14 Fun Facts About Irish

What is the longest river in Ireland?

The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland, flowing for 360.5 kilometers (224.0 miles) and forming a significant geographical feature across the island.

In what year did Ireland officially join the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor to the European Union?

Ireland became a member of the European Economic Community (EEC) on January 1, 1973, following a referendum held in May 1972.

What is the traditional Irish potato pancake, often associated with the northern midlands and Ulster regions, called?

Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake made with a mixture of raw grated potatoes and mashed potatoes, commonly found in regions like the northern midlands and Ulster.

Who is the Irish author known for writing the Gothic horror novel 'Dracula'?

Bram Stoker, an Irish writer, achieved lasting fame for his 1897 Gothic horror novel 'Dracula', which introduced the iconic vampire character.

What is the official name for the Irish language in the Republic of Ireland?

The Irish language is officially known as Gaeilge and holds constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland.

Which armed insurrection against British rule took place in Dublin during Easter Week of April 1916?

The Easter Rising was a significant armed insurrection by Irish republicans against British rule, commencing on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, in Dublin.

What is the national anthem of Ireland commonly known as in English?

Ireland's national anthem is titled "Amhrán na bhFiann" in Irish, which translates to "The Soldier's Song" in English.

How many traditional counties make up the entire island of Ireland?

The island of Ireland is historically and traditionally divided into 32 counties, with 26 forming the Republic of Ireland and 6 in Northern Ireland.

Which traditional Irish stick-and-ball game is considered one of the fastest field sports in the world?

Hurling is an ancient Gaelic Irish outdoor team game, renowned for its speed and skill, and is often cited as one of the fastest field sports globally.

By how much did the population of Ireland fall between 1841 and 1871, in the decades spanning the Great Famine?

Roughly a million people died and over a million more emigrated; some towns lost as much as 67 per cent of their people.

Saint Patrick wrote that at sixteen he was seized by pirates and taken as a slave. From which country was he carried off?

Known as the Apostle of Ireland, he is the country's primary patron saint, sharing the honour with Brigid of Kildare and Columba.

James Joyce's Ulysses follows three Dubliners across one particular day, now marked each year as Bloomsday. Which date is it?

The novel draws systematic parallels with Homer, matching Leopold Bloom to Odysseus, Molly to Penelope and Stephen Dedalus to Telemachus.

The Giant's Causeway in County Antrim consists of roughly 40,000 interlocking columns of which rock?

They formed in an ancient fissure eruption during the Paleogene, when highly fluid molten rock forced its way up through the chalk beds of Antrim.

In 1759 Arthur Guinness signed a lease on a disused Dublin brewery at St James's Gate. How long did that lease run?

The rent was 45 pounds a year, and the site went on to become one of the largest breweries in the British Empire.