Question 1 of 20Irish History
Ireland quiz
How well do you know the Emerald Isle? These 20 questions come from across the book, from ancient passage tombs and Irish slang to inventors, crisps and classic sitcoms. Pour a cup of tea, gather the family and see who knows Ireland best.
20 questions from The Great Irish Quiz Book by Megan Moran, coming soon.
Question 2 of 20Irish History
From which earlier Irish name, meaning ‘black pool’, does the modern city of Dublin take its name?
Question 3 of 20Irish Presidents & Politics
Éamon de Valera served as President of Ireland from 1959 to 1973. How old was he when he left office?
Question 4 of 20Irish Geography
Which Irish county is “doubly landlocked”, sharing a border with no county that touches the sea?
Question 5 of 20Irish Geography
Which county contains Torr Head, the closest point on the island of Ireland to Great Britain, just 19km (12 miles) from Scotland?
Question 6 of 20Sports & Athletes
The GAA was founded in 1884 in which town?
Question 7 of 20Irish Music
The uilleann pipes are a traditional Irish instrument unique to Ireland. How are they powered?
Question 8 of 20Irish Music
Van Morrison, the musician behind albums such as Astral Weeks and Moondance, was born with which real name?
Question 9 of 20Food & Drink
Irish coffee was invented in which decade and at which location?
Question 10 of 20Food & Drink
Casks of a dairy foodstuff, buried for preservation and sometimes thousands of years old, are regularly recovered from Irish peat bogs. What name do archaeologists give to this substance?
Question 11 of 20TV Shows & Film
Father Ted was set on which fictional island?
Question 12 of 20Irish Literature & Books
James Joyce’s Ulysses is set entirely within which single day?
Question 13 of 20Famous Irish People
Which Irish-born architect won the 1792 competition to design the President’s House in Washington, the building now known as the White House?
Question 14 of 20Irish Language & Slang
In an Irish home, what is a ‘hot press’?
Question 15 of 20Irish Language & Slang
What does ‘Baile Átha Cliath’, the Irish name for Dublin, literally mean?
Question 16 of 20Holidays & Traditions
Which Irish town hosts the world-famous Puck Fair, where a wild goat is crowned king each August?
Question 17 of 20Holidays & Traditions
What is ‘Nollaig na mBan’ (Women’s Christmas) and when is it celebrated?
Question 18 of 20Science & Inventions
William Rowan Hamilton carved the formula for quaternions onto which Dublin bridge in 1843?
Question 19 of 20Business & Famous Brands
Tayto crisps were launched in Dublin in 1954. What innovation is the Tayto founder, Joe ‘Spud’ Murphy, credited with bringing to the crisp industry?
Question 20 of 20Business & Famous Brands
Which biscuit was first made in Dublin in 1885 by the firm W&R Jacob?
Answer all 20 to see your score.
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- Which passage tomb in County Meath, built around 3200 BC, is famous for the shaft of sunlight that illuminates its inner chamber at the winter solstice? Newgrange
- From which earlier Irish name, meaning ‘black pool’, does the modern city of Dublin take its name? Dubh Linn
- Éamon de Valera served as President of Ireland from 1959 to 1973. How old was he when he left office? 90
- Which Irish county is “doubly landlocked”, sharing a border with no county that touches the sea? Laois
- Which county contains Torr Head, the closest point on the island of Ireland to Great Britain, just 19km (12 miles) from Scotland? County Antrim
- The GAA was founded in 1884 in which town? Thurles
- The uilleann pipes are a traditional Irish instrument unique to Ireland. How are they powered? By a bellows operated by the elbow
- Van Morrison, the musician behind albums such as Astral Weeks and Moondance, was born with which real name? George Ivan Morrison
- Irish coffee was invented in which decade and at which location? The 1940s at Foynes Flying Boat Terminal, County Limerick
- Casks of a dairy foodstuff, buried for preservation and sometimes thousands of years old, are regularly recovered from Irish peat bogs. What name do archaeologists give to this substance? Bog butter
- Father Ted was set on which fictional island? Craggy Island
- James Joyce’s Ulysses is set entirely within which single day? 16 June 1904
- Which Irish-born architect won the 1792 competition to design the President’s House in Washington, the building now known as the White House? James Hoban
- In an Irish home, what is a ‘hot press’? The cupboard housing the hot-water cylinder, where linen is aired
- What does ‘Baile Átha Cliath’, the Irish name for Dublin, literally mean? The town of the hurdled ford
- Which Irish town hosts the world-famous Puck Fair, where a wild goat is crowned king each August? Killorglin
- What is ‘Nollaig na mBan’ (Women’s Christmas) and when is it celebrated? A day when women traditionally rest and socialise, celebrated on January 6th
- William Rowan Hamilton carved the formula for quaternions onto which Dublin bridge in 1843? Broom Bridge (Brougham Bridge)
- Tayto crisps were launched in Dublin in 1954. What innovation is the Tayto founder, Joe ‘Spud’ Murphy, credited with bringing to the crisp industry? Flavoured crisps, credited as a world first
- Which biscuit was first made in Dublin in 1885 by the firm W&R Jacob? The cream cracker