ABOUT IRELAND
What are the two official languages of Ireland?
Irish (Gaeilge) and English
What reputation do Irish people often have in terms of personality and social behaviour, especially toward visitors?
Being very friendly and welcoming.
Which US city dyes its river green every year to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day?
Chicago
In what year did most of Ireland gain independence from the United Kingdom and become the Irish Free State?
1922
What plant is a famous Irish symbol said to have been used to explain the Holy Trinity?
The Shamrock.
Name three must-visit landmarks or tourist attractions in Ireland.
Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, Dublin Castle (other acceptable answers: Guinness Storehouse, Malahide Castle, Galway).
What is the most important ingredient in Irish cuisine? Also, name three traditional Irish dishes commonly eaten in Ireland.
Most important ingredient: Potatoes and three traditional dishes: Irish stew, colcannon, boxty (other acceptable answers: soda bread, coddle, champ)
Why do people wear green on Saint Patrick’s Day according to Irish folklore?
So leprechauns cannot see or pinch them.
What devastating event between 1845 and 1852 caused millions of Irish people to die or emigrate from Ireland?
The Great Potato Famine
Name the national musical symbol of Ireland that appears on coins and official documents, and the mythical creature from Irish folklore said to guard hidden pots of gold.
The Irish Harp and the Leprechaun
Name the two traditional Irish sports governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Gaelic football and hurling
What Irish dance show became world famous in the 1990s and helped popularize Irish music and step dancing internationally?
Riverdance.
Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in what part of the Roman Empire?
Roman Britain
What group invaded Ireland in 1169 and established the Lordship of Ireland under the English crown?
The Normans.
What ancient Celtic festival symbolized the transition from the harvest season to winter and later influenced the modern celebration of Halloween?
The Samhain
What is the nickname for Ireland that celebrates its lush green landscapes, and what is the country’s official name in the Irish language?
“The Emerald Isle” and Éire
What three famous books were written by Irish authors James Joyce, Bram Stoker, and Jonathan Swift?
Ulysses, Dracula, and Gulliver's Travels.
Why did Saint Patrick decide to return to Ireland after escaping?
Saint Patrick had a vision or dream calling him back to Ireland to spread Christianity and minister to the Irish people.
What were the two main political groups in Northern Ireland with opposite views about staying in the UK or joining Ireland?
The Unionists (mostly Protestant) and the Nationalists (mostly Catholic).
What is the traditional meaning of St Brigid's Cross?
It is a protective symbol traditionally hung in homes to protect the household from evil and fire.
Name the four provinces into which Ireland is traditionally divided.
Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster.
What popular Irish TV show is named after a city in County Londonderry and follows teenage girls in the 1990s?
Derry Girls.
Name Saint Patrick’s book and three legendary deeds attributed to him (apart from the shamrock story).
Book: Confessio and the Legendary Deeds: Bringing people back from the dead, eliminating all snakes from Ireland, and sending three pigs to help people dying of hunger
Under Henry VIII and later English rulers, what happened to Irish Catholic land during the colonization of Ulster?
It was confiscated from Irish Catholics and given to Protestant settlers from England and Scotland.
What do the colors of the Flag of Ireland represent?
Green represents Irish Catholics/nationalists, orange represents Protestants/unionists, and white symbolizes peace between them.