Thursday, March 17, 2005
St Patrick's Day Quiz
As you know, St Patrick's Day is the most important day in the entire history of Ireland. But how much do you really know about this ancient and traditional festival? Can you separate fact from drunken myth? Take my simple quiz, then click to find out.
1) Who was St Patrick? a) b) c)
a) A leprechaun from the banks of the river Shannon
b) U2's original bass guitarist
c) A Roman slave who became the first Irish Pope
2) Why is St Patrick famous? a) b) c)
a) He invented Guinness in the 6th century
b) He banned boa constrictors from entering Ireland
c) It was his idea to paint the Blarney Stone green
3) What happens on St Patrick's Day? a) b) c)
a) Everyone in Ireland gets very drunk
b) Everyone all around the world pretends to be Irish and gets very drunk
c) Ken Livingstone pretends to be Irish and gets London very drunk (four days early)
4) What is the national dress of Ireland? a) b) c)
a) A tall green hat with bells on it
b) A large flappy felt comedy shamrock
c) Pointy buckled shoes and a ginger beard
5) What is Ireland's most famous export? a) b) c)
a) RiverDancing - gyration as if paralysed from the waist up
b) The Craic - a 'class A' narcotic grin shared by friends
c) Ryanair - the cheapest way to get nowhere fast
6) Where do 95% of Irish people live? a) b) c)
a) In tumbledown cottages next to potato fields
b) In Dublin's fair city
c) In America
7) Who is the most famous Irishman? a) b) c)
a) Father Ted - Roman Catholic Archbishop of all Eire
b) Oscar Bernard Joyce, who wrote "The Importance of Pygmalion's Wake"
c) B Jesus
8) Are Irish stereotypes offensive? a) b) c)
a) Begorrah, to be sure
b) Don't get in a paddy about it
c) Shut up and carry on drinking
