Article Surfing Archive

1. How many kingdoms was early Celtic Ireland divided into?
A. 150
B. 15
C. 5
D. 1

A. 150
TRIVIA: Early Celtic Ireland was divided into 150 local kingdoms ruled by 5 provincial kings and one High King. So in a way all the answers were correct except '15' of course!

2. What lies on top of an Irish Coffee?
A. Coffee
B. Whiskey
C. Cream
D. Liqueur

C. Cream
TRIVIA: That was a tricky one, wasn't it! Except for the fanatics of course'

3. Where did the 'white' potato, otherwise known as the Irish potato, first originate?
A. Ireland
B. Spain
C. South America
D. North America

C. South America
TRIVIA: It originated in the Andean Mountains. In 1532 the Spanish arrived in north Peru and it is speculated that they brought the potato to Europe in the second half of the 16th century.

4. What is the Capital of Ireland?
A. Cork
B. Dublin
C. Galway
D. Limerick

B. Dublin
TRIVIA: It is not only the capital but also the largest city with a population (1996) of 953,000. Cork is the second largest city and a major port, with a population of 180,000. Other cities and towns include Limerick (79,000) and Galway (57,000).

5. What is hurling?
A. A traditional Irish dance
B. Hurling is a major Irish port
C. A traditional Irish sport
D. What happens after a traditional Irish pastime.

C. A traditional Irish sport
TRIVIA: In hurling a ball, called a sliotar, is caught on a hurley, or stick, and carried, or hurled into the opponent's goal. Irish mythology has tales of the warrior C' Chulainn and other legendary heroes who were expert hurlers.

6. Everyone knows that leprechauns are Irish fairies, but do you know how to track one down?
A. Follow the rainbow
B. Follow the yellow brick road
C. Follow the sound of his shoemaker's hammer
D. Follow the trail of Lucky Charms

C. Follow the sound of his shoemaker's hammer
TRIVIA: A leprechaun looks like a very small, old man (about 2 feet tall). According to legend, leprechauns are aloof and unfriendly, live alone, and pass the time making shoes...they also possess a hidden pot of gold. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost.

7. Which Irish Saint is said to have discovered America a thousand years before Columbus?
A. Saint Brendan
B. Saint Patrick
C. Saint Angela
D. Saint Christopher

A. Saint Brendan
TRIVIA: An Irish monk(486?-578?), he was educated under monastic influences and became a priest, but was filled with a great desire to travel. His traditional feast day is May 16.

8. What is the official emblem of Ireland?
A. Shamrock
B. Leprechaun
C. Harp
D. Emerald

C. Harp
TRIVIA: The harp is the official Emblem of Ireland, not the Shamrock. The handheld harp was played by ancient Celts.

9. What does the circle in the centre of the celtic cross represent?
A. The Sun
B. The circle of life
C. The Island of Ireland
D. A snake swallowing its tail

A. The Sun
TRIVIA: How many Lion King fans said the circle of life?

10. Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove what out of Ireland?
A. Frogs
B. Turtles
C. Snakes
D. Fish

C. Snakes
TRIVIA: Legend has it that he gave a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland -- supposedly they all went into the sea and drowned. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. The snake was a revered pagan symbol, and perhaps this was a figurative tale alluding to the fact that he drove paganism out of Ireland.