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Traditions, folklore, history and more. If it's Irish, it's here. Or will be!
"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors."
-Edmund Burke
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Just want entertaining facts about Ireland?
Then click here for Did You Know?
Welcome to our monthly trivia contest which is designed to test your knowledge of Irish history, legends, superstitions, arts, politics and more. The rules are very simple:
1. Contest is open only to subscribers of the Irish Culture and Customs newsletter. If you're not yet a subscriber, it's really easy to sign up - just click here for our free weekly update: Free Newsletter
2. At the beginning of the month, a list of ten questions will be posted on the contest page. Thanks to a great suggestion from our friend Audrey in California, all answers can be found on this site.
3. Only one entry per subscriber. For identification purposes, please use your subscription email address when you send us your entry.
4. Please send entries to Russ & Bridget
It would be very helpful if you put Contest or Trivia entry in the subject line.
5. Contest closes at midnight EST on the last day of the month.
6. We will contact the winner three times within a week of the drawing. if the winner does not claim their prize within 30 days of being notified, the prize is forfeited.
7. Winners are responsible for any taxes; also any duty which may be levied when shipping to a country other than the USA.
8. A drawing will be held from all correct entries received and winner will be notified by email. If the winner consents, we'll also announce who won in the newsletter and in the 'Winner's Circle' on this page. The winner may choose one prize from the following:
 A)
Celtic Warrior Pendant
This Shield of protection is a unique design based on the numbers 3 and 4, which enable magical powers to come into play that help provide circles of protection and other important esoteric forces to enhance well being. For more details, please click Celtic Warrior Pendant.
B) And not to be outdone, for those of you who yearn to learn how to play the Feadóg (penny whistle) Lollysmith is offering their best-selling “Triple Pack” - a brass whistle from Dublin which comes with an instruction book and CD. For more details, please click Lollysmith.
C) Dublin Watercolourist Roger Cummiskey is also a sponsor. About the print, he says: "I wrote this poem to honour James Joyce and decided to turn it into a painting but as the poem is about two pages long I just used some of it. When Joyce was writing Finnegans Wake over 15 years he always referred to it as Work-in-Progress when asked what the title would eventually be. I use the modern day equivalent as the present title until such time as I get around to finishing the poem. I began writing it in 1998 and have had three Construction updates since. Maybe you would like to give it a title?"
http://www.RogerCummiskey.com/
September Quiz
1. Who wrote the epic poem Autumn Journal?
a) Louis McNeice
b) W. b. Yeats
c) Patrick Kavanagh
2. According to old Irish folklore, what fruit is it unwise to eat after the Feast of St. Michael?
A. green apples
b) blackberries
c) blueberries
3. What is the Irish word for Oyster?
a) oisre
b) oscail
c) iasc
4. Where does the annual match-making festival take place?
a) Ballinasloe
b) Ilnacullen
c) Lisdoonvarna
5. Which group changed the background color of the Harp flag from blue to green?
a) The United Irishmen
b) Sinn Fein
c) The Fenians
6. According to legend, what Irish waterfall once ran with whiskey?
a) Sullivan's Cascade
b) Glencar Waterfall
c) Torc Waterfall
7. The name of this megalithic icon literally means "Hole of the Sorrows." It's better known as what?
a) Derrynablaha
b) Poulnabronne
c) Knockcurraghbola
8. Who was known as the Uncrowned King of Ireland?
a) Eamon DeValera
b) Charles Stewart Parnell
c) Charles Haughey
9.Catherine McCarty was the mother of what famous outlaw?
