Riddles
How is a best friend like a four-leaf clover?
They are hard to find, lucky to have.
Someone that has a special skill for making plants grow is said to have a ____________________.
green thumb
Which army used Saint Patrick as its secret password?
The Continental Army used it during the Revolutionary War when they fought the British at Dorchester Heights on March 17, 1776
Where is the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in England held?
In Birmingham. It’s the third largest in the world after Dublin, Ireland, and New York City.
Ireland is approximately half the size of Arkansas.
Truth. Ireland’s total land area is 27,135 square miles (70,280 square kilometers). Arkansas is approximately 53,182 square miles. Ireland is about the size of South Carolina.
St. Patrick was born in Ireland.
Blarney. He was born in Britain and lived there until he was a teenager.
Why don’t you iron four-leaf clovers?
Because you don’t want to press your luck.
What is the name of the world’s largest island that is NOT a continent? ____________________
Greenland
Where is the shortest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the world held?
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, on a street just 98 feet long.
What garden plant is commonly planted in the northeastern United States on Saint Patrick’s Day?
Peas
If you take your eyes off a leprechaun, he will disappear forever.
Truth. According to legend, once you capture a leprechaun, be sure to keep your eyes on him. If you look away and take your eyes off a leprechaun, he will be gone when you look back.
Bing Crosby popularized the song “Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)” in the 1944 film Going My Way.
Truth. James Royce Shannon wrote the classic Irish tune in 1914.
Why can’t you borrow money from a leprechaun?
Because they’re always a little short.
These are long slender vegetables. ____________________
green beans
Did Saint Patrick really banish all the snakes from Ireland?
Experts say no. Scientists insist there never were any snakes in Ireland, and theologians maintain that the reference to snakes is a metaphor for Saint Patrick’s conversion of the Druids to Christianity.
What does the Gaelic phrase 'Erin go bragh' mean?
It means “Ireland forever.”
Al Jolson’s signature tune was “Danny Boy.”
Blarney. His signature tune was “Sonny Boy.” English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly wrote the words to “Danny Boy” in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the tune of “Londonderry Air” in 1913 after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy of the music.
The Fighting Irish is the name of the Princeton University football team
Blarney. Notre Dame’s athletic teams are the Fighting Irish. Princeton’s athletic teams are the Tigers.
What do you get when you do the Irish jig at McDonald’s?
A shamrock shake.
An inexperienced person is called a ___________________.
greenhorn
How did Irish-American astronaut Catherine Coleman celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day aboard the International Space Station in 2011?
Coleman played a one-hundred-year-old flute belonging to Matt Maloy and a tin whistle belonging to Paddy Moloney, members of the Chieftains, a traditional Irish band.
Which city dyes its downtown fountains green for Saint Patrick’s Day?
Savannah, Georgia.
According to legend, Mrs. Murphy’s cow knocked over the lantern and caused the Great Chicago Fire.
Blarney. It was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, not Mrs. Murphy’s cow.
The Irish wolfhound is the only dog breed that originated in Ireland.
Blarney. There are many Irish breeds, including the Irish spaniel, Irish terrier, and Irish setter.
What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four-leaf clover?
A rash of good luck
What is the name of the international environmental organization founded in 1969 by a group of Canadian environmentalists? ___________________
Greenpeace
Which professional hockey team was once known as the “Saint Patricks”?
The Toronto Maple Leafs were called the Toronto Saint Patricks from 1919 to 1927, and they wore green jerseys.
According to tradition, what will happen if you don’t wear green on Saint Patrick’s Day?
You’ll get pinched!
If you kiss the Blarney Stone, you might spill the beans.
Truth. When you kiss the Blarney Stone, you receive the gift of gab.
The steeplechase horse race started in Ireland.
Truth. The steeplechase originated in Ireland in the 18th century. It was called “steeplechase” because the church steeple was used as a landmark to guide the riders. Today, the race course is characterized by obstacles such as fences and ditches.