>There are eight US cities that are named Dublin, after Ireland’s capital city. Six of these dedications were deliberate, while the remaining two were accidental.

Dublin, Ohio is a city outside of Columbus. It received its name in 1810 when Irish born land surveyor, John Shields, was given the opportunity to name the village. According to local lore, he rather poetically said, “If I have the honor conferred upon me to name your village, with the brightness of the morn, and the beaming of the sun on the hills and dales surrounding this beautiful valley, it would give me great pleasure to name your new town after my birthplace, Dublin, Ireland."

Dublin, Ohio hosts a big Irish fest every year and boasts many local landmarks that pay homage to its Irish namesake that include an Abbey Theater and the Brazenhead Pub along with street names that include Inishfree Lane and Phoenix Park Drive where you will find green painted fire hydrants. Local school mascots include shamrocks, Irish, and Celtics.

Dublin, California’s Irish roots date back to 1850, when two Irishmen, Jeremiah Fallon and Michael Murray, purchased 1,000 acres of land in the Amador-Livermore Valley from Jose Maria Amador.

Dublin, California hosts an annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration that includes a parade, and a two-day festival along with a 5K Fun Run and Walk. Additional Irish links include Emerald Glen Park and the 1856 Murray Schoolhouse.

Dublin, Georgia was founded in 1812 and it’s believed that one of the founders, a man by the last name of Sawyer, decided to name Dublin after the capital city of his homeland. Today, the city celebrates its Irish roots with a month full of St. Patrick’s Day revelry and entertainment. Irish author, James Joyce, honnored Dublin, Georgia, in his 1939 book, Finnegans Wake.

Dublin, Virginia, according to local legend, the town was named after New Dublin Presbyterian Church, which was in turn named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, New Hampshire, was settled in the 1760’s when Irishman Henry Strongman moved from Peterborough along with other early settlers arriving from Sherborn, Massachusetts. In 1771, Governor John Wentworth incorporated the town, naming it after Strongman's birthplace, Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, Pennsylvania is a borough in Bucks County. Early settlers were predominately Irish. The earliest written record shows that the area was named Dublin in a letter dated April 21, 1798.

Dublin, Kentucky is an unincorporated community in the Bluegrass State’s Graves County. It was named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, Texas was founded in 1854 in the Lonestar State’s central Erath County. According to the Texas State Historical association, the city was not named after the Irish capital. It is believed that the name may have evolved to Dublin from the warning cry at Indian raids, “Double In.” In any case, during the week of St. Patrick's Day, the community welcomes visitors with a parade, ambassador pageant, and other Irish related events.

Dublin, Michigan, according to local understanding, the town’s name has little if anything to do with Ireland. Rather, according to a 2007 article in the Record Eagle Newspaper, “The name comes from the Pere Marquette Railroad that used to run through town. Trains from the north had to slow to cross a trestle 100 feet above the Manistee River and could not get up enough steam to climb the long, gradual grade from Wellston to Dublin. Engineers would leave half of their cars in Wellston and take the trains up the hill in two trips.” In other words, they would double back, and from that “doubling,” the name “Dublin” evolved.

>Ireland observes Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of the Lenten season, which is three weeks before Easter Sunday.

>The history of celebrating Mother's Day in Ireland can be traced to medieval times where children from poor families were sent to work as domestic servants and apprentices in the homes of rich families. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, the children were given the day off to visit their respective hometown “Mother Church” and worship the Virgin Mary at special masses which were held in honor of Mary, the Mother of Christ. Naturally, the children visited their mothers and presented them with flowers they picked along the way.

>There are about 8 million sheep in Ireland and only 4.5 million humans.

>Ireland shares the same northerly latitude as the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, where the weather is severe and snowy; however, Ireland enjoys relatively mild winters. This is because of the ocean current, which takes warm waters from the Atlantic Ocean to the Irish coast.

>Ireland is the Emerald Isle, but emeralds, just like snakes, are not found in Ireland.

>Ireland is often described to as the Emerald Isle due to the green vegetation that is found throughout the island. Most of the Irish countryside features farms, green lawns, and beautiful fields. The countryside in almost every county is dominated by some of the greenest hills anywhere in the world.

>Irish physician and writer, William Drennan, May 23, 1754 – February 5, 1820, is credited with first referring to Ireland as an emerald in his 1795 poem, When Erin First Rose.

>When Erin First Rose
When Erin first rose from the dark swelling flood,
God bless’d the green island and saw it was good;
The em’rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
In the ring of the world the most precious stone.
In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,
With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,
Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,
And strikes her high harp ‘mid the ocean’s deep roar.

>Book of Kells Facts and Trivia

>The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript containing the four New Testament gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It was written and illustrated between the late 8th or early 9th centuries by Columban monks (devotees of Saint Columban, born c. 543 AD, Leinster, Ireland). It is not definitively known where The Book of Kells was produced; however, scholars believe that it was started at the Abbey of Iona (west coast of Scotland) and perhaps finished at the Abbey of Kells (County Meath, Ireland). Both Abbeys had a close association.

>The Book of Kells was an elaborate production requiring massive amounts of time to copy the text and create the illustrations onto the vellum (fine calfskin). Pigments included lapis lazuli, a blue color that was found only in the Middle East, and genuine gold.

>The book remained at the Abbey of Kells until it was closed during the 12th century. It was then moved to the newly formed parish church where it remained until 1654, when Oliver Cromwell’s English cavalry was garrisoned at Kells. Cromwell’s troops were violently anti-Catholic and known for their brutality, so to safeguard the book, it was moved to Dublin. The Book of Kells was given to Trinity College, Dublin, in 1661, and went on public display there in the 19th century. Today, The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing in over one million visitors a year. In 2006, the manuscript was completely digitized and is available online.

>Ireland, 32,595 square miles, is the world’s 20th largest island. Greenland, 822,700 square miles, is the largest island in the world.

>Achill Island, 57 square miles, is Ireland’s largest island, located off the west coast of Ireland in County Mayo.

>The Guardians of the Peace (An Garda Síochána), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí or the Guards, is the national police service of Ireland. Ireland does not have any local or regional police departments. An Garda Síochána was formed in 1922. Preceding agencies included Royal Irish Constabulary, Irish Republican Police, and Dublin Metropolitan Police, which merged with An Garda Síochána in 1925.

