Irish History
What ancient Irish festival celebrated at the end of October inspired Halloween?
A. Imbolc
B. Beltane
C. Lughnasa
D. Samhain
Samhain
What year did the Berlin Wall fall, marking the end of the Cold War?
A. 1989
B. 1991
C. 1975
D. 1969
1989
Who is known as the "King of Rock and Roll"?
Elvis Presley
What country won the first ever FIFA World Cup in 1930?
A. Brazil
B. Germany
C. Argentina
D. Uruguay
Uruguay
What was the first toy to be advertised on television?
A. Barbie
B. Lego
C. Mr. Potato Head
D. Rubik's Cube
Mr. Potato Head
(It hit TV screens in 1952—without a plastic body at first!)
What is the Hill of Tara famous for in Irish history?
A. Site of the first Parliament
B. Burial place of saints
C. Ancient seat of High Kings
D. Birthplace of St. Patrick
Ancient seat of High kings
Who was the British Prime Minister during most of World War II?
Winston Churchill
What famous music event took place in 1969 on a New York farm?
A. Monterey Pop Festival
B. Glastonbury
C. Woodstock
D. Isle of Wight
Woodstock
Who was the first man to run a mile in under four minutes?
A. Carl Lewis
B. Jesse Owens
C. Roger Bannister
D. Steve Prefontaine
Roger Bannister
Which animal can hold its breath the longest underwater—longer than a whale?
A. Elephant
B. Sloth
C. Crocodile
D. Penguin
Sloth
(Sloths can slow their heart rate and hold their breath for up to 40 minutes!)
What major agreement was signed in 1998 to help bring peace to Northern Ireland?
The Good Friday agreement
What empire was ruled by Genghis Khan?
A. Ottoman Empire
B. Mongol Empire
C. Roman Empire
D. Persian Empire
Mongol Empire
Which band released the album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967?
The Beatles
In what year did Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) win his first heavyweight boxing title?
A. 1959
B. 1964
C. 1968
D. 1972
1964
What is the only food that doesn’t spoil?
Honey
(Archaeologists have found pots of it in ancient Egyptian tombs—still edible!)
Which Irish High King was killed at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014?
A. Cormac mac Airt
B. Brian Boru
C. Niall of the Nine Hostages
D. Diarmait Mac Murchada
Brian Boru
What ancient civilization built the city of Machu Picchu?
Incas
What classical composer became deaf later in life but continued to compose?
A. Mozart
B. Beethoven
C. Chopin
D. Bach
Beethoven
Who holds the record for the most Wimbledon titles in men’s singles?
Roger Federer
Which planet in our solar system spins on its side?
A. Neptune
B. Saturn
C. Uranus
D. Mars
Uranus
(It’s tilted at almost 98 degrees—basically rolling through space!)
Which Irish pirate queen led a fleet off the west coast of Ireland in the 1500s?
A. Grace O'Malley
B. Aoife MacMurrough
C. Máire Rua
D. Deirdre of the Sorrows
Grace O'Malley
What ancient civilization was responsible for the creation of the Rosetta Stone?
Ancient Egyptians
Who was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in 1987)?
A. Janis Joplin
B. Aretha Franklin
C. Tina Turner
D. Joan Baez
Aretha Franklin
In what year was the infamous “Hand of God” goal scored by Diego Maradona?
a. 1989
b. 1986
c. 1984
1986
What is banned in Venice, Italy to protect the city’s historic streets?
A. High heels
B. Ice cream carts
C. Selfie sticks
D. Bicycles
High heels
(They're banned in some historic areas to prevent damage and for safety on uneven stone paths!)