I couldn’t decide what to do for this month’s quiz, so I started looking at a few things associated with the Emerald Isle. Some of my favorite writers and actors are Irish. My son James’ favorite beer is Irish, and who doesn’t love potatoes and a little Irish folklore about fairies and leprechauns? How much do you know about the birthplace of Michael Collins, Richard Harris and Anne Sullivan, teacher and mentor to Helen Keller? Take our quiz and find out.
1. How many actors who have played James Bond were born in Ireland? Name the actor/actors
A. 3 actors – George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan
B. 2 actors – Timothy Dalton and Roger Moore
C. 1 actor – Daniel Craig
D. 1 actor – Pierce Brosnan
2. This Irish born writer is the only person to have been awarded both a Nobel Prize (Literature) and an Academy Award.
A. James Joyce
B. George Bernard Shaw
C. Oscar Wilde
D. Maeve Binchy
3. Name the longest river in Ireland and the legendary monster said to live in it.
A. The River Shannon – home to Cata
B. The Munster Blackwater – home to Betsy
C. The River Barrow – home to Suir
D. The River Nore – home to Ellie
4. This traditional Irish potato pancake also known as a Poundy is made with potatoes, flour, baking soda, buttermilk and sometimes eggs.
A. Brack
B. Boxty
C. Coddle
D. Champ
5. Crubeens is the name for:
A. A variety of Cattails that grow near rivers in Ireland.
B. A variety of potato grown in Ireland
C. A popular beer in Ireland
D. Boiled pig’s feet that are typically battered and fried
6. This Irish author penned one of the best known Gothic horror novels of all time.
A. Mary Shelley – Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus
B. Stephen Graham Jones – Mongrels
C. Bram Stoker – Dracula
D. Clive Barker – Cabal
7. According to 2017 statistics for beer consumption per capita, where does Ireland rank? Who is #1?
A. 4th place – Germany #1
B. 1st place of course
C. 7th place – Czech Republic is #1
D. 2nd place to the United States at #1
8. The life of this famous Irish writer is celebrated in Dublin and elsewhere every June 16th as Bloomsday.
A. William Butler Yeats
B. Oscar Wilde
C. C.S. Lewis
D. James Joyce
9. This famous Irish chemist and physicist is known as one of the founders of modern chemistry and one of the pioneers of modern experimental scientific method.
A. Robert Boyle
B. John Dalton
C. Thomas Graham
D. William Ramsay
10. The oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland is located at the tip of Northern Ireland. It dates back to 1608 (officially registered in 1784).
A. Kilbeggan Distillery
B. Old Bushmills Distillery
C. Old Jameson Distillery
D. Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery
11. Many cooks jokingly call Guinness Stout its own food group because it can be used in recipes for:
A. Stews
B. Breads
C. Cakes and cookies
D. All of the above
12. Ireland has won more medals in this Olympic sport than any other sport.
A. Boxing
B. Fencing
C. Soccer
D. Track and Field
13. The most common hair-eye color combination in Ireland is:
A. Blond Hair and green eyes
B. Dark hair and brown eyes
C. Dark Hair and blue eyes
D. Red hair and green eyes
14. According to Irish folklore, a far darrig is:
A. An Irish elf or fairy that appears as an old man in a perpetual drunken state and loves to play practical jokes.
B. A hungry emaciated man who appears during famines. He begs for food and rewards people who help him with good fortune.
C. A wailing woman who appears to family members to foretell the death of a family member.
D. A small creature in a red hat and coat associated with nightmares that steals babies and leaves changelings in their place.
15. This last question will use all four answers. Identify each of these traditional Irish foods by matching them to the descriptions below – Drisheen, Champ, Colcannon, Irish Tea Brack
A. Mashed Potatoes with kale or cabbage and creamy butter
B. Yeasted bread with sultanas (dried white seedless grapes) and raisins.
C. Hand or fork mashed potatoes with milk, butter, scallions, salt, pepper and parsley
D. Blood pudding with a gelatinous consistency