>Dublin born Violet Gibson attempted to assassinate Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini, shooting at him twice, at point blank range, as he walked through a square, Piazza del Campidoglio, in Rome, April 7, 1926. The first shot hit Mussolini on the bridge of his nose, just as he turned his face. The revolver jammed with the second shot. Gibson was almost killed by the crowd, then deported to England, where doctors declared her insane. Her family agreed to place her in a mental asylum in Northampton where she remained until her death at age 79 in 1956. It is reported that Gibson’s passionate political and religious beliefs drove her to attempt to murder the Italian dictator.

>The 1912 song “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” synonymous with Ireland and all things Irish, was written by two Americans, George Graff and Chauncey Olcott. There is no indication showing that either man ever even visited Ireland.

>The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia in Galway, meaning, "Pig-marsh between two sea inlets." Other long names include Illaungraffanavrankagh in Clare, Glassillaunvealnacurra in Galway, Ballywinterrourkewood in Limerick, and Corragunnagalliaghdoo Island in Mayo.

>The Brazen Head on Merchant’s Quay is the oldest pub in Dublin. It’s reported that it started its life as a tavern back in 1198 and was later developed into a coaching inn in 1754.

>Dating back to 900 AD, Sean’s Bar in Athlone town, Co. Westmeath, is the oldest pub in Ireland. It’s widely believed that it’s the oldest pub in the world.

>Per-capita, Ireland consumes 81 liters of beer per year, eleventh highest worldwide. The Czech Republic is number one at 181 liters, per-capita (2020 statistics). Beer in the Czech Republic typically costs less than bottled water.>Uisce beatha, pronounced ish-keh byah-ha, is Irish for whiskey. Literally means, water of life.

>Limericks originated in the Irish town of Limerick and variants can be traced to the fourteenth century. Limericks consist of five anapestic lines, the pattern of the rhyme is a - a - b - b – a.Lines 1, 2, and 5 of Limericks have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 of Limericks have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other.

Typically the content of Limericks can often border on the indecent, the dirty, or even the obscene, but they make people laugh! Limericks are easy to remember and are short so no great talent is necessary to compose one. Limericks are a form of poetry that everyone feels happy to try, especially when inebriated.

>Irish, or Gaeilge, is the official language of Ireland. Irish is one of the three modern Goidelic languages; the other two are Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) and Manx (Gaelg).

>Irish has only eighteen letters in its alphabet, no J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, or Z. "Ch" is pronounced as in "Loch Ness" not as in "Chalk."

>Guinness trademarked its famous harp logo way back in 1862. The harp is also a symbol of Ireland. When Ireland became a Free State from the United Kingdom in 1922, the new Irish government had to come up with a different symbol so as not to infringe trademark laws. That’s why Ireland’s harp points in the opposite direction of Guinness’ harp. ‘Tis true, ‘tis true.

>Bagpipes have been played for centuries all across Europe, in parts of Asia and North Africa, and in the Persian Gulf. However, the most famous versions of the instrument today are the Scottish Great Highland bagpipe and the Irish uilleann pipes. The bag in the Scottish version is inflated by blowing into it, whereas the Irish version uses a bellows under the arm.

>The hugely successful Irish music and dance show “Riverdance” originated in 1994. In its first manifestation, the show was a relatively short entertainment created for the interval in the annual Eurovision Song Contest. A few months later, it was expanded into a full show that premiered in Dublin in early 1995. Since then, the show has traveled all over the world and has been seen by over 25 million people.

>Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. Cork has been a major port for many years, and was the last port of call for many, many Irish emigrants to America. When these Irish people reached the US it was common for them to give their point of origin as “Cork,” whereas they may have come from almost anywhere in Ireland. It’s because of this that many descendants of Irish immigrants who had been told they were from a Cork family often find out they were under a misapprehension as their ancestors just sailed from Cork.

>The White House was designed by an Irishman. James Hoban from County Kilkenny emigrated to the US in his twenties and won the design competition for the White House in 1792.

>The town of Shannon in the west of Ireland is named for the nearby River Shannon. The town is home to Shannon Airport, which used to be the most convenient stopping point for flights between North America and Europe. Shannon Airport is home to the longest runway in Ireland and was designated by NASA as an authorized emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle.

>Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland was the first place in the world to offer duty-free shopping. Shannon was also where the Irish Coffee originated, despite many claims to the contrary

>Irish Coffee, the creative coffee cocktail, was first served by Joe Sheridan to some American tourists one dismal winter night in 1942 after they had landed at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare, Ireland. To help cut the chill, Sheridan added Irish whiskey, sugar and cream to the passengers' coffee and Irish coffee was born.

This after dinner drink is prepared by warming, but not boiling, 2 2/3 ounces of black coffee, 1 1/3 ounce Irish whiskey and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar that is stirred until it is dissolved; note that the sugar is essential for the next ingredient, the cream, to float. Pour the mixture into an Irish coffee glass and carefully pour thick cream over the back of a spoon. The layer of cream will float on top of the coffee and you will build the layer of cream above the rim of the Irish coffee glass. Do not stir the cream into the beverage as you will sip the cocktail through the cream.

>Hurling is the national sport of Ireland. It’s played with a stick called a hurley and a ball called a “sliotar.” It’s thought to be the fastest team sport in the world, and certainly has to be the oldest as it predates Christianity and was brought to Ireland by the Celts.

>There has been a lion in the logo of the MGM studio since 1924. The original was an Irishman (!), a lion named Slats who was born in Dublin Zoo in 1919. However, it wasn't until Jackie took over from Slats in 1928 that the roar was heard, as the era of silent movies was coming to an end. The current lion is called Leo, and he has been around since 1957.

>The phrase “beyond the pale” describes something that is offensive, outside the bounds of what is acceptable. The expression has its roots in the palings that defined boundaries in the Middle Ages. Those palings (fences) were made from “pales,” from the Latin “palus” meaning “stake.” The noun “pale” came to describe that area within the palings. The most famous “Pale” was that part of Ireland controlled for centuries directly by the English government, which was land surrounding Dublin that was bounded by ditches and fences. People living outside the Pale did not share the beliefs and customs of those within the boundaries, which gave rise to our usage of the phrase “beyond the pale.”

>A donnybrook is a free-for-all, a melee. It is named for a famous historic fair in Donnybrook, a district in Dublin, Ireland. Donnybrook Fair had the reputation as a place where there was lots of drinking and fighting.

>Ireland is divided into four provinces: Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. “Ulster” is sometimes used as a synonym for “Northern Ireland” but in fact Ulster comprises the six counties of Northern Ireland and three more, namely Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, which are within the Republic of Ireland.

