Irish History & Legends
The missionary credited with converting Ireland to Christianity
Saint Patrick
This playwright wrote The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde
This mythical shoemaker is said to hide a pot of gold.
a Leprechaun
This Irish band recorded the hit “With or Without You.
U2
This American city dyes its river green each year
Chicago
This Viking-founded city became Ireland’s capital.
Dublin
This Irish author wrote the novel Dracula.
Bram Stoker
This musical instrument is Ireland’s national symbol
the Irish harp
This Irish singer gained fame with “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
Sinéad O'Connor
This Canadian city holds one of North America’s oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades.
Montreal
This medieval manuscript created by Irish monks is one of Ireland’s greatest treasures
the Book of Kells
This Nobel Prize–winning poet wrote “The Second Coming
W. B. Yeats
This three-leaf plant symbolizes the Trinity in Irish legend
a shamrock
This global dance show made Irish step dancing famous in the 1990s
Riverdance
This European capital dyes the canals in its city green for St. Patrick’s Day, following the Chicago tradition.
Dublin
This hill in Ireland is traditionally believed to be where St. Patrick lit a fire in defiance of a pagan king around the year 433.
the Hill of Slane
This Irish novelist wrote Ulysses, considered one of the most influential novels of the 20th century.
James Joyce
Although now associated with luck, this four-leafed variation of a common Irish plant is extremely rare in nature
a four-leaf clover
This Irish singer, famous for the song “Fairytale of New York,” performed as part of the duo The Pogues.
Shane MacGowan
This South American country hosts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades outside North America, held in Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires
This ancient ceremonial hill in County Meath was the traditional seat of Ireland’s High Kings.
the Hill of Tara
This Irish playwright wrote Waiting for Godot, a famous example of Theatre of the Absurd.
Samuel Beckett
This traditional Irish knotwork design, often seen in manuscripts and jewelry, symbolizes eternity with no beginning or end.
Celtic knot
This Irish composer and musician created the soundtrack for the hit dance show Riverdance
Bill Whelan
This U.S. city claims to have the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country, starting in 1762.
New York City