The BIG BOOK of FUN FACTS of Ireland

Chiarraí

Kerry Bhaile Átha Cliath km

31 km

28 km

142 km

210

Cill Chainnigh

km

126 km

dublin

21

Tiobraid Árann

km

Mhaigh Eo

km

Kilkenny Chabháin

CAVAN

Tipperary 165

Dún na nGall

Donegal GAILLIMHE

GALWAY

MAYO

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county

facts CARLOW Population 24,272 people in Carlow Town.

Approximately 56,875 people in County Carlow.

size 2nd smallest county in Ireland.

A carlow COUNTY Song

Carlow Castle A doctor named Dr Phillip Parry Middleton attempted to convert Carlow Castle into a hospital in 1814. He tried to make more room by removing some of the interior walls using dynamite. He made a slight miscalculation and ended up blowing most of the castle to pieces. All that remained were the two towers and a bit of the original wall.

written by Patrick Joseph McCall in 1899

The Brownshill Dolmen Brownshill is around 5,000 years old. It is Ireland’s largest example of a portal tomb ... as old as the pyramids.

Leighlinbridge The oldest working bridge in Europe is in Leighlinbridge, built in 1320 by Maurice Jakis the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin beside the Black Castle, which is one of the earliest Norman castles in Ireland.

St Patrick’s College The Battle of Carlow 1798 Carlow rebels rose in support of the 1798 rebellion which had begun the day before in County Kildare.

Colonel Mahon of the Ninth Dragoons prepared a deadly ambush. The survivors tried to escape by breaking through adjoining houses which were set alight by the pursuing soldiers, causing the deaths of 200 of the inhabitants.

did you know?

St Patrick’s is the oldest Catholic college in Ireland, founded in 1782 by Dr. James Keefe, Bishop of Kildare.

The Poor Clares Franciscan nuns have been living in Graiguecullen, Carlow for over 100 years.

St. Mullins When the ferry across the River Barrow stopped in the late 1960s, ot had been running for about 1300 years continously.

’ was written by ow rl Ca to Up e M w lo ol The song ‘F The tune is believed .

9 9 18 in l al cC M ph se Patrick Jo the pipers of Fiach by ed m or rf pe en be ve to ha feated 3,000 English de ho w , ne yr 'B O h ug McH Glenmalure in 1580. soldiers at the Battle of Barrow F E R RY

John Tyndall Tyndall was a 19th century scientist who explained why the sky is blue - it’s the scattering of light by tiny molecules of air in the atmosphere, known as the ‘Tyndall Effect’,

famous carlow

people Finn Lynch Finn represented Ireland in sailing at Rio 2016.

Mary O'Toole Hacketstown-born Mary became one of the first female municipal judges in the United States in 1921

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Sean's son Jack Drea rowed for Oxford Brookes University.

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LOW

Paddy the Pointer

Sean Drea Sean represented Ireland in single sculls rowing at the 1972 Games in Munich and the 1976 Games in Montreal.

A local man ‘Paddy the Pointer’ is reported to have helped to identify escaped rebels of the Battle of Carlow in 1798 to the British, by riding around the town and pointing them out.

Myles Keogh Saoirse Ronan Saoirse was born in New York City and raised in County Carlow, where she attended Ardattin National School. She has won a Golden Globe, and has three Oscar nominations.

m yles ke ogh

American Civil War officer and later Captain of Company I, U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment, Keogh was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. He was born in Orchard, Leighlinbridge in 1840.

Gulliver

Neven McGuire TV chef Neven runs the MacNean House and Restaurant in Blacklion.

Copper King of Montana Marcus Daly emigrated from Cavan as a boy. He sold newspapers in New York, then joined the Gold Rush to California, where he worked in gold mines. He made his fortune after buying a copper mine.

Johnathan Swift wrote part of Gulliver’s Travels while staying in Mullagh. It’s said that he based the giant on local man ‘Big Doughty’. Folklore has it he impressed Swift one day by carrying a young horse over a fence.

famous cavan

people Catherina McKiernan

Catherina won four successive silver medals at the World Cross Country Championships. In 1994, she picked up gold in the European Cross Country Championships. She was the first Irish person to win the Anne London Marathon.

Mary Sadlier

Born in Mullagh in 1740, Mary Anne collected old Irish poems, and published them with their English translations. The book was very influential and helped save the Irish language.

Percy French Songwriter and entertainer Percy was born in Roscommon in 1854. He wrote some of his best work while working as an inspector of drains for Cavan Council.

5

county county

facts facts CAVAN Population Population 10,914 10,914people peopleininCavan CavanTown.

Town.

Approximately Approximately76,176 76,176 people peopleinin County CountyCavan.

Cavan.