>There are eight US cities that are named Dublin, after Ireland’s capital city. Six of these dedications were deliberate, while the remaining two were accidental.

Dublin, Ohio is a small city just outside of Columbus. It received its name in 1810 when Irish born land surveyor, John Shields, was given the opportunity to name the village. According to local lore, he rather poetically said, “If I have the honor conferred upon me to name your village, with the brightness of the morn, and the beaming of the sun on the hills and dales surrounding this beautiful valley, it would give me great pleasure to name your new town after my birthplace, Dublin, Ireland."
Dublin, Ohio hosts a big Irish fest every year and boasts many local landmarks that pay homage to its Irish namesake that include an Abbey Theater and the Brazenhead Pub along with street names that include Inishfree Lane and Phoenix Park Drive where you will find green painted fire hydrants. Local school mascots include shamrocks, Irish, and Celtics.

Dublin, California’s Irish roots date back to 1850, when two Irishmen, Jeremiah Fallon and Michael Murray, purchased 1,000 acres of land in the Amador-Livermore Valley from Jose Maria Amador.
Dublin, California hosts an annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration that includes a parade, and a two-day festival along with a 5K Fun Run and Walk. Additional Irish links include Emerald Glen Park and the 1856 Murray Schoolhouse.

Dublin, Georgia was founded in 1812 and it’s believed that one of the founders, a man by the last name of Sawyer, decided to name Dublin after the capital city of his homeland. Today, the city celebrates its Irish roots with a month full of St. Patrick’s Day revelry and entertainment. Irish author, James Joyce, honnored Dublin, Georgia, in his 1939 book, Finnegans Wake.

Dublin, Virginia, according to local legend, the town was named after New Dublin Presbyterian Church, which was in turn named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, New Hampshire, was settled in the 1760’s when Irishman Henry Strongman moved from Peterborough along with other early settlers arriving from Sherborn, Massachusetts. In 1771, Governor John Wentworth incorporated the town, naming it after Strongman's birthplace, Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin Pennsylvania is a borough in Bucks County. Early settlers were predominately Irish. The earliest written record shows that the area was named Dublin in a letter dated April 21, 1798.

Dublin, Kentucky is an unincorporated community in the Bluegrass State’s Graves County. It was named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, Texas was founded in 1854 in the Lonestar State’s central Erath County. According to the Texas State Historical association, the name may have evolved to Dublin from the warning cry at Indian raids, “Double In.” During the week of St. Patrick's Day, the community welcomes visitors with a parade, ambassador pageant, and other events.

Dublin, Michigan, according to local understanding, the town’s name has little if anything to do with Ireland. Rather, according to a 2007 article in the Record Eagle Newspaper, “The name comes from the Pere Marquette Railroad that used to run through town. Trains from the north had to slow to cross a trestle 100 feet above the Manistee River and could not get up enough steam to climb the long, gradual grade from Wellston to Dublin. Engineers would leave half of their cars in Wellston and take the trains up the hill in two trips.” In other words, they would double back, and from that “doubling,” the name “Dublin” evolved.

>Ireland observes Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of the Lenten season, which is three weeks before Easter Sunday.

>The history of celebrating Mother's Day in Ireland can be traced to medieval times where children from poor families were sent to work as domestic servants and apprentices in the homes of rich families. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, the children were given the day off to visit their respective hometown “Mother Church” and worship the Virgin Mary at special masses which were held in honor of Mary, the Mother of Christ. Naturally, the children visited their mothers and presented them with flowers they picked along the way.

>There are about 8 million sheep in Ireland and only 4.5 million humans.

>Ireland shares the same northerly latitude as the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, where the weather is severe and snowy; however, Ireland enjoys relatively mild winters. This is because of the ocean current, which takes warm waters from the Atlantic Ocean to the Irish coast.

>Ireland is the Emerald Isle, but emeralds, just like snakes, are not found in Ireland.

>Ireland is often described to as the Emerald Isle due to the green vegetation that is found throughout the island. Most of the Irish countryside features farms, green lawns, and beautiful fields. The countryside in almost every county is dominated by some of the greenest hills anywhere in the world.

>Irish physician and writer, William Drennan, May 23, 1754 – February 5, 1820, is credited with first referring to Ireland as an emerald in his 1795 poem, When Erin First Rose.

>When Erin First Rose
When Erin first rose from the dark swelling flood,
God bless’d the green island and saw it was good;
The em’rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
In the ring of the world the most precious stone.
In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,
With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,
Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,
And strikes her high harp ‘mid the ocean’s deep roar.

>Book of Kells Facts and Trivia

>The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript containing the four New Testament gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It was written and illustrated between the late 8th or early 9th centuries by Columban monks (devotees of Saint Columban, born c. 543 AD, Leinster, Ireland). It is not definitively known where The Book of Kells was produced; however, scholars believe that it was started at the Abbey of Iona (west coast of Scotland) and perhaps finished at the Abbey of Kells (County Meath, Ireland). Both Abbeys had a close association.

>The Book of Kells was an elaborate production requiring massive amounts of time to copy the text and create the illustrations onto the vellum (fine calfskin). Pigments included lapis lazuli, a blue color that was found only in the Middle East, and genuine gold.

>The book remained at the Abbey of Kells until it was closed during the 12th century. It was then moved to the newly formed parish church where it remained until 1654, when Oliver Cromwell’s English cavalry was garrisoned at Kells. Cromwell’s troops were violently anti-Catholic and known for their brutality, so to safeguard the book, it was moved to Dublin. The Book of Kells was given to Trinity College, Dublin, in 1661, and went on public display there in the 19th century. Today, The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing in over one million visitors a year. In 2006, the manuscript was completely digitized and is available online.

>Ireland, 32,595 square miles, is the world’s 20th largest island. Greenland, 822,700 square miles, is the largest island in the world.

>Achill Island, 57 square miles, is Ireland’s largest island, located off the west coast of Ireland in County Mayo.

>The Guardians of the Peace (An Garda Síochána), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí or the Guards, is the national police service of Ireland. Ireland does not have any local or regional police departments. An Garda Síochána was formed in 1922. Preceding agencies included Royal Irish Constabulary, Irish Republican Police, and Dublin Metropolitan Police, which merged with An Garda Síochána in 1925.