a) Machine Gun Kelly
b) Jesse James
c) Billy the Kid
10. In what year did Éire officially become known as the Republic of Ireland?
a) 1916
b) 1923
c) 1949
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Answers to July/August Quiz
1. What is featured on the old Irish 20-pence coin?
a) A Corncrake
b) A donkey
- c) A horse
2. In the last official bare knuckle title fight ever held, heavyweight boxer, John L. Sullivan beat which opponent?
- a) Jack Kilrain
b) Gene Tunney
c) Jim Corbett
3. Why did a group of harpists gather in Belfast on July 11 in 1792?
a) To play a concert for George III
- b) To collect the remaining fragments of the tradition
c) To compete for the O'Carolan medal
4. Who was the founder of Boy's Town?
- a) Fr. Edward Flanagan
b) Fr. Patrick Peyton
c) Fr. John Murphy
5. In what year did the original Abbey Theatre burn down?
a) 1961
b) 1941
- c) 1951
6. Name the lyricist who wrote Red Sails in the Sunset
- a) Jimmy Kennedy
b) James Royce Shannon
c) Leo Maguire
7. Who said "The trouble with her is that she lacks the power of conversation but not the power of speech?"
- a) George Bernard Shaw
b) Oscar Wilde
c) W. B. Yeats
8. Who was the first Irishman to win the Tour de France?
a) Sean Kelly
- b) Stephen Roche
c) Shay O'Hanlon
9. According to legend, what will happen to anyone who who swims in Calliagh Berras Lough in Co. Armagh?
a) Their feet will become webbed
b) Their hair will fall out
- c) Their hair will turn grey overnight
10. Who wrote the epic poem The Midnight Court?
a) Patrick Kavanaigh
b) Oliver Goldsmith
- c) Brian Merriman
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Winner's Circle
2010
July/August: Stephanie Espinoza, USA
June: Hannah Beck, USA
May: Bob Dennis, Northern Ireland
April: Peter Grotsky, USA
March: Shirley Younger, USA
February: Tara O'Hearn-St.Amand, Canada
January: Thomas McGuire, USA
2009
December: Carol Bartley Brown, Canada
November: Anonymous, USA
October: Ruth Craig, Canada
September: Anonymous
August: Michele Baron, USA
June/July: Miriam Driscoll, Canada
May: Susan McCarthy, USA
April: anonymous
March: Sheila Cohen, USA
February: Anonymous
January: Michelle Ortz, USA
2008
December: Cathy Knapp, USA
November: Sharron Newman, USA
October: Edith Cason, USA
September: Hannah Beck, USA
August: Mike Lorello, USA
July: David Marshall, USA
June: Michelle Ortz, USA
May: Kathy Fiddler, USA
April: Fernando Frias, USA
March: Kate Davis, USA
February: Maria Eryatmaz, USA
January: Sarah Gannon, USA
2007
December: Christine Seaholtz, USA
November: Edith Cason, USA
October: anonymous, USA
September: Tim Younger, USA
August: Pat Battles, Canada
July: Amanda Ryan, USA
June: no contest - no winner
May: Susan McCarthy, USA
April: Fred Pellerito, USA
March: Unclaimed - was it you?
February: Gael Hill, USA
January: Judi Jemison, USA
2006
December: Sharron Elaine Newman, USA
November: Lou Harris, USA
October: Kimberly Cook, USA
September: Chris Wilbik, USA
August: Dorothy Spackman, USA
July: Gael Hill, USA
June: Sheila Cohen, USA
May: Jackie Young, USA
April: Edith Bower, USA
March: Mindy Grazulis, USA
February: Hannah Beck, USA
January: Catherine White, USA
2005
December: Kathy Chopak, USA
November: Jack Mishler, USA
October: Josephine M. Battye, Ireland
September: Larry Purcell, USA
August: Barbara Levengston, UK
July: Anonymous
June: Susan O'Connor, USA
May: Shirley Younger, USA
April: Hannah, USA
March: A subscriber in Europe
February: Gina, USA
January: Paula, USA
2004
December: Don, USA
November: Diane Dubay, USA
October: Kristen Kenny, USA
June: Cheryl, USA
May: A Subscriber in Canada
April: Sandra Rooke, Canada
March: Michelle Ortz, USA
February: Mary Hutchinson, Canada
January: Maureen Anderson, Canada
2003
December: Jenny Rundle, Australia
November: Sharon Boyle, Canada - wins again!
October: Alda Tuk, Canada
September: Sharon Boyle, Canada
August: Rocky Brooks, Canada
July: Ellen Parodi, USA
June: Eniko Gaspar, Canada
May: Judy Skapik, USA
April: Pat Battles, Canada
March: Helen Dowd, Canada
February: Diane Dubay, USA
January: Bill Smith, USA
2002
December: Linda Barbour, Canada
November: Dallas Franklin, USA
October: Cecilia Bembibre, Argentina
August-September: Ms. R. Tagert, USA
July: Chris Lopez, USA
June: A subscriber in Europe
May: A subscriber in the USA
April: Patricia Edwards, UK
March: Jane I., USA
February: Judith Flynn, USA
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Wed, Sep 1, 2010
Hurling
This game, which is often described as "the clash of the ash" is the oldest team sport in Ireland. It's played by two teams of 15 players to a side. The girl's version of the game is called Camogie and there are 12 players to a side. One player acts as a goalkeeper while the others try to hit a small leather ball called a sliotar past the goalkeeper. The stick they use is made from the wood of the ash tree. It's shaped a bit like a hockey stick and is called a hurley or camán.
Even in ancient times, there were very strict rules about how the game should be played. Throwing the ball is not allowed; it must be lifted off the ground with the hurley or foot; and to strike an opponent was punished with severe penalties. In today's game, the player is sent off the field.
To buy this Poster click Hurling.
Click for More Culture Corner.
Written by a one-time quiz show consultant and lifelong collector of Irish trivia, this book offers questions on sport, history, politics, literature, and all kinds of Irish miscellany. Organized by subject matter with 134 sections in groups of 15 questions, it's ideal for trivia buffs and Irish aficionados. The diverse questions offer something for everyone from "Why is Bloomsday so called?" and "What was a 'Galway Hooker'?" to "Who was termed the 'Babe Ruth' of Gaelic football?"
Click here for Quiz Book.
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Don't be misled by the title - this isn't a book about Irish American pubs. It's a trivia book about Irish Americans and, in our humble opinion, it would be a fun little volume to have with you the next time you're bending your elbow with the lads.
Click for Pub Quiz Book.
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