OO’R’Reieillylly PPadad

living living the the Life Life of of Reilly Reilly Living Livingthe theLife Lifeof ofReilly Reilly This Thisphrase phraseisissaid saidtotohave haveoriginated originatedwith withthe the O’Reilly O’Reillyclans clansof ofCavan, Cavan,whose whoseenormous enormous wealth wealthenabled enabledthem themtotolive liveaalife lifeof ofluxury. luxury.

size size 19thlargest largestcounty. county.

19th

cavancounty county Song Song aacavan

Cloughoughter Castle Castle Cloughoughter Thecastle castlewas wasaastronghold strongholdof ofthe theO’Reilly O’Reilly The clanfor forhundreds hundredsof ofyears, years,before beforefalling fallingto to clan Cromwell’stroops. troops.InIn1987, 1987,excavations excavations Cromwell’s unearthedfour fourhuman humanskeletons skeletonsfrom fromthe the unearthed ruins. ruins.

Writtenbyby Written Percy Percy French French

Shannon Cave Cave Shannon

Thecave caveisis130 130metres metresdeep, deep,making makingititone one The thedeepest deepestininIreland.

Ireland. ofofthe

Shannon Pot Shannon Pot is a pool which is said to be the source of the River Shannon. According to legend, Sionnan (A goddess of beauty and love) ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge here.

She fell into the pot, and the water overflowed and formed the River Shannon. tuaisceart éireann km

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éireann

N.IRELAND

km

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A Giant’s Grave The wedge tomb near Blacklion is, according to legend, the grave of a giant. The giant tried to jump the nearby ‘Giant’s Leap’ to impress a lady. Sadly, he didn’t make it, and he is buried in this tomb - or so the story goes!

Castle Saunderson The original 14th century castle was home to the O’Reillys of Breffni, but the present castle and its grounds are used by Scouts. It has entrances both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland!

the badger and the bones Human remains dating back 4,500 years have been discovered by a local historian in Blacklion, after they were first unearthed by a badger.

did you know?

e 1840s brought The Great Famine of th of the county, or po e th to g in er ff su great from 243,158 ll fe n tio la pu po s n’ va Ca and 1851. in 1841 to 174,064 by

county

facts CLARE Population 25,276 people in Ennis.

118,817 people in County Clare.

size 7th largest county in Ireland.

A clare county Song

Bare Bones The caves of the Burren were once home to Irish brown bears. A bear’s knee bone with knife marks on it is the earliest evidence we have of human habitation in Ireland. It shows that people were here 12,500 years ago.

Salazar Slytherin’s Locket In the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore and Harry go to find the Horcrux in a sea cave. Part of this scene was filmed at the Cliffs of Moher.

Written by Ralph McTell

the name

Poulnabrone

There are towns called Ennis in Texas and Montana, and a County Clare in Michigan.

The most famous of the Burren’s Megalithic tombs is Poulnabrone. It is more than 5,000 years old – that’s older than the Great Pyramid of Giza!

earthquake Clare’s only earthquake since records began was recorded in the late 70s in North Clare on 6th May 2010. The magnitude 2.6 quake was felt in Kilfenora, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna and Lahinch.

The Brendan Voyage In 1976, adventurer Tim Severin and his crew recreated Saint Brendan’s epic voyage from Ireland to Newfoundland. His hand-built replica of Brendan’s currach can now be seen at the Craggaunowen open-air museum.

Muhammad Ali

largest

After visiting the birthplace of his great-grandfather in (you guessed it!) Clare, Muhammad Ali was made the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis.

A huge pike was caught near Killaloe in 1862. It was 90½lbs. If the story is true, it’s the largest of the species ever caught.

did you know?

’Connell Street O as n ow kn w no s, ni En Main street in l O’Connell, was ie an D ’ or at er ib ‘L e th in honour of was the location of It ’. et re St l ai ‘J d lle ca previously was built in 1591. ch hi w n, w to e th in il ja t the firs

john Philip Holland

famous clare

John Philip Holland was born in Liscannor in 1841.

Although he didn’t invent the submarine, his design innovations (such as using an electric motor instead of a petrol one) meant that his sub was the first to be used by the American and British navies.

Tom Steele Better known as ‘Honest Tom Steele’, he was born in Derrymore in 1788. He designed a more efficient type of diving bell.

people James Halpin James was born near Tulla in 1894. He became the official driver for the 27th President of America.

The Liberator

Michael Cusack

Daniel O’Connell became one of the first Catholics to be able to take his seat in the British Houses of Parliament, as MP for Clare. A monument commemorating his 1828 victory stands in O’Connell Square, Ennis.

Born in Carran in 1847, Michael Cusack was one of the founders of the GAA.

Pat McDonald

Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, who defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, was born near Killaloe.

Doonbeg-born Pat competed for the United States in the 1912 Summer Olympics in the shot put, where he won the gold medal.

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Brian Boru

ONBEG

also famous for colourful quotes like...