>Dublin born Violet Gibson attempted to assassinate Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini, shooting at him twice, at point blank range, as he walked through a square, Piazza del Campidoglio, in Rome, April 7, 1926. The first shot hit Mussolini on the bridge of his nose, just as he turned his face. The revolver jammed with the second shot. Gibson was almost killed by the crowd, then deported to England, where doctors declared her insane. Her family agreed to place her in a mental asylum in Northampton where she remained until her death at age 79 in 1956. It is reported that Gibson’s passionate political and religious beliefs drove her to attempt to murder the Italian dictator.

>The 1912 song “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” synonymous with Ireland and all things Irish, was written by two Americans, George Graff and Chauncey Olcott. There is no indication showing that either man ever even visited Ireland.

>The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia in Galway, meaning, "Pig-marsh between two sea inlets." Other long names include Illaungraffanavrankagh in Clare, Glassillaunvealnacurra in Galway, Ballywinterrourkewood in Limerick, and Corragunnagalliaghdoo Island in Mayo.

>The Brazen Head on Merchant’s Quay is the oldest pub in Dublin. It’s reported that it started its life as a tavern back in 1198 and was later developed into a coaching inn in 1754.

>Dating back to 900 AD, Sean’s Bar in Athlone town, Co. Westmeath, is the oldest pub in Ireland. It’s widely believed that it’s the oldest pub in the world.

>Per-capita, Ireland consumes 81 liters of beer per year, eleventh highest worldwide. The Czech Republic is number one at 181 liters, per-capita (2020 statistics). Beer in the Czech Republic typically costs less than bottled water.>Uisce beatha, pronounced ish-keh byah-ha, is Irish for whiskey. Literally means, water of life.

>Limericks originated in the Irish town of Limerick and variants can be traced to the fourteenth century. Limericks consist of five anapestic lines, the pattern of the rhyme is a - a - b - b – a.Lines 1, 2, and 5 of Limericks have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 of Limericks have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other.

Typically the content of Limericks can often border on the indecent, the dirty, or even the obscene, but they make people laugh! Limericks are easy to remember and are short so no great talent is necessary to compose one. Limericks are a form of poetry that everyone feels happy to try, especially when inebriated.

>Irish, or Gaeilge, is the official language of Ireland. Irish is one of the three modern Goidelic languages; the other two are Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) and Manx (Gaelg).

>Irish has only eighteen letters in its alphabet, no J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, or Z. "Ch" is pronounced as in "Loch Ness" not as in "Chalk."

>Guinness trademarked its famous harp logo way back in 1862. The harp is also a symbol of Ireland. When Ireland became a Free State from the United Kingdom in 1922, the new Irish government had to come up with a different symbol so as not to infringe trademark laws. That’s why Ireland’s harp points in the opposite direction of Guinness’ harp. ‘Tis true, ‘tis true.

>Bagpipes have been played for centuries all across Europe, in parts of Asia and North Africa, and in the Persian Gulf. However, the most famous versions of the instrument today are the Scottish Great Highland bagpipe and the Irish uilleann pipes. The bag in the Scottish version is inflated by blowing into it, whereas the Irish version uses a bellows under the arm.

>The hugely successful Irish music and dance show “Riverdance” originated in 1994. In its first manifestation, the show was a relatively short entertainment created for the interval in the annual Eurovision Song Contest. A few months later, it was expanded into a full show that premiered in Dublin in early 1995. Since then, the show has traveled all over the world and has been seen by over 25 million people.

>Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. Cork has been a major port for many years, and was the last port of call for many, many Irish emigrants to America. When these Irish people reached the US it was common for them to give their point of origin as “Cork,” whereas they may have come from almost anywhere in Ireland. It’s because of this that many descendants of Irish immigrants who had been told they were from a Cork family often find out they were under a misapprehension as their ancestors just sailed from Cork.

>The White House was designed by an Irishman. James Hoban from County Kilkenny emigrated to the US in his twenties and won the design competition for the White House in 1792.

>The town of Shannon in the west of Ireland is named for the nearby River Shannon. The town is home to Shannon Airport, which used to be the most convenient stopping point for flights between North America and Europe. Shannon Airport is home to the longest runway in Ireland and was designated by NASA as an authorized emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle.

>Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland was the first place in the world to offer duty-free shopping. Shannon was also where the Irish Coffee originated, despite many claims to the contrary

>Irish Coffee, the creative coffee cocktail, was first served by Joe Sheridan to some American tourists one dismal winter night in 1942 after they had landed at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare, Ireland. To help cut the chill, Sheridan added Irish whiskey, sugar and cream to the passengers' coffee and Irish coffee was born.

This after dinner drink is prepared by warming, but not boiling, 2 2/3 ounces of black coffee, 1 1/3 ounce Irish whiskey and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar that is stirred until it is dissolved; note that the sugar is essential for the next ingredient, the cream, to float. Pour the mixture into an Irish coffee glass and carefully pour thick cream over the back of a spoon. The layer of cream will float on top of the coffee and you will build the layer of cream above the rim of the Irish coffee glass. Do not stir the cream into the beverage as you will sip the cocktail through the cream.

>Hurling is the national sport of Ireland. It’s played with a stick called a hurley and a ball called a “sliotar.” It’s thought to be the fastest team sport in the world, and certainly has to be the oldest as it predates Christianity and was brought to Ireland by the Celts.

>There has been a lion in the logo of the MGM studio since 1924. The original was an Irishman (!), a lion named Slats who was born in Dublin Zoo in 1919. However, it wasn't until Jackie took over from Slats in 1928 that the roar was heard, as the era of silent movies was coming to an end. The current lion is called Leo, and he has been around since 1957.

>The phrase “beyond the pale” describes something that is offensive, outside the bounds of what is acceptable. The expression has its roots in the palings that defined boundaries in the Middle Ages. Those palings (fences) were made from “pales,” from the Latin “palus” meaning “stake.” The noun “pale” came to describe that area within the palings. The most famous “Pale” was that part of Ireland controlled for centuries directly by the English government, which was land surrounding Dublin that was bounded by ditches and fences. People living outside the Pale did not share the beliefs and customs of those within the boundaries, which gave rise to our usage of the phrase “beyond the pale.”

>A donnybrook is a free-for-all, a melee. It is named for a famous historic fair in Donnybrook, a district in Dublin, Ireland. Donnybrook Fair had the reputation as a place where there was lots of drinking and fighting.

>Ireland is divided into four provinces: Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. “Ulster” is sometimes used as a synonym for “Northern Ireland” but in fact Ulster comprises the six counties of Northern Ireland and three more, namely Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, which are within the Republic of Ireland.

