No Blarney. See if you can answer these questions about St. Patrick's Day and Ireland (and win a couple of bar bets, too).
True or False, St. Patrick was Irish.
True or False, St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.
True or False, St. Patrick was born on March 17.
True or False, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity to the pagan Irish.
True or False, Up until the 1970s, Irish laws required that pubs be closed on St. Patrick's Day.
Where was the first St. Patrick's Day Parade held in America?
a) Boston b) New York c) Philadelphia
Which American City is famous for dyeing its river green?
a) Chicago b) Boston c) Minneapolis
Which of these instruments is not traditionally associated with Irish music?
a) Tin whistle b) Fiddle c) Bag Pipes
What does Erin Go Bragh mean?
a) I Love Ireland b) Kiss me, I'm Irish c) Ireland Forever
What will happen if you kiss the Blarney Stone?
a) You'll get married soon b) You'll get the gift of gab c) You'll meet a leprechaun
Answers
False. He was born in Dumbarton, Scotland in around A.D. 387. At 16 he was captured by raiders and sold into slavery in Ireland.
False. There were never any snakes in Ireland. This legend may allude to Patrick driving the pagan Druids out of power.
False. March 17 commemorates Patrick's death in 461.
False. This has never been proven and is probably a legend since mention of the story didn't appear until almost 1,000 years after Patrick's death.
True. The law was changed to capitalize on tourism.
The answer is B. In 1762. Irish soldiers serving in English military marched through New York City. The parade helped them reconnect with their Irish roots.
The answer is A. This Chicago tradition began in 1962.
The answer is C. Bag pipes are a Scots instrument.
The answer is C. Ireland Forever was a rallying cry for the Irish independence movement.
The answer is B. Supposedly, if you kiss the stone at Blarney Castle near Cork, you'll receive the Irish gift of gab.