‘Get a bit of Shteak, the food is fantastic, like you can have steak for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and spuds if you like.’

famous cork

people

O’Donovan Brothers Rowers Gary and Paul O’Donovan from Skibbereen won silver at Rio 2016, and gold at this year’s World championships.

graham norton Comedian and TV chatshow host Graham grew up in Bandon. Three million people watch ‘The Graham Norton Show’ every week.

rory gallagher Legendary rock guitarist Rory grew up in Cork City.

He sold over 30 million albums during his career.

Sonia O'Sullivan Born in Cobh, Sonia won world and Olympic medals.

Considered to be Ireland’s greatest female athlete.

Michael Collins 748

Michael Collins was born in Clonakilty. He was an Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician, who was a leading figure in the early 20th Century Irish struggle for independence.

county

facts CORK Typical Cork Food Population 123,000people people ininCork 123,000 CorkCity.

City.

Approximately 447, people in Approximately 447,000 000 people Cork City and County Cork. in Cork City and County Cork.

size size Ireland’s largest county.

Ireland’s largest county.

a cork county a cork county Song Song

Drisheen type of black pudding made Drisheen(a(a type of black pudding from from and/orcow’s cows blood), blood), tripe made tripe (stomach lining of aofcow) and (stomach lining- -usually usually a cow) crubeen’s (pigs feet).

and crubeen’s (pigs feet).

Who founded founded Who Cork City?

City?

Cork St Finbarr is the founder and patron

Stsaint Finbarr is the patronthe saint of of Cork.

He followed River Cork.

He founded a monastery Lee from its beginning in Gougane in Barra to Cork where he founded the 7th Century, where St a monastery the 7th century St Finbarre’sin Cathedral now where stands.

Finbarre’s Cathedral now stands.

the oldest The Cork theRoyal oldest Cork has Yacht Clubtheisoldest the Yachtyacht Club inclub the oldest world, founded in in the world.

1720.

sanctuary In the waters early 1990s the Irish government The around Ireland were declared named the coastal waters of Ireland a whale and dolphin the first whale and dolphin sanctuary in sanctuary, the first of its kind in Europe.

Europe.

traditions traditions Kissing the Blarney Stone atStone the topat of Kissing the Blarney Blarney Castle will bestow the kisser the top of Blarney Castle will with great eloquence, according to givemyth! you Kissing the gift eloquence, local the of stone can only according localdown myth! be done by hangingtoupside from the battlements.

titanic InIn1912, Cobhthe (called Queenstown the 1912, Titanic called at into time) was the Titanic’s last port of call Cobh to pick up passengers before its ill-fated voyage to America. before voyage the Of the oneits hundred andacross twenty three Atlantic. days there, later only the passengersThree who boarded forty survived whenand the sank.

Titanic ship four hit an iceberg struck an iceberg and sank.

ford The first Fordford motor factory built outside the USA was motor in Cork. factory The city The first Ford became the largest tractor built outside the USA was in manufacturer in the world during the Cork.

1920’s.

did you know?

ra , of ndla haescoIrasetlaofndth’se Bonealy IslaIs ndf th y ey urusers DD car. It is only elan r. cablane-d a cow!

Peninsula, has Irca bled’-sca people licensed to carry three

oldest The world’s oldest footprints can be found on the shoreline of Valentia Island. They were made 385 million years ago.

county

facts KERRY

rose of tralee

Population 23,691 people in Tralee. Approximately 147,554 people in County Kerry.

The Rose of Tralee International Festival sees women of Irish descent from all over the world compete to be crowned Rose of Tralee.

size 5th largest county in Ireland.

A kerry county Song

puck fair Ireland’s oldest traditional festival is over 400 years old. It is the only festival in the world where a wild mountain goat is crowned king.

Fungie Fungie, also known as the Dingle Dolphin, is a common bottlenose dolphin who has choosen to live in Dingle Harbour since 1983. He swims and plays alongside boats, to the delight of tourists.

Thatched Sheehan’s Thatched House at Finuge Cross, near Listowel, was built over 340 years ago. It is the oldest surviving authentic thatched house in Ireland.

Skellig Michael

Radio Kerry A GAA pundit on Radio Kerry, a broadcaster, former Kerry goalkeeper, author and an all-round great man, A living legend, the simply brilliant Weeshie Fogarty is the soundtrack of our GAA-obsessed lives.

annuals of inisfallen The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between 433 and 1450. It was written by the monks of Innisfallen Abbey, on Innisfallen Island on Lough Leane, Killarney,

u k, stnarotedwby?Kerry didKeyrro y Group

The one of the farmers in 1972, is now dairy giants, world’s largest food and worth billions.

Monks lived on Skellig Michael in beehive-shaped huts between the 6th and 12th Centuries. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and location for the Star Wars Movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.