>There are eight US cities that are named Dublin, after Ireland’s capital city. Six of these dedications were deliberate, while the remaining two were accidental.

Dublin, Ohio is a small city just outside of Columbus. It received its name in 1810 when Irish born land surveyor, John Shields, was given the opportunity to name the village. According to local lore, he rather poetically said, “If I have the honor conferred upon me to name your village, with the brightness of the morn, and the beaming of the sun on the hills and dales surrounding this beautiful valley, it would give me great pleasure to name your new town after my birthplace, Dublin, Ireland."
Dublin, Ohio hosts a big Irish fest every year and boasts many local landmarks that pay homage to its Irish namesake that include an Abbey Theater and the Brazenhead Pub along with street names that include Inishfree Lane and Phoenix Park Drive where you will find green painted fire hydrants. Local school mascots include shamrocks, Irish, and Celtics.

Dublin, California’s Irish roots date back to 1850, when two Irishmen, Jeremiah Fallon and Michael Murray, purchased 1,000 acres of land in the Amador-Livermore Valley from Jose Maria Amador.
Dublin, California hosts an annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration that includes a parade, and a two-day festival along with a 5K Fun Run and Walk. Additional Irish links include Emerald Glen Park and the 1856 Murray Schoolhouse.

Dublin, Georgia was founded in 1812 and it’s believed that one of the founders, a man by the last name of Sawyer, decided to name Dublin after the capital city of his homeland. Today, the city celebrates its Irish roots with a month full of St. Patrick’s Day revelry and entertainment. Irish author, James Joyce, honnored Dublin, Georgia, in his 1939 book, Finnegans Wake.

Dublin, Virginia, according to local legend, the town was named after New Dublin Presbyterian Church, which was in turn named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, New Hampshire, was settled in the 1760’s when Irishman Henry Strongman moved from Peterborough along with other early settlers arriving from Sherborn, Massachusetts. In 1771, Governor John Wentworth incorporated the town, naming it after Strongman's birthplace, Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin Pennsylvania is a borough in Bucks County. Early settlers were predominately Irish. The earliest written record shows that the area was named Dublin in a letter dated April 21, 1798.

Dublin, Kentucky is an unincorporated community in the Bluegrass State’s Graves County. It was named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, Texas was founded in 1854 in the Lonestar State’s central Erath County. According to the Texas State Historical association, the name may have evolved to Dublin from the warning cry at Indian raids, “Double In.” During the week of St. Patrick's Day, the community welcomes visitors with a parade, ambassador pageant, and other events.

Dublin, Michigan, according to local understanding, the town’s name has little if anything to do with Ireland. Rather, according to a 2007 article in the Record Eagle Newspaper, “The name comes from the Pere Marquette Railroad that used to run through town. Trains from the north had to slow to cross a trestle 100 feet above the Manistee River and could not get up enough steam to climb the long, gradual grade from Wellston to Dublin. Engineers would leave half of their cars in Wellston and take the trains up the hill in two trips.” In other words, they would double back, and from that “doubling,” the name “Dublin” evolved.

>Ireland observes Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of the Lenten season, which is three weeks before Easter Sunday.

>The history of celebrating Mother's Day in Ireland can be traced to medieval times where children from poor families were sent to work as domestic servants and apprentices in the homes of rich families. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, the children were given the day off to visit their respective hometown “Mother Church” and worship the Virgin Mary at special masses which were held in honor of Mary, the Mother of Christ. Naturally, the children visited their mothers and presented them with flowers they picked along the way.

>There are about 8 million sheep in Ireland and only 4.5 million humans.

>Ireland shares the same northerly latitude as the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, where the weather is severe and snowy; however, Ireland enjoys relatively mild winters. This is because of the ocean current, which takes warm waters from the Atlantic Ocean to the Irish coast.

>Ireland is the Emerald Isle, but emeralds, just like snakes, are not found in Ireland.

>Ireland is often described to as the Emerald Isle due to the green vegetation that is found throughout the island. Most of the Irish countryside features farms, green lawns, and beautiful fields. The countryside in almost every county is dominated by some of the greenest hills anywhere in the world.

>Irish physician and writer, William Drennan, May 23, 1754 – February 5, 1820, is credited with first referring to Ireland as an emerald in his 1795 poem, When Erin First Rose.

>When Erin First Rose
When Erin first rose from the dark swelling flood,
God bless’d the green island and saw it was good;
The em’rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
In the ring of the world the most precious stone.
In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,
With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,
Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,
And strikes her high harp ‘mid the ocean’s deep roar.

>Book of Kells Facts and Trivia

>The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript containing the four New Testament gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It was written and illustrated between the late 8th or early 9th centuries by Columban monks (devotees of Saint Columban, born c. 543 AD, Leinster, Ireland). It is not definitively known where The Book of Kells was produced; however, scholars believe that it was started at the Abbey of Iona (west coast of Scotland) and perhaps finished at the Abbey of Kells (County Meath, Ireland). Both Abbeys had a close association.

>The Book of Kells was an elaborate production requiring massive amounts of time to copy the text and create the illustrations onto the vellum (fine calfskin). Pigments included lapis lazuli, a blue color that was found only in the Middle East, and genuine gold.

>The book remained at the Abbey of Kells until it was closed during the 12th century. It was then moved to the newly formed parish church where it remained until 1654, when Oliver Cromwell’s English cavalry was garrisoned at Kells. Cromwell’s troops were violently anti-Catholic and known for their brutality, so to safeguard the book, it was moved to Dublin. The Book of Kells was given to Trinity College, Dublin, in 1661, and went on public display there in the 19th century. Today, The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing in over one million visitors a year. In 2006, the manuscript was completely digitized and is available online.

>Ireland, 32,595 square miles, is the world’s 20th largest island. Greenland, 822,700 square miles, is the largest island in the world.

>Achill Island, 57 square miles, is Ireland’s largest island, located off the west coast of Ireland in County Mayo.

>The Guardians of the Peace (An Garda Síochána), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí or the Guards, is the national police service of Ireland. Ireland does not have any local or regional police departments. An Garda Síochána was formed in 1922. Preceding agencies included Royal Irish Constabulary, Irish Republican Police, and Dublin Metropolitan Police, which merged with An Garda Síochána in 1925.

