainly was not born in Ireland. He founded 165 churches and started a school with each one. St. Patrick is widely acknowledged as the patron saint of Ireland.

There are no snakes in all of Ireland thanks to St. Patrick. Of all the legends surrounding this popular figure, the most long-lived is the story of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland. As the population of Ireland looked on, St. Patrick pounded a drum and banished the snakes.

The shamrock is seen everywhere on St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick used the shamrock when he preached the doctrine of the Trinity as a symbol of its great mystery. Today, it is widely worn in Ireland and America to celebrate Irish heritage. In fact, several million shamrock plants are grown in County Cork, Ireland, and shipped all over the world for St. Patrick's Day.

"Erin Go Bragh" means "Ireland for ever"

In Ireland the Wren is said to be "the King of Birds"

The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog in the world.

Saint Brendan, an Irish monk and sailor from the 5th century, is said to have discovered America before Christopher Columbus.

If you kiss the Blarney Stone, it is believed you will be given the "Gift of the Gab"

The Shannon River is the longest river in Ireland and in Britain together.

The Purple Mountains of Kerry in Killarney National Park, are purple from the abundant heather growing there.

Where did Dublin get it's name? From 'Dubh linn' meaning "dark pool"

The Irish Potato Famine took place during 1845 - 49. The Society of Friends, also called the Quakers, was at the forefront of relief during the Irish Potato Famine.

The character James Bond, from radio, literary, film and comic strip has been played by an Englishman, Scotsman, Australian, and Irishman.

The circle in the centre of the celtic cross represents The Sun.

May the road rise up to meet you, my friends.

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