>Dublin born Violet Gibson attempted to assassinate Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini, shooting at him twice, at point blank range, as he walked through a square, Piazza del Campidoglio, in Rome, April 7, 1926. The first shot hit Mussolini on the bridge of his nose, just as he turned his face. The revolver jammed with the second shot. Gibson was almost killed by the crowd, then deported to England, where doctors declared her insane. Her family agreed to place her in a mental asylum in Northampton where she remained until her death at age 79 in 1956. It is reported that Gibson’s passionate political and religious beliefs drove her to attempt to murder the Italian dictator.

>The 1912 song “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” synonymous with Ireland and all things Irish, was written by two Americans, George Graff and Chauncey Olcott. There is no indication showing that either man ever even visited Ireland.

>The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia in Galway, meaning, "Pig-marsh between two sea inlets." Other long names include Illaungraffanavrankagh in Clare, Glassillaunvealnacurra in Galway, Ballywinterrourkewood in Limerick, and Corragunnagalliaghdoo Island in Mayo.

>The Brazen Head on Merchant’s Quay is the oldest pub in Dublin. It’s reported that it started its life as a tavern back in 1198 and was later developed into a coaching inn in 1754.

>Dating back to 900 AD, Sean’s Bar in Athlone town, Co. Westmeath, is the oldest pub in Ireland. It’s widely believed that it’s the oldest pub in the world.

>Per-capita, Ireland consumes 81 liters of beer per year, eleventh highest worldwide. The Czech Republic is number one at 181 liters, per-capita (2020 statistics). Beer in the Czech Republic typically costs less than bottled water.>Uisce beatha, pronounced ish-keh byah-ha, is Irish for whiskey. Literally means, water of life.

>Limericks originated in the Irish town of Limerick and variants can be traced to the fourteenth century. Limericks consist of five anapestic lines, the pattern of the rhyme is a - a - b - b – a.Lines 1, 2, and 5 of Limericks have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 of Limericks have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other.

Typically the content of Limericks can often border on the indecent, the dirty, or even the obscene, but they make people laugh! Limericks are easy to remember and are short so no great talent is necessary to compose one. Limericks are a form of poetry that everyone feels happy to try, especially when inebriated.

>Irish, or Gaeilge, is the official language of Ireland. Irish is one of the three modern Goidelic languages; the other two are Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) and Manx (Gaelg).

>Irish has only eighteen letters in its alphabet, no J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, or Z. "Ch" is pronounced as in "Loch Ness" not as in "Chalk."

>Guinness trademarked its famous harp logo way back in 1862. The harp is also a symbol of Ireland. When Ireland became a Free State from the United Kingdom in 1922, the new Irish government had to come up with a different symbol so as not to infringe trademark laws. That’s why Ireland’s harp points in the opposite direction of Guinness’ harp. ‘Tis true, ‘tis true.

>Bagpipes have been played for centuries all across Europe, in parts of Asia and North Africa, and in the Persian Gulf. However, the most famous versions of the instrument today are the Scottish Great Highland bagpipe and the Irish uilleann pipes. The bag in the Scottish version is inflated by blowing into it, whereas the Irish version uses a bellows under the arm.

>The hugely successful Irish music and dance show “Riverdance” originated in 1994. In its first manifestation, the show was a relatively short entertainment created for the interval in the annual Eurovision Song Contest. A few months later, it was expanded into a full show that premiered in Dublin in early 1995. Since then, the show has traveled all over the world and has been seen by over 25 million people.

>Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. Cork has been a major port for many years, and was the last port of call for many, many Irish emigrants to America. When these Irish people reached the US it was common for them to give their point of origin as “Cork,” whereas they may have come from almost anywhere in Ireland. It’s because of this that many descendants of Irish immigrants who had been told they were from a Cork family often find out they were under a misapprehension as their ancestors just sailed from Cork.

>The White House was designed by an Irishman. James Hoban from County Kilkenny emigrated to the US in his twenties and won the design competition for the White House in 1792.

>The town of Shannon in the west of Ireland is named for the nearby River Shannon. The town is home to Shannon Airport, which used to be the most convenient stopping point for flights between North America and Europe. Shannon Airport is home to the longest runway in Ireland and was designated by NASA as an authorized emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle.

>Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland was the first place in the world to offer duty-free shopping. Shannon was also where the Irish Coffee originated, despite many claims to the contrary

>Irish Coffee, the creative coffee cocktail, was first served by Joe Sheridan to some American tourists one dismal winter night in 1942 after they had landed at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare, Ireland. To help cut the chill, Sheridan added Irish whiskey, sugar and cream to the passengers' coffee and Irish coffee was born.

This after dinner drink is prepared by warming, but not boiling, 2 2/3 ounces of black coffee, 1 1/3 ounce Irish whiskey and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar that is stirred until it is dissolved; note that the sugar is essential for the next ingredient, the cream, to float. Pour the mixture into an Irish coffee glass and carefully pour thick cream over the back of a spoon. The layer of cream will float on top of the coffee and you will build the layer of cream above the rim of the Irish coffee glass. Do not stir the cream into the beverage as you will sip the cocktail through the cream.

>Hurling is the national sport of Ireland. It’s played with a stick called a hurley and a ball called a “sliotar.” It’s thought to be the fastest team sport in the world, and certainly has to be the oldest as it predates Christianity and was brought to Ireland by the Celts.

>There has been a lion in the logo of the MGM studio since 1924. The original was an Irishman (!), a lion named Slats who was born in Dublin Zoo in 1919. However, it wasn't until Jackie took over from Slats in 1928 that the roar was heard, as the era of silent movies was coming to an end. The current lion is called Leo, and he has been around since 1957.

>The phrase “beyond the pale” describes something that is offensive, outside the bounds of what is acceptable. The expression has its roots in the palings that defined boundaries in the Middle Ages. Those palings (fences) were made from “pales,” from the Latin “palus” meaning “stake.” The noun “pale” came to describe that area within the palings. The most famous “Pale” was that part of Ireland controlled for centuries directly by the English government, which was land surrounding Dublin that was bounded by ditches and fences. People living outside the Pale did not share the beliefs and customs of those within the boundaries, which gave rise to our usage of the phrase “beyond the pale.”

>A donnybrook is a free-for-all, a melee. It is named for a famous historic fair in Donnybrook, a district in Dublin, Ireland. Donnybrook Fair had the reputation as a place where there was lots of drinking and fighting.

>Ireland is divided into four provinces: Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. “Ulster” is sometimes used as a synonym for “Northern Ireland” but in fact Ulster comprises the six counties of Northern Ireland and three more, namely Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, which are within the Republic of Ireland.

>There are eight US cities that are named Dublin, after Ireland’s capital city. Six of these dedications were deliberate, while the remaining two were accidental.

Dublin, Ohio is a small city just outside of Columbus. It received its name in 1810 when Irish born land surveyor, John Shields, was given the opportunity to name the village. According to local lore, he rather poetically said, “If I have the honor conferred upon me to name your village, with the brightness of the morn, and the beaming of the sun on the hills and dales surrounding this beautiful valley, it would give me great pleasure to name your new town after my birthplace, Dublin, Ireland."
Dublin, Ohio hosts a big Irish fest every year and boasts many local landmarks that pay homage to its Irish namesake that include an Abbey Theater and the Brazenhead Pub along with street names that include Inishfree Lane and Phoenix Park Drive where you will find green painted fire hydrants. Local school mascots include shamrocks, Irish, and Celtics.

Dublin, California’s Irish roots date back to 1850, when two Irishmen, Jeremiah Fallon and Michael Murray, purchased 1,000 acres of land in the Amador-Livermore Valley from Jose Maria Amador.
Dublin, California hosts an annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration that includes a parade, and a two-day festival along with a 5K Fun Run and Walk. Additional Irish links include Emerald Glen Park and the 1856 Murray Schoolhouse.

Dublin, Georgia was founded in 1812 and it’s believed that one of the founders, a man by the last name of Sawyer, decided to name Dublin after the capital city of his homeland. Today, the city celebrates its Irish roots with a month full of St. Patrick’s Day revelry and entertainment. Irish author, James Joyce, honnored Dublin, Georgia, in his 1939 book, Finnegans Wake.

Dublin, Virginia, according to local legend, the town was named after New Dublin Presbyterian Church, which was in turn named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, New Hampshire, was settled in the 1760’s when Irishman Henry Strongman moved from Peterborough along with other early settlers arriving from Sherborn, Massachusetts. In 1771, Governor John Wentworth incorporated the town, naming it after Strongman's birthplace, Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin Pennsylvania is a borough in Bucks County. Early settlers were predominately Irish. The earliest written record shows that the area was named Dublin in a letter dated April 21, 1798.

Dublin, Kentucky is an unincorporated community in the Bluegrass State’s Graves County. It was named after Dublin, Ireland.

Dublin, Texas was founded in 1854 in the Lonestar State’s central Erath County. According to the Texas State Historical association, the name may have evolved to Dublin from the warning cry at Indian raids, “Double In.” During the week of St. Patrick's Day, the community welcomes visitors with a parade, ambassador pageant, and other events.

Dublin, Michigan, according to local understanding, the town’s name has little if anything to do with Ireland. Rather, according to a 2007 article in the Record Eagle Newspaper, “The name comes from the Pere Marquette Railroad that used to run through town. Trains from the north had to slow to cross a trestle 100 feet above the Manistee River and could not get up enough steam to climb the long, gradual grade from Wellston to Dublin. Engineers would leave half of their cars in Wellston and take the trains up the hill in two trips.” In other words, they would double back, and from that “doubling,” the name “Dublin” evolved.

>Ireland observes Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of the Lenten season, which is three weeks before Easter Sunday.

>The history of celebrating Mother's Day in Ireland can be traced to medieval times where children from poor families were sent to work as domestic servants and apprentices in the homes of rich families. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, the children were given the day off to visit their respective hometown “Mother Church” and worship the Virgin Mary at special masses which were held in honor of Mary, the Mother of Christ. Naturally, the children visited their mothers and presented them with flowers they picked along the way.

>There are about 8 million sheep in Ireland and only 4.5 million humans.

>Ireland shares the same northerly latitude as the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, where the weather is severe and snowy; however, Ireland enjoys relatively mild winters. This is because of the ocean current, which takes warm waters from the Atlantic Ocean to the Irish coast.

>Ireland is the Emerald Isle, but emeralds, just like snakes, are not found in Ireland.

>Ireland is often described to as the Emerald Isle due to the green vegetation that is found throughout the island. Most of the Irish countryside features farms, green lawns, and beautiful fields. The countryside in almost every county is dominated by some of the greenest hills anywhere in the world.

>Irish physician and writer, William Drennan, May 23, 1754 – February 5, 1820, is credited with first referring to Ireland as an emerald in his 1795 poem, When Erin First Rose.

>When Erin First Rose
When Erin first rose from the dark swelling flood,
God bless’d the green island and saw it was good;
The em’rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
In the ring of the world the most precious stone.
In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,
With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,
Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,
And strikes her high harp ‘mid the ocean’s deep roar.

>Book of Kells Facts and Trivia

>The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript containing the four New Testament gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It was written and illustrated between the late 8th or early 9th centuries by Columban monks (devotees of Saint Columban, born c. 543 AD, Leinster, Ireland). It is not definitively known where The Book of Kells was produced; however, scholars believe that it was started at the Abbey of Iona (west coast of Scotland) and perhaps finished at the Abbey of Kells (County Meath, Ireland). Both Abbeys had a close association.

>The Book of Kells was an elaborate production requiring massive amounts of time to copy the text and create the illustrations onto the vellum (fine calfskin). Pigments included lapis lazuli, a blue color that was found only in the Middle East, and genuine gold.

>The book remained at the Abbey of Kells until it was closed during the 12th century. It was then moved to the newly formed parish church where it remained until 1654, when Oliver Cromwell’s English cavalry was garrisoned at Kells. Cromwell’s troops were violently anti-Catholic and known for their brutality, so to safeguard the book, it was moved to Dublin. The Book of Kells was given to Trinity College, Dublin, in 1661, and went on public display there in the 19th century. Today, The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing in over one million visitors a year. In 2006, the manuscript was completely digitized and is available online.

>Ireland, 32,595 square miles, is the world’s 20th largest island. Greenland, 822,700 square miles, is the largest island in the world.

>Achill Island, 57 square miles, is Ireland’s largest island, located off the west coast of Ireland in County Mayo.

>The Guardians of the Peace (An Garda Síochána), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí or the Guards, is the national police service of Ireland. Ireland does not have any local or regional police departments. An Garda Síochána was formed in 1922. Preceding agencies included Royal Irish Constabulary, Irish Republican Police, and Dublin Metropolitan Police, which merged with An Garda Síochána in 1925.

>Dublin born Violet Gibson attempted to assassinate Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini, shooting at him twice, at point blank range, as he walked through a square, Piazza del Campidoglio, in Rome, April 7, 1926. The first shot hit Mussolini on the bridge of his nose, just as he turned his face. The revolver jammed with the second shot. Gibson was almost killed by the crowd, then deported to England, where doctors declared her insane. Her family agreed to place her in a mental asylum in Northampton where she remained until her death at age 79 in 1956. It is reported that Gibson’s passionate political and religious beliefs drove her to attempt to murder the Italian dictator.

>The 1912 song “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” synonymous with Ireland and all things Irish, was written by two Americans, George Graff and Chauncey Olcott. There is no indication showing that either man ever even visited Ireland.

>The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia in Galway, meaning, "Pig-marsh between two sea inlets." Other long names include Illaungraffanavrankagh in Clare, Glassillaunvealnacurra in Galway, Ballywinterrourkewood in Limerick, and Corragunnagalliaghdoo Island in Mayo.

>The Brazen Head on Merchant’s Quay is the oldest pub in Dublin. It’s reported that it started its life as a tavern back in 1198 and was later developed into a coaching inn in 1754.

>Dating back to 900 AD, Sean’s Bar in Athlone town, Co. Westmeath, is the oldest pub in Ireland. It’s widely believed that it’s the oldest pub in the world.

>Per-capita, Ireland consumes 81 liters of beer per year, eleventh highest worldwide. The Czech Republic is number one at 181 liters, per-capita (2020 statistics). Beer in the Czech Republic typically costs less than bottled water.>Uisce beatha, pronounced ish-keh byah-ha, is Irish for whiskey. Literally means, water of life.

>Limericks originated in the Irish town of Limerick and variants can be traced to the fourteenth century. Limericks consist of five anapestic lines, the pattern of the rhyme is a - a - b - b – a.Lines 1, 2, and 5 of Limericks have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 of Limericks have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other.

Typically the content of Limericks can often border on the indecent, the dirty, or even the obscene, but they make people laugh! Limericks are easy to remember and are short so no great talent is necessary to compose one. Limericks are a form of poetry that everyone feels happy to try, especially when inebriated.

>Irish, or Gaeilge, is the official language of Ireland. Irish is one of the three modern Goidelic languages; the other two are Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) and Manx (Gaelg).

>Irish has only eighteen letters in its alphabet, no J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, or Z. "Ch" is pronounced as in "Loch Ness" not as in "Chalk."

>Guinness trademarked its famous harp logo way back in 1862. The harp is also a symbol of Ireland. When Ireland became a Free State from the United Kingdom in 1922, the new Irish government had to come up with a different symbol so as not to infringe trademark laws. That’s why Ireland’s harp points in the opposite direction of Guinness’ harp. ‘Tis true, ‘tis true.

>Bagpipes have been played for centuries all across Europe, in parts of Asia and North Africa, and in the Persian Gulf. However, the most famous versions of the instrument today are the Scottish Great Highland bagpipe and the Irish uilleann pipes. The bag in the Scottish version is inflated by blowing into it, whereas the Irish version uses a bellows under the arm.

>The hugely successful Irish music and dance show “Riverdance” originated in 1994. In its first manifestation, the show was a relatively short entertainment created for the interval in the annual Eurovision Song Contest. A few months later, it was expanded into a full show that premiered in Dublin in early 1995. Since then, the show has traveled all over the world and has been seen by over 25 million people.

>Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. Cork has been a major port for many years, and was the last port of call for many, many Irish emigrants to America. When these Irish people reached the US it was common for them to give their point of origin as “Cork,” whereas they may have come from almost anywhere in Ireland. It’s because of this that many descendants of Irish immigrants who had been told they were from a Cork family often find out they were under a misapprehension as their ancestors just sailed from Cork.

>The White House was designed by an Irishman. James Hoban from County Kilkenny emigrated to the US in his twenties and won the design competition for the White House in 1792.

>The town of Shannon in the west of Ireland is named for the nearby River Shannon. The town is home to Shannon Airport, which used to be the most convenient stopping point for flights between North America and Europe. Shannon Airport is home to the longest runway in Ireland and was designated by NASA as an authorized emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle.

>Shannon Airport in the West of Ireland was the first place in the world to offer duty-free shopping. Shannon was also where the Irish Coffee originated, despite many claims to the contrary

>Irish Coffee, the creative coffee cocktail, was first served by Joe Sheridan to some American tourists one dismal winter night in 1942 after they had landed at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare, Ireland. To help cut the chill, Sheridan added Irish whiskey, sugar and cream to the passengers' coffee and Irish coffee was born.

This after dinner drink is prepared by warming, but not boiling, 2 2/3 ounces of black coffee, 1 1/3 ounce Irish whiskey and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar that is stirred until it is dissolved; note that the sugar is essential for the next ingredient, the cream, to float. Pour the mixture into an Irish coffee glass and carefully pour thick cream over the back of a spoon. The layer of cream will float on top of the coffee and you will build the layer of cream above the rim of the Irish coffee glass. Do not stir the cream into the beverage as you will sip the cocktail through the cream.

>Hurling is the national sport of Ireland. It’s played with a stick called a hurley and a ball called a “sliotar.” It’s thought to be the fastest team sport in the world, and certainly has to be the oldest as it predates Christianity and was brought to Ireland by the Celts.

>There has been a lion in the logo of the MGM studio since 1924. The original was an Irishman (!), a lion named Slats who was born in Dublin Zoo in 1919. However, it wasn't until Jackie took over from Slats in 1928 that the roar was heard, as the era of silent movies was coming to an end. The current lion is called Leo, and he has been around since 1957.

>The phrase “beyond the pale” describes something that is offensive, outside the bounds of what is acceptable. The expression has its roots in the palings that defined boundaries in the Middle Ages. Those palings (fences) were made from “pales,” from the Latin “palus” meaning “stake.” The noun “pale” came to describe that area within the palings. The most famous “Pale” was that part of Ireland controlled for centuries directly by the English government, which was land surrounding Dublin that was bounded by ditches and fences. People living outside the Pale did not share the beliefs and customs of those within the boundaries, which gave rise to our usage of the phrase “beyond the pale.”

>A donnybrook is a free-for-all, a melee. It is named for a famous historic fair in Donnybrook, a district in Dublin, Ireland. Donnybrook Fair had the reputation as a place where there was lots of drinking and fighting.

>Ireland is divided into four provinces: Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. “Ulster” is sometimes used as a synonym for “Northern Ireland” but in fact Ulster comprises the six counties of Northern Ireland and three more, namely Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, which are within the Republic of Ireland.